TAMPA, Fla. – DRMP’s design for the Downtown Main Street Streetscape Improvements project in Dunedin, Fla., won the American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida West Coast Branch awards for Project and Consultant of the Year. Collaborating closely with the City of Dunedin, DRMP shares the Project of the Year award with the City.
In addition to the project awards, the APWA Florida West Coast Branch also recognized DRMP team members with individual awards and scholarships. These achievements were celebrated during the APWA Florida West Coast Branch Awards Luncheon on March 13.
GIS Analyst Meaghan McCarthy, who serves as the organization’s Young Professionals Chair, received the Young Leader Award and also was appointed to the Board of Directors; Office Manager Arnesa Zunic, who served as the organization’s Secretary, received the Meritorious Service Award and also became Treasurer of the Board of Directors; and Roadway Design Interns Peter Badr and Jacob Gonzalez each received $500 scholarships.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Project of the Year and Consultant of the Year awards on behalf of our incredible team,” said DRMP Project Manager Bruno Arriola, PE, ENV SP. “We are grateful to the City of Dunedin for entrusting our firm with this opportunity, and I am very happy to see how this project improved safety, accessibility, and the aesthetics of the downtown area.”
DRMP and the City of Dunedin celebrated their project successes together during the awards luncheon. The City selected DRMP as the prime design consultant for the Downtown Main Street Streetscape Improvements project, involving sidewalk reconstruction, landscaping, lighting installation, and drainage improvements.
The project focused on widening sidewalks, achieving ADA compliance, and providing positive drainage from the Pinellas Trail to Douglas Avenue and south of Wood Street. Challenges included adhering to ADA requirements while widening sidewalks within existing constraints.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Project of the Year and Consultant of the Year awards on behalf of our incredible team,” said DRMP Project Manager Bruno Arriola, PE, ENV SP. “We are grateful to the City of Dunedin for entrusting our firm with this opportunity, and I am very happy to see how this project improved safety, accessibility, and the aesthetics of the downtown area.”
A unique and sustainable aspect of the project is the use of Silva Cells: an underground modular suspended system, which provides on-site stormwater management by safeguarding tree roots from soil compaction and enabling unrestricted growth without causing disturbances to sidewalks. The Silva Cells also facilitate the supply of essential oxygen and nutrients, promoting the development of larger trees. The Project Team collaborated with the City’s arborist and the project Landscape Architect to select this product.
The project is nestled within the heart of downtown Dunedin, which attracts a steady flow of both locals and tourists, creating a vibrant hub of pedestrian activity year-round.
About DRMP
DRMP is a multi-discipline firm serving clients in the public, private and industrial sectors in the development of infrastructure and has been in business since 1977. DRMP currently employs 700 professionals in 24 office locations spread strategically across our service area. Today, DRMP is ranked among Engineering News-Record’s “Top 500 Design Firms” in the United States. For more information, please visit www.drmp.com.
