ORLANDO, Fla. – Two coastal resilience projects for which DRMP served in key design and construction services roles won awards at the 2026 Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Florida Region Conference. Both projects address critical sections of State Road A1A along Florida’s Atlantic coast that have experienced chronic erosion, storm damage, and repeated hurricane impacts.
The Summer Haven Beach Restoration / Old Highway A1A Reconstruction project in St. Johns County, where DRMP served as the designer, received the Honor Award in the Transportation – Roadways category. The SR A1A Volusia / Flagler Counties Emergency Seawall Restoration project, where DRMP provided construction engineering and inspection (CEI) services through its Construction Services practice, received the Merit Award in the Transportation – Roadways category. The awards were presented June 16 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando.
“These recognitions reflect the dedication of our teams and partners who delivered resilient, innovative solutions for critical coastal infrastructure,” said DRMP Executive Vice President of Alternative Delivery TJ Lallathin, PE, DBIA. “Our firm is proud to receive these awards, and we thank our partners for their collaboration on these complex coastal projects.”
Photo courtesy of Superior Construction: An aerial view of the Summer Haven Beach Restoration Project
At the conference, Lallathin, who served as design lead on the Summer Haven Beach Restoration project, and DRMP Construction Services Project Administrator Scott Stagg, who assisted in overseeing CEI for the SR A1A Emergency Seawall project, participated in a panel titled “Emergency Phased / Progressive Design-Build on Florida’s Coast: One Delivery Model, Two Distinct Solutions.” The session used the two projects as examples of how a single delivery approach can produce different engineering solutions based on site-specific conditions.
The presentation highlighted how early contractor involvement and procurement flexibility enabled engineering decisions driven by subsurface conditions, environmental constraints, and community impacts rather than predetermined specifications. The Summer Haven Beach Restoration project used an anchored sheet pile wall with granite revetment to stabilize the shoreline and protect the roadway from erosion, while the SR A1A Emergency Seawall project used a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) secant pile seawall system to strengthen vulnerable sections of coastline exposed to direct Atlantic storm impacts.
SR A1A Volusia / Flagler Counties Emergency Seawall Restoration Project
The SR A1A Emergency Seawall Restoration project was delivered under the Florida Department of Transportation District 5 emergency phased design-build procurement following Hurricane Nicole, which accelerated decades of erosion along the corridor. State Road A1A serves as the only hurricane evacuation route for thousands of coastal residents in Volusia and Flagler counties.
DRMP’s Construction Services team provided CEI support for the phased design-build contract that constructed 13,650 linear feet of coastal protection system, including two secant pile seawall segments located approximately 2.5 miles apart. The system incorporated 5,114 auger cast piles reinforced with GFRP, along with dune restoration and roadway rehabilitation.
Photo Courtesy of Superior Construction: An aerial view of the SR A1A Volusia / Flagler Counties Emergency Seawall Restoration Project
The project also included placement of 172,000 tons of color-matched sand, restoration of 83,667 square yards of dune grading and stabilization, 45,916 square yards of roadway milling and resurfacing, and reconstruction of approximately 28 beach access walkovers. Temporary walkovers were maintained throughout construction to ensure uninterrupted public beach access. Completed in April 2026, the project was delivered on schedule and $12.4 million under the $117 million contract ceiling.
DRMP’s CEI scope included design coordination, permitting support, construction inspection, materials testing verification, and final documentation for FDOT acceptance. The project required continuous field coordination across multiple active work zones, constrained coastal access, tidal conditions, and three hurricane seasons during construction.
Photo courtesy of Superior Construction: SR A1A Volusia / Flagler Counties Emergency Seawall Restoration Project
“This project required constant coordination in the field due to the complexity of the construction methods and the coastal environment,” Stagg said. “Our role in Construction Services was critical in helping maintain quality, safety and continuity of work under challenging conditions. It’s an honor to be part of the project team recognized with this award.”
DRMP Vice President and Florida Construction Services Leader Ryan Pellarin, PE, CCM, senior project engineer for this effort, said the project required consistent problem-solving in the field as construction progressed.
“SR A1A is a lifeline for the coastal communities it serves, and the project team kept that front and center throughout construction,” he said. “That focus guided daily decisions in the field and helped ensure the work supported continued access and long-term coastal protection. It is rewarding to see this project recognized for the collaboration and effort that went into delivering it.”
Summer Haven Beach Restoration / Old Highway A1A Reconstruction
The Summer Haven Beach Restoration / Old A1A Reconstruction project in St. Augustine restored approximately 2,000 feet of coastal roadway that was rendered impassable following Hurricane Matthew in 2016. For nearly eight years, residents relied on a deteriorated sand roadway until a permanent solution was delivered through a progressive design-build approach funded by a $15.4 million FEMA grant.
DRMP served as the project designer in a progressive design-build partnership with Superior Construction and subconsultants INTERA and Tierra, Inc. The project included an anchored epoxy-coated sheet pile wall extending up to 37 feet deep, 5,800 tons of granite revetment, an elevated concrete roadway, and comprehensive drainage infrastructure designed to 100-year storm standards.
Photo courtesy of Superior Construction: An aerial view of the Summer Haven Beach Restoration Project
The project also included utility coordination and relocation, environmental permitting, survey services, public involvement, and adjustment and replacement of existing rock revetment. A phased access strategy allowed 100 percent resident access throughout construction, supported by a temporary lime rock roadway that maintained community connectivity during construction activities.
The project was completed in April 2025. The progressive design-build model enabled iterative, cost-driven design adjustments in real time, including redesign of riprap requirements to meet FEMA budget constraints while maintaining performance and resilience objectives.
“Progressive design-build gave the team the flexibility to evaluate site conditions and adjust design solutions in real time,” Lallathin said. “That adaptability was key to delivering a solution that responded to environmental constraints and constructability in the field.”
Both projects demonstrated how alternative delivery methods enabled early contractor involvement, real-time constructability input, and adaptive design solutions tailored to Florida’s coastal conditions. While both addressed A1A’s vulnerability to erosion and storm surge, each project required a distinct engineering approach based on geotechnical conditions, access constraints, and community impacts.
About DRMP
Since 1977, DRMP has earned a reputation as a trusted multidisciplinary engineering firm that approaches challenges differently. What began as a small Florida-based firm has grown into a Southeastern powerhouse with over 700 employees across 23 offices. We partner with clients to deliver smart, sustainable infrastructure that helps communities thrive.
Ranked among Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms in the United States, DRMP is known for solving complex challenges through technical expertise, innovative thinking, and collaboration.
We value connection, creativity, and a welcoming, engaging culture that empowers employees to grow their careers. As we continue to expand, we remain committed to the principles that have guided us from the start.
