Haley Ward, Inc. Wins First National Engineering Award for Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at Katahdin Woods and Waters
National honor recognizes sustainable design and cultural significance.
BANGOR, MAINE – Haley Ward, Inc. is proud to announce that it has received a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) in the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards for its work on the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station* at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. This marks the firm’s first national-level honor and celebrates outstanding achievement in engineering design.
Perched atop Lookout Mountain in the present day and traditional homeland of the Penobscot Nation in one of the most remote and scenic areas of Maine, the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station—named after the Penobscot word meaning “as far as one can see”—is a sustainably designed, off-grid visitor center that honors the cultural, environmental, and historic significance of the land. The 7,896-square-foot structure incorporates thoughtful exhibits developed in partnership with the Wabanaki Nations and invites visitors into a deeper understanding of the region’s heritage and stewardship.
Haley Ward provided a wide range of services for the project, including planning, permitting, structural and civil engineering, surveying, bridge and roadway design, and overall coordination with the design and owner’s teams. The firm collaborated closely with the architectural team—Saunders Architecture, Alisberg Parker, and Reed Hilderbrand—and with Wright-Ryan Construction as the general contractor, along with Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters and the National Park Service.
“This is the kind of project engineers dream of—technically challenging, deeply meaningful, and environmentally significant,” said Chip Haskell, PE, Vice President and Senior Project Manager at Haley Ward. “To see it recognized nationally is not only a huge honor for our firm, but a celebration of everyone who worked so hard to build this station in a way that honors the land and the people who have stewarded it.”
The station’s remote location and off-grid infrastructure presented unique engineering challenges, from environmentally sensitive site work to the integration of sustainable energy and water systems—all designed to meet National Park Service standards while respecting the sacredness of the landscape.
“This award represents a major milestone for Haley Ward,” said Travis Noyes, PE, Chief Operating Officer. “It reflects the talent and dedication of our team, the strength of our partnerships, and our shared commitment to building projects that make a lasting impact on people and place.”
Denis St. Peter, PE, President and CEO of Haley Ward, added: “We are incredibly proud to receive this National Recognition Award from ACEC. It is a testament to the expertise of our team and the trust placed in us by our clients and collaborators. This project embodies the values we hold most dear – technical excellence, sustainability, and honoring the communities we serve.”
The ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards are among the most prestigious in the industry, spotlighting projects that demonstrate innovation, complexity, and value to society. Haley Ward’s recognition signals its growing presence as a national-caliber engineering firm rooted in local values.
* All Wabanaki Cultural Knowledge and Intellectual Property shared within this project is owned by the Wabanaki Nations.