By: Ann Boeholt and Camille Felkins, Atlas Senior Environmental Managers

Adaptive management is often described as a best practice, but its value is most evident when projects face conditions no plan can fully anticipate. This case study — shared at the — illustrates how flexibility, collaboration and observation helped guide a project in a complex wetland system on Tribal lands.

Salmon, Sovereignty and Fish Passage

Pacific salmon have long been central to the cultures, economies and lifeways of Pacific Northwest Tribes. Over time, however, state highway infrastructure contributed to fragmented aquatic systems, limiting access to historic spawning and rearing habitats.

Since the 1990s, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has worked with Tribes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify and address fish passage barriers across the state highway system. This work accelerated significantly following a 2013 permanent injunction that established a 2030 deadline for replacing approximately 400 barriers — those expected to reconnect roughly 90 percent of the targeted habitat. Today, this ongoing, collaborative effort focuses on restoring connectivity within waterways that often intersect sensitive environmental and regulatory settings.

A Culvert, a Wetland and Changing Conditions

One such project along U.S. Highway 101 involved installing a fish‑passable culvert in 2025 to restore natural stream function. Adjacent to the site was a mosaic wetland system within the Quinault Indian Reservation.

Shortly after construction, a high‑flow event caused nearby Harlow Creek to overtop its banks. Water moved across the newly graded wetland, forming overflow channels and flow paths not anticipated in the original restoration design. While the culvert performed as intended, the surrounding wetland — newly planted and not fully stabilized — responded rapidly to these conditions.

These changes introduced challenges. Permit requirements included specific restoration and stabilization goals designed to meet water quality standards, while the wetland’s natural response made a rigid, prescriptive approach difficult to apply. In addition, the stream’s new flow path through the wetland meant that no in-stream work could occur until the following summer construction window. Any potential retrofit work within the wetland or stream would also require careful coordination, as these conditions coincided with the federal government shutdown in fall 2025.

Managing Complexity Through Collaboration

Responding effectively required close coordination among WSDOT, Tribal partners and multiple regulatory agencies. Additional constraints, including narrow in‑stream work windows and limited agency availability, reinforced the need for an approach that was both practical and adaptive.

Rather than attempting to force the system back to its original design assumptions, the project team proposed a flexible, adaptive path forward.

Letting the System Inform Solutions

In the near term, the team implemented minimal erosion‑control best management practices to protect the site while limiting additional disturbance. At the same time, they committed to ongoing monitoring to better understand how the wetland functions under post‑construction conditions.

Monitoring showed that the new overflow channels aligned with the wetland’s mosaic character. While the final design solution is still evolving, the longer‑term approach shifted toward stabilizing those channels within the floodplain — supporting ecological function and permit objectives while working with natural processes.

Together, these decisions reflect how adaptive management can support effective outcomes in dynamic environments by allowing real‑world conditions to inform design, permitting and long‑term performance.

Join Us at NAWM

We will share additional lessons learned from this case study during our presentation, “Implementing effective adaptive management to meet project goals in the face of unforeseen and changing conditions,” at the on Thursday, April 30, at 11 a.m.

If you are attending NAWM, we invite you to join the session and connect with us or continue the conversation on LinkedIn.

Project earns an ACEC Georgia Engineering Excellence Award.

Babak (Bobby) Shayan, David McKenney, Alexandra Davis, Andrew Pankopp and Andy Casey accept award on behalf project team. 

Spelman College has long been recognized for its academic excellence and leadership in liberal arts and sciences. As the college envisioned its first major new academic building in more than 25 years, campus leaders saw an opportunity to create something extraordinary — a space where the arts and sciences could finally converge and inspire one another.

The result is the 82,500‑square‑foot , a landmark building positioned at one of the campus’s most prominent corners. Designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, the Center includes performance spaces, classrooms, dance studios, a museum, a café and the Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab — an advanced maker space inviting students from across disciplines to experiment and create.

The project recently earned statewide recognition, receiving an , in the Special Projects category. This award highlights the successful collaboration and technical excellence that brought this transformational building to life.

Engineering a Shared Vision

Atlas is proud to have played a significant role in delivering the site design solutions that made this bold vision possible. Our team provided comprehensive services, including site planning, grading and drainage, stormwater management, utility design, erosion control, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) documentation, permitting and construction support.

