Award-winning projects
WHEN YOU WIN, WE WIN
In addition to being recognized as a great place to work, Barr has received numerous local, state, and national awards from reputable industry organizations for our work with clients on challenging and impactful projects.
District stormwater infrastructure for future-focused urban redevelopment
The Highland Bridge district stormwater management system supports the transformation of a former industrial riverfront site in Saint Paul, Minnesota, into a sustainability-focused, mixed‑use community. Barr led the stormwater master planning and design. The first of its kind in Saint Paul, this centralized stormwater management infrastructure captures and treats all runoff using a combination of large rain gardens and underground storage and filtration basins integrated beneath promenades and common spaces. Designed to hold all runoff from up to a 100‑year storm, the system moderates downstream flows to resolve historical erosion problems while delivering water-quality, ecological, and community benefits.
- Grand Award and People’s Choice Award, 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards, American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN)
- 2025 Project Excellence Award, Water Environment Federation (WEF)
Learn about project
Read about ACEC/MN award
Read about WEF award
Advanced geotechnical solutions transform a complex transportation hub
The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Twin Ports Interchange project modernized a critical freight and commuter corridor in Duluth, Minnesota, replacing aging elevated roadways with embankment-supported pavement and new bridges to improve safety and freight mobility. Barr led advanced geotechnical engineering to address challenging subsurface conditions adjacent to Lake Superior, including soft soils, shallow groundwater, and industrial fill. Applying detailed 3D subsurface modeling, field testing, and comprehensive instrumentation, we designed a column-supported embankment system to manage settlement risk. Spanning more than 13 acres, the system provides long-term stability for this essential regional interchange.
- Grand Award, 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards, American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN)
- Third place, Grand Conceptor Award category, 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards, American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN)
Additional awards
- Reclaimed mineland offers world-class mountain biking and economic development: People’s Choice Award, ACEC of Minnesota (2024); National Recognition Award, ACEC (2024); Grand Award, ACEC (2024); ReScape Award for Innovation, Minnesota Brownfields (2022); Rural Vitality Award, Environmental Initiative (2022)
- PFAS-impacted drinking water response and treatment plant design: Engineering Excellence Honor Award, ACEC of Minnesota (2022)
- Grassy Point and Kingsbury Bay habitat restoration: Engineering Excellence Grand Conceptor Award, ACEC of Minnesota (2022); Engineering Excellence National Recognition Award, ACEC (2022)
- Gate upgrade at Island Lake Dam in northern Minnesota: Engineering Excellence Grand Award, ACEC of Minnesota (2021)
- Highway 210 landslide stabilization and corridor repair: Engineering Excellence Grand Award, ACEC of Minnesota (2019); Honor Award, ACEC (2019)
