The recognitions underscore Arcadis’ commitment to innovative, resilient infrastructure and sustainable solutions that address complex challenges facing communities and the environment.
NEW YORK - May 18, 2026 -- Arcadis, a global leader in intelligence-driven sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets, is proud to announce that two of its projects have been honored with 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards from the National American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). The Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek and its Climate Risk Assessment project won the Grand Award and National Recognition Award, respectively.
Arcadis, in partnership with Henrico County and regional stakeholders, delivered the Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek, the largest municipal water supply reservoir in Virginia. This $171.5 million, 14.8-billion-gallon pumped storage reservoir was designed to address the Richmond region’s critical water supply needs through a 50-year planning horizon, supporting both community resilience and the health of the James River.
With a population of over 1.1 million and a thriving economy, the Richmond region faced a critical water supply challenge in the early 2000s, threatened by a historic drought and increasing demand. In response, Henrico County turned to Arcadis to develop a sustainable, long-term solution.
Mike Wooden, U.S. Water Design and Engineering Practice Lead for Arcadis, said: “The Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek stands as a testament to what is possible through forward-thinking engineering and a commitment to environmental stewardship This project safeguards the region’s water future while protecting the natural resources that make this community special.”
In partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), Arcadis developed and implemented an innovative, agency-wide Climate Risk Assessment (CRA) framework to identify and mitigate climate vulnerabilities across its critical transportation infrastructure. Leveraging digital risk assessment tools and climate hazard data collection and mitigation procedures, the team piloted the framework at select facilities, setting a new benchmark for resilience planning. Following pilot projects at select facilities, Arcadis helped PANYNJ as they brought in additional consultants to scale the program to all facilities. The work resulted in the first-ever resilience section in PANYNJ’s 2026-2035 Capital Plan, securing approximately $100 million for resilience projects.
A first-of-its-kind, systems-based approach, Arcadis evaluated both direct and indirect risks to PANYNJ’s facilities, integrating climate vulnerability data with asset management systems and developing a custom Digital Assessment Platform for comprehensive risk analysis. This enabled the Port Authority to prioritize critical mitigation projects, quantify risk reduction benefits, and position for additional external funding. By translating complex climate risks into actionable capital investments, Arcadis’ work empowers PANYNJ to minimize disruption and safeguard the region’s economic and social well-being against future climate impacts.
John McCarthy, President, North America at Arcadis, said: “We are honored to be recognized by ACEC for our work on this transformative project. Congratulations to our clients and our dedicated project teams for their outstanding achievements. By working together with our clients and communities, we are addressing New York and New Jersey’s most complex infrastructure challenges and helping to create a more resilient future for all.”
These ACEC National Engineering Excellence Awards reflect Arcadis’ dedication to delivering solutions that balance human progress with environmental stewardship.