ASCE recognizes exceptional civil engineers with Outstanding Projects And Leaders – OPAL – Awards every year for achievement in each of five categories: construction, design, education, government, and management.
These are the people who have crafted engineering wonders; the people who have led huge project teams, managed massive budgets, pushed engineering research forward, and altered the course of civil engineering education. These are the OPAL winners.
And here are the 2025 honorees:
Construction
Beatrice Hunt, P.E., M.ASCE; principal hydraulic engineer, AECOM, New York City – for 35 years of innovation, leadership, teaching, and advancing hydraulics and scour engineering.
Design
Lawrence Griffis, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE; senior consultant, Walter P. Moore, Houston – for structural engineering expertise with particular accomplishment as a pioneer in the design of retractable roof technology for major sports stadiums.
Education
Rafael L. Bras, Sc.D, Dist.M.ASCE; K. Harrison Brown Family Chair, Georgia Institute of Technology – for renowned contributions and advancements to civil engineering education and noted advocate for underrepresented communities in STEM.
Government
Rao Surampalli, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, BC.WRE(Hon.), F.EWRI, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE; president, CEO, and chief technology officer, Global Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Lenexa, Kansas – for more than 40 years of leadership in developing innovative and sustainable environmental technology.
Management
Eva Lerner-Lam, NAE, M.ASCE; founder and president, Palisades Consulting, Tenafly, New Jersey; for seminal contributions to transit planning and policy, and transportation systems around the world.
The OPAL winners will be honored at the 2025 OPAL Gala, Oct. 10 in Seattle.
Learn more about the OPAL Gala.
Look for individual profiles of each winner on Civil Engineering Source in 2025.
