Willow-Higgins Creek Relocation Design

The O`Hare Modernization Program (OMP), a large-scale, multi-year renovation of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, was awarded Mayor Richard Daley's GreenWorks Award for Green Practices. MACTEC's role in the OMP included the design of a 12,000-foot, $32 million relocation of Willow-Higgins Creek, which was necessary to construct a new north runway for the airport.

Mayor Daley's GreenWorks Awards promote a green city by recognizing businesses, non-profits, schools and government agencies whose buildings, practices, and products or services are environmentally responsible. The GreenWorks Awards are presented bi-annually.

The OMP embraced the City's sustainable design goals, and developed a Sustainable Design Program to incorporate sustainability into the multi-year program. The program incorporates sustainable design measures into all types of airport projects, ranging from runways and air control towers, to utilities and earthwork.

The goals of the Willow-Higgins portion of the program included:

• 35% recycled-content materials used
• At least 70% of materials obtained locally/regionally
• Approximately 90% of construction waste diverted away from landfills
• Demolished concrete recycled at on-airport recycling facility
• Innovative traveling form system used, eliminating up to 30,000 square feet of traditional wooden forms
• Advanced erosion and sediment control measures used