CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) earned two honors at the 2026 ACEC New York Engineering Excellence Awards, receiving a Gold Award for the Jamaica Armory Renovation in Queens and a Silver Award for the Kings Road Bridge Replacement in the City of Schenectady. Together, these award-winning projects showcase CHA’s leadership in innovative engineering, digitally enabled delivery, and high-impact infrastructure solutions across New York State.
The Gold Award-winning Jamaica Armory Renovation transformed a historic 1936 military facility into a modern, mission-ready center for the New York Army National Guard. Serving more than 600 soldiers across multiple units, the 190,000-square-foot facility required extensive upgrades while preserving its historically significant architectural features. Working with the New York State Office of General Services (NYS OGS), CHA designed the project on an accelerated 14-month schedule.
A defining feature was CHA’s implementation of advanced digital delivery tools to manage complexity across 15 subconsultants and multiple stakeholders. As the first NYS OGS project to implement Autodesk Construction Cloud, the team enabled real-time model coordination, rapid issue resolution, and more informed decision-making. Combined with Pull Planning and 3D laser scanning, these strategies reduced rework, improved constructability, and established a scalable digital framework for future state projects. The renovated armory strengthens emergency readiness while reinforcing engineering’s role in sustainable design and cultural preservation.
CHA also earned a Silver Award for the Kings Road Bridge Replacement, which replaced a deteriorated three-span structure over the Amtrak/CSX rail corridor with a new single-span steel bridge. In advance of full replacement, the CHA team demonstrated technical agility and responsiveness when a sudden deck failure created a large hole in the existing bridge, executing emergency repairs within hours to restore safe passage and maintain access for the community. The permanent replacement improved vertical clearance for freight and passenger rail, eliminated maintenance-intensive piers, and transformed a constrained crossing into a safer, multimodal corridor with enhanced pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. Through careful coordination with rail operators, precise staging, and proactive issue resolution, the project was completed in just 10 months, delivering more than $150,000 in cost savings.
Read more about how CHA designed the Kings Road Bridge with improved multimodal access.
From historic renovation to modern bridge engineering, these projects demonstrate CHA’s ability to integrate innovative design, digital coordination, and collaborative delivery to solve complex challenges and deliver lasting value across New York. CHA team members were recognized at the 59th Annual ACEC New York Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, held in New York City.
ACEC New York represents nearly 300 member firms spanning various engineering disciplines. The organization advocates for business interests, environmental quality, and community development. Learn more at ACEC New York's website.