Designing within a dense, historic and active campus environment required meticulous planning and coordination. The project site, formerly a faculty parking lot, contained a complex web of existing utilities critical to campus operations. Atlas conducted extensive investigation and subsurface utility exploration to minimize relocations, protect essential systems and see that construction could move forward without disrupting campus life.

This careful groundwork proved invaluable, especially when designing the foundations for the pedestrian bridge that connects the new Center to the campus core. Bridge footings were needed in an area crowded with existing and proposed utilities. Atlas worked closely with the structural engineering team, using designating and targeted test pits to verify the exact location and elevation of utilities.

Sustainable Solutions Below the Surface

While much of the Center’s beauty is visible in its open, sun‑lit architecture and inviting outdoor “porch” spaces, some of its most impactful engineering features lie underground.

Located within — an area historically affected by pollution and flooding — the site required thoughtful water management strategies. Atlas designed a 63,200‑gallon underground cistern, constructed from 84‑inch‑diameter pipe, to capture runoff from both landscaped areas and building rooftops. Pretreatment through vegetated swales and a high‑capacity First Defense system improves water quality, reduces downstream flooding and gives Spelman a sustainable irrigation source that reduces reliance on the city’s potable water supply.

During utility evaluations, Atlas also identified opportunities to enhance segments of the existing sanitary sewer system serving a large portion of campus. The team designed a new watertight sewer main, improving system performance and safeguarding both campus operations and nearby natural environments.

The Center for Innovation and the Arts has already catalyzed new activity and programming on campus, creating a vibrant hub for creativity and discovery. For Atlas, the project represents the impact of thoughtful civil engineering — solutions that operate quietly beneath the surface yet play a pivotal role in a building’s performance, sustainability and long‑term campus value.

“Earning the 2026 ACEC Georgia Merit Award underscores the significance of this achievement. The Center stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when visionary design meets technical precision: a building that not only serves Spelman College today but strengthens its legacy for generations to come,” said Tom Price, Atlas Infrastructure President.

Additional Award-Winning Contributions

Alongside the Merit Award for the Spelman Center for Innovation and the Arts, Atlas was also recognized for its contributions to the Big Creek Water Reclamation Facility Expansion and the Brookhaven City Center, which earned a State Award and an Honor Award, respectively.

Chicago Transit Authority Red and Purple Line Modernization Project

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is investing in a more resilient and efficient transportation system with its $2.1 billion (RPM)—one of the largest transit investments in the agency’s history. The project includes replacing four century-old stations along Chicago’s busiest transit corridor with larger facilities that are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. The new stations feature wider platforms, better lighting, improved security, real-time information boards, more reliable train service, less crowded trains and platforms and a more aesthetically pleasing environment for pedestrians.

As part of the Walsh-Fluor Design-Build team, Atlas provided civil engineering services, including roadway design, traffic maintenance, signal design, utility coordination, drainage design, site layouts, and grading, as well as electrical and lighting design.

“Every day, millions of Chicagoans rely on the city’s transit system to get where they need to go. Supporting our long-time client, Atlas was proud to collaborate with CTA on delivering a safer, more reliable transit system,” said Tom Price, Atlas Infrastructure President. “Sustainability, preservation, and innovation were woven into every decision made, resulting in a project that truly honors Chicago’s past, while building a resilient, efficient transit future.”

Building a modern transit system

Construction on Phase One began in 2019 and included updates on two major areas—the and the (LBMM) section. With millions of passengers relying on the Red Line every year, updating these lines was critical to making CTA’s transit system more reliable and efficient.

In 2021, CTA celebrated the completion of the Red Purple Bypass. This milestone allowed northbound Brown Line trains to pass over Red and Purple Line tracks—eliminating a critical bottleneck and allowing for more frequent service.

CTA hit another major milestone in 2025 with the completion of the LBMM portion of the project, which involved reconstructing four stations and replacing all elevated track and support structures along 1.3 miles of the Red Line.

Working within one of the nation’s most spatially constrained urban corridors presents unique challenges. Atlas helped CTA employ highly adaptive planning strategies to overcome numerous complexities throughout this project. To keep trains running on time, our team utilized creative solutions to sequence construction and implement temporary systems, including two fully functional temporary stations that served the public for years before the final stations were finished. Atlas’ team even helped relocate a century-old building to allow critical track realignment—a decision that demonstrated thoughtful engineering and respect for the city’s architectural heritage.

