Batterman is proud to celebrate three major award wins recognizing the 80-100 E. Grand Avenue Riverwalk Extension project in downtown Beloit: an ACEC-Wisconsin Engineering Excellence Awards Best of State Award in the Special Projects category, the APWA-Wisconsin Project of the Year Award for Small Cities/Rural Communities in the Structural category, and a National Recognition Award in ACEC’s national Engineering Excellence Awards program.
These honors reflect the technical complexity, collaborative spirit, and lasting community value of a project that transformed a challenging downtown riverfront site into a safer, more accessible public space along the Rock River.
A Transformational Project Along the Rock River
The 80-100 E. Grand Avenue Riverwalk Extension project addressed a long-standing obstacle in the heart of downtown Beloit: a deteriorating building that extended over and into the Rock River, obstructed a key missing link in the Rock River Trail, and created significant structural, environmental, and public safety concerns. Removing the structure required careful planning because of its connection to the E. Grand Avenue bridge, limited site access, unknown river foundation conditions, and the need to protect the surrounding river environment.
Batterman served as the engineering partner throughout the process, guiding the City of Beloit from early funding strategy through design, permitting, construction oversight, grant administration, and project closeout. The team’s work included helping secure more than $2.3 million in state grant funding, using advanced surveying methods to document complex site conditions, coordinating civil, structural, and environmental design, and developing a constructable approach that protected the river while advancing the City’s broader vision for downtown riverfront revitalization.
The completed project removed the deteriorating structure and its river piers, restored the shoreline, extended the riverwalk, reconnected a critical segment of the Rock River Trail, improved pedestrian safety, reduced flood risk, and created a more inviting public space for residents, visitors, downtown businesses, and future development.
Read the detailed case study of the 80-100 E. Grand Avenue Riverwalk Extension project.
This video showcases the progression of the construction phase from demolition through completion.
Three Awards Celebrating Engineering Excellence and Community Impact
The project first received an ACEC-Wisconsin Engineering Excellence Awards Best of State Award, presented to projects representing a high degree of technical innovation, client satisfaction, and contributions to the engineering industry. ACEC-Wisconsin recognized the project for protecting the Rock River while restoring trail access and strengthening community connectivity.
The project was also honored by APWA-Wisconsin as Project of the Year for Small Cities/Rural Communities in the Structural category. This award highlights the complexity of the demolition, riverwall, trail, bridge-related, and construction coordination efforts required to successfully complete the work in a constrained and environmentally sensitive downtown riverfront setting.
At the national level, the project received an ACEC National Recognition Award in the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards program, signifying exceptional merit and excellence among engineering projects from across the country. This national recognition further underscores the project’s value as an example of how thoughtful infrastructure design can solve complex technical challenges while creating meaningful civic amenities.
Building Better Connections in Downtown Beloit
Beyond the awards, the 80-100 E. Grand Avenue Riverwalk Extension stands as an important investment in Beloit’s downtown riverfront. By reconnecting the Rock River Trail, improving access along the river, and preparing the site for future development, the project supports economic growth, environmental stewardship, public safety, and quality of life.
For Batterman, the recognition is especially meaningful because the project reflects the kind of work our team is proud to deliver: practical, collaborative engineering that helps communities turn complex challenges into long-term public benefits.
Thank You to Our Partners
We extend our sincere thanks to the City of Beloit, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Hendricks Commercial Properties, downtown businesses, private development stakeholders, and the many partners who helped make this project possible. We are also grateful for the contributions of our project team and consultants, including Jewell Associates Engineers, Inc. and Brownfield Environmental Engineering Resources, LLC.
These awards are a reflection of the strong collaboration, proactive communication, and shared commitment that guided the project from concept to completion. Batterman is honored to have played a role in helping the City of Beloit enhance its riverfront and build a safer, more connected downtown for the community.
Check out the recap of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by Governor Tony Evers and other representatives from the State of Wisconsin, the City of Beloit, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
