AWARDS

Headquartered in Portland, OR, Advanced American Construction, Inc. (AAC) is a full-service marine contractor providing heavy civil, industrial, diving, survey, demolition, and engineering services throughout the Western United States. AAC is honored to receive the 2022 Construction Risk Partners Build America Award for the Repairs of the Willamette Falls Fishway.  This award, given by Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), acknowledges “AGC members who build the nation’s most impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure, and federal and heavy divisions.”

Advanced American Construction was the successful low bidder on The Willamette Falls Fishway Repair project, solicited by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW).  The project consisted of replacing a failed concrete apron, foundation repairs, concrete repairs, joint sealing, shotcrete stabilization and installation of a stainless steel tenson system. 

The project had two primary work locations.  One above and one below Willamette Falls on the historic West Linn Papermill site.  The massive industrial site created significant challenges for access and material movements.  AAC’s marine assets played a key role in overcoming the challenges. 

On the downstream site, AAC utilized a ramp barge to move equipment, materials and a drilling subcontractor’s equipment to the site.  The drill subcontractor set up and drilled 7” diameter micorpiles to secure a foundation for the existing fishway.  Once complete, AAC set reinforcing, forms and poured a concrete pile cap over the new micropiles.  AAC’s subcontractor also placed shotcrete over another fishway foundation surrounded by gabion rock baskets in order to stabilize the location.
Repairs to the fishway on the downstream side included cutting relief joints in the concrete flume, installing and torqueing tension brackets to minimize thermal expansion on the fish ladder, installing a joint sealant system in the fishway and general concrete repairs.

The upstream work involved removal and repair of a failed concrete apron on the dam surrounding Willamette Falls.  AAC mobilized a 100 Ton crane barge as there is no access from land.  The existing damaged fishway was demolished and the site was prepared for concrete work.  Due to the significant challenge with access to the site, AAC mobilized a concrete batching operation on barges to pour back the concrete apron. 

All work on this contract was performed in a highly sensitive environmental location without any environmental issues, safety incidents or injuries.

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Headquartered in Portland, OR, Advanced American Construction, Inc. (AAC) is a full-service marine contractor providing heavy civil, industrial, diving, survey, demolition, and engineering services throughout the Western United States. AAC is honored to receive the 2021 Construction Risk Partners Build America Award for the Reconstruction of the BNSF Bridge 66.4.  This award, given by Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), acknowledges “AGC members who build the nation’s most impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure, and federal and heavy divisions.”

AAC was contracted by BNSF Railway as a general contractor to perform the complete replacement of the 113-year-old truss bridge.The BNSF Bridge 66.4 changeout was successfully completed on September 14th, 2020 over a 36-hour train closure. AAC’s president, Dee Burch, said of the project:

This project continues AAC’s 37-year history of completing complicated high-risk marine projects on schedule.  This success reinforces the fact that when we all pull together there is nothing we cannot achieve.  2020 has been an incredibly challenging year including the COVID-19 pandemic, unseasonably high winds in the Gorge, micropile installation that was much more difficult than planned, and unprecedented wildfires threatening to delay the project.  The AAC team persevered through it all and completed the changeout flawlessly.

This complicated In-line railroad replacement exchanged an existing 411’ long 5-span railroad bridge built in 1913 with new 436’ 3-span bridge using Accelerated Bridge Construction techniques. Installation of micropile foundation ranging in depths from 45’-200’ due to the undetermined rock layer in the Columbia Gorge. Cast-in-place pier caps were placed on both sides of an active waterway. Land to barge roll-on operation of a new 2.7 million pound, 336’ “through truss” bridge (constructed offsite), involved a marine tow up the Columbia Gorge through Bonneville Locks. Barge ballasting and float-out operations occurred to remove the existing bridge after final trains passed. Float-in and barge ballasting operations set the new bridge up on pier caps. Land and water cranes removed and installed approach sections. The AAC team executed the bridge changeout project efficiently, effectively and without safety or environmental incident.
 

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Advanced American Construction, Inc, was honored for having one of the nation’s best construction safety and wellness plan in 2020 by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association, which oversees the Willis Towers Watson Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted that 43 other companies were also selected as winners for the quality of their safety programs.
"Having a successful construction project starts with having a safe workplace for your employees. It is crucial, now more than ever, for a firm to build its safety culture," said Bob Lanham, the association’s president and president of Williams Brothers Construction Co., Inc. in Houston, Texas.  "These award recipients are leading the industry by showcasing the safest worksites in the country.”

 

Awarded to our President, Dee Burch.

Advanced American Construction, Inc. was named one of the nation’s safest construction companies in 2013 by the Associated General Contractors of America.  The Portland-based company was one of 25 firms that placed first in the Willis Construction Safety Excellence Awards.  The association, which oversees the safety awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted that 51 other companies were selected as winners for the quality of their safety programs.
 

Advanced American Construction won a second consecutive ROSE award for excellence in safety. Award recipients are recognized for  their exceptional safety programs and require an extensive narrative application.  AAC recieved the "Recognition of Safety Excellence" in the heavy division.

AAC was recognized as a Top Performer in the State of Washington for its effots to provide a safe workplace and assist injured workers in returning to work. AAC received the 2014 top EMR and "As Low as You Can Go Award" at .6 without a timeloss or impairment injury in the L&I Claims Free Discount Program while maintaining a 14 year average EMR of .66

AAC won the 2014 AGC Alliant Build America Award in the Utility Infrastructure Renovation category for the Bull Run Dam 2 Tower Improvement Project. The Alliant Build America awards recognize AGC member companies who build the country's most impressive construction projects in transportation, utility infrastructure and federal and heavy divisions. 

