PMI Project of Year: Prairie Waters

  ProjectsAtWork  

Completed two months ahead of schedule and $100 million under budget, the CH2M HILL-led Prairie Waters Project has received Project Management Institute's 2011 Project of the Year Award.

Aurora, Colorado, has been challenged by decades of rapid population growth combined with limited opportunities to expand its water supply in an arid environment. This already significant challenge was exacerbated in 2002 by severe, multi-year drought, requiring the city and its water managers to quickly design and implement a long-term solution in response to future water shortage conditions.

The Prairie Waters Project, led by CH2M HILL, marked one of the largest water-related public works projects in Colorado in more than 35 years. Its exemplary innovation and completion, two months ahead of schedule and US$100 million under budget, has made it the 2011 recipient of the Project Management Institute's prestigious Project of the Year Award.

"An urgent water need pushed the city to take an innovative look at ways to achieve not only meeting the community's water needs quickly, but to preserve the city's high standards for water quality," said Larry Catalano, manager of capital projects for the City of Aurora. "The significant complexities of the project included stringent cost constraints, stakeholder involvement, environmental restrictions, and the …

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.