We are proud to announce that our Mill Girl Stair Replacement Project in Manchester, NH has won an award! Members of our team accepted the award at the American Council of Engineering Companies – NH (ACEC-NH) Engineering Excellence Awards dinner in Manchester, New Hampshire last week.
The “Mill Girl” statue has been a landmark in Manchester since its installation atop the stairs on Stark Street in 1988 and pays tribute to the women who worked in the city’s historic textile mills. Over time, the Mill Girl Stairs connecting Stark Street to Commercial Street deteriorated, prompting the need for replacement and prioritization of ADA access. Manchester Connects, in collaboration with Hoyle Tanner and Lavallee Brensinger Architects, developed a conceptual design for a new ADA accessible ramp and stair structure. In partnership with the City, the Hoyle Tanner design team (including Yeaton Associates, Inc. and Fieldstone Land Consultants, PLLC) successfully delivered the $1.1 million project which revitalized the Millyard streetscape, featuring innovative lighting, anti-graffiti coating, and intricate design elements.
Through collaboration with the City of Manchester, the project was delivered on schedule. The ribbon-cutting ceremony in July 2023 marked the completion of the project, providing an important ADA-accessible connection between the Millyard and downtown, showcasing the statue, and creating a vibrant community space for local vendors and patrons.
Senior Civil Engineer Marisa DiBiaso, PE and the City of Manchester, NH team worked closely together to understand the vision for this project and make it a success. Congratulations to all the other 2024 ACEC-NH Engineering Excellence award winners!
