Apr 15 2010
Engineering News-Record (ENR), McGraw-Hill Construction's prestigious publication and website and part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), today announced that John R. Hillman, founder and president of Chicago-based HC Bridge Co., is the recipient of its 45th annual Award of Excellence. John Hillman received the award in front of 1,000 peers today at a black-tie awards gala in New York City. He was one of ENR's Top 25 Newsmakers of 2009, who were also honored.
John Hillman is the inventor of a hybrid of conventional materials and composites that can create long-lasting, noncorrosive bridges, roofs and marine structures that are lightweight but able to carry heavy loads. His marriage of age-old technologies and modern-day materials—specifically a glass-fiber-reinforced shell, self-consolidating concrete and high-strength continuous steel fibers—has been used for projects in Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and, soon, Maine. John Hillman's patented technology also resulted in a 2002 research grant from the Transportation Research Board. "With our current concerns about renewing our rail and highway bridges while minimizing disruption, [Hillman's technology is] in high demand," said Neil Hawks, Transportation Research Board staff representative in a Jan. 13 ENR article. Hillman developed the technology while working at Teng & Associates, a Chicago engineering firm, and as a graduate student in civil engineering at Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg.
"John Hillman's vision for creating stronger, lighter beams is the kind of innovative idea for new technology that can help solve the nation's infrastructure crisis," said Janice L. Tuchman, editor-in-chief of ENR. "We need materials that last longer and are easier to install, and his work will have many applications. It shows that the spirit of innovation is alive and thriving in the construction industry."
John Hillman's story will be featured in the April 11 issue of ENR.
Sponsors of the 45th Annual Award of Excellence include AECOM, Bentley, The Construction Management Association of America, CMiC, FIGG, Halcrow, Hill International and Viewpoint Construction Software.
Source: http://www.construction.com/