Horrocks is a proud supporter of academic opportunities and STEM education for K-12 and higher education students, and we were honored to help facilitate this event.

Beginning in June, the Las Vegas office held a drive to collect school supplies for S.A.F.E. House, an organization that helps women and children who are the victims of domestic violence. The Albuquerque and Riverdale offices also held school supply drives, and the donations they collected were given to local students and schools. Thanks to the generosity of those who participated in the three drives, these Horrocks offices were able to provide backpacks full of supplies to support young learners.

Horrocks’ Public Involvement (PI) team recently visited the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City, serving a meal to the families staying there. Working through Ronald McDonald House Charities’ Adopt-a-Meal program, the PI team fed approximately 50 families. Their meal of choice? A taco bar.

The Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City (as well as other Ronald McDonald House charities) provides a place to stay for the parents and families of children undergoing treatment for a serious illness or injury. Their goal is to provide a home away from home near treatment facilities that keeps families together and eases their day-to-day burdens.

A lot of work went into providing a meal for so many, including preparing, serving, and cleaning up the meal on-site. Brittany Kidd, who participated in the event, described her experience, saying, “[We] chose this activity not only to bring us closer as a group, but also to help those in need. We wanted to make a difference and felt that this would be the best way to spend our time while team building. Seeing the strength these parents keep while having a child in the hospital is very humbling, which is why we were so happy to assist in this small way. We are so lucky to have this many people on our staff with such big hearts.”

Horrocks contributed to the 2019 race by sponsoring a team of runners and providing an aid station staffed with volunteers. Forty-five employees participated, and some were joined by family and friends.

For many, the event was more than just another summer run. One Horrocks employee shared her reason for running in this event, explaining: “With this race, I love the stories: Seeing the families running together in honor of someone they love. Seeing the signposts along the way with quotes from people who have been affected by cancer. Every time I participate in the AF Canyon Run, I feel like I am running with angels. I run for the people who can’t.”

Within our company, many have been affected by cancer—personally and through its impact on loved ones. It was an honor to run and volunteer for them.

For eight years, Horrocks has held blood drives to give back to our local communities. Our ninth annual drive included three Horrocks offices: Pleasant Grove, Utah; Meridian, Idaho; and Riverdale, Utah. This year, the “Bleed and Feed” event included food donation as an option for those unable to donate blood, and the response to the dual drive was truly impressive.

Thanks to the many selfless donors who came to give blood, we were able to collectively provide 125 units of blood for the American Red Cross and 1,311 food and hygiene items for local food pantries.

After the drive in Pleasant Grove, Anita Kay, senior account manager for the American Red Cross Lewis and Clark Blood Services Region, expressed her gratitude for this incredible effort.

I wish there was a way to convey to your team that what they did on Friday will literally save lives. We aren’t collecting enough blood, and to increase our supply by 69 units is so appreciated and so needed.

I have a daughter-in-law who, after delivering twins, hemorrhaged and needed five units of blood immediately to save her life. If the blood had not been on the shelves, these two little people would not have their mother. So, from me personally and on behalf of my family, thank you! To see the food brought in and the number of people who donated was so inspiring. Thank you for including us in your efforts to make a difference.

Thank you to the many employees, neighbors, and coordinators who contributed to the success of this event.

Horrocks was recognized for recent efforts to support women within the transportation industry. These efforts include the creation of a Gender Intelligence Committee and a group mentoring program for new employees. Horrocks also continues to provide internal and external professional development opportunities for all employees and has pledged to improve gender diversity as part of the Women’s Leadership Institute ElevateHER challenge.

(Beginning at left) Katie Kourianos, Brian Atkinson, Nicole Tolley, and Russell Youd accept WTS Employer of the Year Award for Northern Utah Chapter at Women in Transportation Gala.

This award is the second Employer of the Year recognition awarded to Horrocks by a WTS chapter in 2019. [Spokane-Coeur d’Alene WTS Employer of the Year Award]

Staff members from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis display some of the books they can now share with local youth.

In Meridian, Idaho, Horrocks employees provided an impressive contribution to the annual children’s book drive hosted by United Way of Treasure Valley. Horrocks’ Riverdale, Utah office also donated books to a local organization: the Boys and Girls Club in Ogden. The other participating offices—Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Albuquerque, New Mexico—delivered their book donations to local schools. In each location, many employees generously donated their resources and time to support young readers in their communities.

Horrocks was hired as a sub consultant to Atkins to serve as roadway and retaining wall designer, local project liaison, and Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) adviser for the project. Drawing on prior experience with the CM/GC delivery method, Horrocks successfully assisted Western Federal Lands Highway Division and Idaho County in executing their first CM/GC project.

The original Manning Crevice Bridge was built in the 1930s as a Civilian Conservation Corps project. After nearly 80 years of use, this bridge secured its place as an iconic representation of connectivity and recreational opportunities for the local community and visitors to the scenic Salmon River. However, the aging bridge’s ability to sustain loads became an increasing concern.

To replace the aging structure, a new one-lane asymmetrical suspension bridge was constructed, spanning over 300 feet with a 75-foot tall tower on the north end. The new structure has an increased deck width, greater load capacity, new pullouts, and information kiosks displaying the history of the area and the original structure.

The project is located in a very steep, rocky, v-shaped canyon of the Salmon River. Working in this setting presented many significant challenges such as mitigating potential rock fall and positioning cranes for construction on the narrow roadway.

Due to the significant constructability issues associated with this remote project, Horrocks recommended that the project utilize the CM/GC delivery method. The goal of using the CM/GC method was to facilitate innovation, risk management, and problem solving with the design team and contractor working together to develop the design and construction plans.

As the local liaison, Horrocks led meetings with stakeholders to discuss the preservation of historical and environmental resources. Horrocks also developed 3D and 4D models (the fourth dimension being time) showing construction of the project step-by-step for easy visualization of the bridge construction.

Over the life of the project, the Horrocks team contributed approximately seven years of service. Effective collaboration between the owner, designer, and contractor led to the successful planning, design, and construction of the project.

Cole Reasch, Sandi Lampshire, and John Niederhauser (left to right) accept SMPS Utah Cornerstone Marketing Communications Award on behalf of Horrocks Engineers at the SMPS Winter Awards Gala.  Photo Credit: SMPS Utah

At the outset of Horrocks’ 50th anniversary year (2018), the marketing team chose to focus on the people—past, present, and future—that fuel our work in the civil engineering industry. Accordingly, they began a 50th anniversary campaign culminating in a client appreciation event that was held in conjunction with the Utah Department of Transportation’s Annual Conference. For the event, they presented the film Dream Big: Engineering Our World and encouraged attendees to bring a guest under the age of 18. With STEM prizes and a scholarship drawing for our young participants, they turned our 50th anniversary into an opportunity to celebrate our history, honor our clients, and inspire youth.

The SMPS panel of judges, comprised of past presidents from four different chapters, applauded “the dynamic, engaging, and memorable experience for attendees” along with the firm’s “genuine displays of gratitude to industry partners and support of future generations of engineers.” We congratulate our marketing team for winning this award and for their ongoing efforts to represent Horrocks among our clients and industry peers.

In the words of Dale Gruel, an engineer with nearly five decades of experience in the industry:

“Working in the many engineering offices I have been employed at during my career has provided me the opportunities to meet amazingly talented and interesting people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. And that is perhaps my biggest enjoyment about engineering: the people I get to work with! Yes, I love engineering, and I wish this type of work enjoyment for everyone.”

If you missed the fun on our social media accounts this week and want to learn more about civil engineering, check out this photo series for some engineering highlights.