Two Portland-based firms are being honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies for outstanding engineering projects. Harper Houf Peterson Righellis and Otak will be recognized at ACEC’s 59th annual Engineering Excellence Awards gala in May.

Harper Houf Peterson Righellis (HHPR) received two National Recognition Awards. The O.R. 99W: I-5 to McDonald Street project in Tigard was led by the Oregon Department of Transportation and HHPR. Crews added pavement, built new sidewalks and bicycle lanes, upgraded sidewalk curb ramps, repaired bridges, and made safety improvements in the intersection of Southwest Johnson Street/Main Street with Oregon Route 99W. The project was completed in spring 2025.

HHPR’s second award was for the Southeast 129th Avenue/King Road Roundabout project in Happy Valley. A roundabout was designed to better support the movement of traffic through the intersection; the continuous, circular flow is expected to reduce the likelihood of collisions, according to the city of Happy Valley. The project was completed in 2024.

Otak received a National Recognition Award for the South 1st and Strand Street Improvements project in St. Helens. The upgrades include a new multiuse path along the riverfront to increase pedestrian and cyclist access, more clearly defined parking and circulation patterns to reduce congestion, and a new turnaround to minimize traffic disruption during community events. The project was completed last summer.

The 32-member judging panel for the awards program featured built environment leaders along with experts from government, the media, and academia. Criteria focused on uniqueness and originality, technical innovation, social and economic value, and excitement generated toward the engineering profession, according to an ACEC press release.

This year, ACEC is presenting 240 awards, including 16 Honor Awards, eight Grand Awards, and the prestigious Grand Conceptor Award for the year’s most outstanding engineering achievement. All honorees will be recognized at the 2026 EEA Gala on May 5 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. Learn more about other award winners by visiting .

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