AAC's Bull Run Dam project won the Daily Journal of Commerce's 2014 Top Projects Award for its success despite environmental, contruction, timeline and  construction challenges. 

Advanced American Construction won the  ROSE award for excellence in safety in the General Contractor-Heavy Division. Award recipients are recognized for  their exceptional safety programs and require an extensive narrative application. 

AAC won first place for the Willis Construction Safety Excellence Award, being named by the Associated General Contractors of America as one of the nation's safest construction companies. AAC was selected as a 2013 winner because of its exceptional leadership in safety.  

Advanced American Construction's  McNary JBS Outfall Pipe Relocation project won the AGC Alliant Build America Award in the Federal & Heavy renovation category. The Alliant Build America awards recognize AGC member companies who build the country's most impressive construction  projects in transportation, utility infrastructure and federal and heavy divisions. 

AAC's John Day Lock and Dam Downstream Gate and Sheave Replacement project won the Alliant Build America Award for 2012. The Alliant Build America awards recognize AGC member companies who build the country's most impressive construction projects in transportation, utility infrastructure and federal and heavy divisions. 

AAC's John Day Lock & Dam Gate & Sheave Replacement project was selected as a Special Recognition winner of the 2012 Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering Award. The judges selected the project for epitomizing the "true spirit of partnering". The Marvin M. Black award celebrates construction projects that successfully partner to achieve common goals, honor stake holders, and resolve conflicts.

AAC won the AGC Grand Award for Construction for the John Day Lock and Dam project with the US Army Corp of Engineers. The $18 million project was recognized for its significant impact, its unique challenges and the complexity of the work.

Advanced American Construction won the  ROSE award for excellence in safety in the Heavy Division. Award recipients are recognized for  their exceptional safety programs and require an extensive narrative application. 

AAC's John Day Lock and Dam Gate and Sheave Replacement project won First Place in the Daily Journal of Commerce's 2012 Top Projects Award for Public works/infrastructure/transportation. The project succeeded despite turbulent weather conditions, demanding schedules and challenging project objectives.

AAC was recognized as the runner up for the 2012 Willis Construction Safety Excellence Award, being named by the Associated General Contractor's of America as one of the nation's safest construction companies. AAC was selected as a 2012 winner because of its exceptional leadership in safety.  

The AGC Oregon Columbia Chapter awarded AAC's Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer Project with the SIR award (Strength, Integrity and Responsibility). The SIR award is AGC's highest honor, recognizing organizations for their "outstanding skills, conduct, abilities and accomplishments."

AAC's  Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer project won the AGC of America Grand Award  for the Best Construction project of 2011 and the Best New Municipal and Utilities project. The AGC Grand Award recognizes the most significant construction project in the country, the pinnacle award the AGC offers for projects. The Lake Oswego project won because of the dramatic improvement it represented, the challenges related to the work and the overall effectiveness and safety of the project. 

AAC's Snake River - Little Goose Spillway Weir Project in Starbuck, Washington was awarded the Chief of Engineers Design and Environmental Award in the Environmental/Civil Design Category. The US Army Corps of Engineers issues awards in 2 categories recognizing and promoting excellence in design acheivments by the USACE and its proefessional partners. 

AAC's Lower Monumental Dam Removable Spillway Weir won the 2009 Aon Build America Award in the Federal and Heavy New construction category.  The Build America awards recognize AGC member companies who build the country's most impressive construction projects in transportation, utility infrastructure and federal and heavy divisions.  

The AGC of Washington awarded AAC the Project of the Year Award for the Clover Island Marina Renovation at the Port of Kennewick, Washington. The project was recognized for its exceptional management, completion ahead of schedule and its many benefits to the community and the environment. 

The Daily Journal of Commerce awarded AAC second place in the Transportation Category for the Burnside Bridge Main Span Rehabilitation. The award recognized the project's success and innovation despite unique challenges to rehabilitate the bridge's main span with unexpected obstacles. 

AGC of America awarded AAC  the Special Recognition Winner of the Marvin M. Black Partnering Award for the for the Miter Gate Repair-Lower Granite Lock and Dam project. The Marvin M. Black award celebrates construction projects that successfully partner to achieve common goals, honor stake holders, and resolve conflicts.

AAC was awarded the Aon Build America Merit Award for the Miter Gate Lock and Dam- Lower Granite Lock and Dam project.  The Aon Build America awards recognize AGC member companies who build the country's most impressive construction  projects in transportation, utility infrastructure and federal and heavy divisions. 

Contractor of the Year Award, 2002, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers - Northwest Division, Outstanding Performance in Repair of Miter Gates at Lower Granite Dam, Washington, Civil Works Category

May 2002, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District - For completion of the Miter Gate Repairs for the Lower Granite Navigation Lock under Contract DACW68-01-C-0024, SEVENTEEN days ahead of schedule. "Your firm is to be commended for its accomplishment of this difficult and challenging project resulting in no accidents and completed over two weeks ahead of schedule, thereby allowing early opening of the navigation lock to many users of the river system."

The Alliant Build America awards recognize AGC member companies who build the country's more impressive consturction projects in transportation, utility infrastructure and federal and heavy divisions.