AKF Group earns ACEC award for work on Central Park Tower

Manhattan, NY AKF Group of New York City has earned a national recognition award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 56^th annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) for its role in the design of Central Park Tower.

AKF provided mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) design, fire and life safety engineering, and energy modeling for the new mixed-use tower, which, at 1,550 feet, is now the tallest residential building in the world and the second tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Sitting atop a seven-story Nordstrom flagship department store, Central Park Tower features energy-efficient solutions that serve separate retail and residential spaces. Segregated heating and cooling services allow retail and residential operators to maintain independent systems, minimizing interaction and the possibility of service disruption. 

Sustainable features for the 179 condominiums include air-to-air energy recovery units and condensing boilers with an innovative cascade piping system to maintain higher boiler efficiencies, radiant floor heating in the lobby, and use of a gravity domestic water and fire protection system for the tower, which reduces overall pumping energy requirements. Residential heat pumps support simultaneous heating and cooling throughout the year. 

The project is among 179 EEA entries this year representing engineering excellence from throughout the nation and the world. Judging for the awards program—known industry-wide as the “Academy Awards of the engineering industry”– took place in March and was conducted by a national 27-member panel of built environment leaders, along with experts from government, the media and academia. Award criteria focused on uniqueness and originality, technical innovation, social and economic value, and generating excitement for the engineering profession. 

Recognition of all 2023 award winners, including top winners—16 Honor awards, 8 Grand awards and the prestigious “Grand Conceptor Award” for the year’s most outstanding overall engineering achievement—will take place at the annual EEA gala dinner and awards program, a black-tie event to be held Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C.