“Together with CTA and our industry partners, Atlas designed every element of construction planning to reduce inconvenience and minimize disruption to people’s daily routines,” added Price. “Atlas is proud to have contributed to this landmark project that will be utilized by millions of passengers in the years to come.”

Working collaboratively with CTA, our team contributed to this massive transit line upgrade through:

• Roadway and alley rehabilitation: Atlas designed plans for all impacted streets and alleys within the project limits and reconstructed all impacted sidewalks to meet Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) standards with ADA compliant ramps at all temporary and permanent locations.
• Collaborative planning and permitting: Atlas was responsible for all utility coordination on the project, including identifying potential conflicts early in the design-build process. By maintaining regular contact with utilities throughout the project, Atlas made proactive communication and coordination a top priority. Our team worked extensively with Walsh-Flour to facilitate communication with the Department of Buildings, CDOT, and the Office of Underground Coordination to keep the project running smoothly.
• Digital and technical knowledge: Atlas’ modeling experts created and maintained a dynamic digital terrain model for all surface drainage, roadway vertical geometry and ADA design grades. Our design included extensive OpenRoads work—driving efficiencies and schedule. Atlas was an early adopter of OpenRoads software to create dynamic 3-D models.
• Enhanced safety and lighting: With a deep understanding of CTA’s and CDOT’s requirements, Atlas designed all exterior lighting for the RPB and LBMM sections, as well as power feeds for relay houses, aesthetic lighting, and temporary and permanent lighting for station facades.
• Creative drainage solutions: Atlas designed the Stormwater Management Plan, incorporating CTA’s requirements for collecting and storing runoff. Infiltration trenches and storage tanks were utilized, which eliminated surface runoff contributing to the city sewer system.
• Collaborative construction delivery: Atlas coordinated with Walsh-Fluor, Stantec, and associated subconsultants to coordinate timing on the overall sequence of design packages.

At a glance

CTA’s Phase One investment, one of the largest design-build projects undertaken by CTA

When this corridor was first built, making it one of the oldest in the CTA system

Built with modern architecture and ADA accessibility features

Historically significant Vautravers building moved for track realignment

“I was fortunate to have a lot of women in my life who were very successful — doctors, nurses, a lawyer. My mom started out as an accountant and now she’s a COO. I saw firsthand that women could excel in traditionally male-dominated fields. Their achievements inspired me to believe that I could make my mark as well.” – Erica Lopez Law

Erica Lopez Law, a project engineer at Atlas and the eldest of five siblings, was raised in a supportive and encouraging household. Her parents, who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines, tried to push against social norms, encouraging her to pursue her ambitions, even in fields traditionally sought by men. Inspired by her parents’ mindset and the strength of the women in her extended family, Erica chose a career that allowed her to define her own journey. Learn more about Erica’s path to engineering in this story.

Growing up in the suburbs of Burbank, California, Erica Lopez was born with a natural curiosity and sense of adventure. As the oldest of five children, her desire for independence and a chance to carve her own path grew as she got older.

Math and science seemed to come naturally, and Erica’s parents spurred her passion through participation in activities such as summer math camps, fostering a love for science and engineering.

In high school, Erica’s interest in engineering solidified. Chemistry and physics classes sparked a genuine fascination, and a summer engineering survey class introduced her to different engineering disciplines. Civil engineering stood out to Erica, combining the physics she loved with real-world applications.

The clarity she gained guided her college applications, and Erica pursued civil engineering at the University of Texas, Austin, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering. She chose to specialize in infrastructure materials engineering for her master’s after enjoying her work as an undergraduate research assistant in concrete and asphalt.

As she reflects back now, Erica shares that her decision to attend UT Austin would shape her future in ways she could never have imagined. Although she enjoyed her time as a student in Texas, she was ready for a move to the Rockies. Colorado, with its stunning landscapes and abundance of outdoor activities, called to her. She talked with representatives from Atlas at a college career fair.

“I expressed my desire to move to Denver, and serendipitously, they told me they had a lab in Lakewood.” Erica recalls. “After a series of conversations and interviews, Atlas offered me a position, and I made the move to Colorado three years ago.”

Erica is a project engineer at Atlas, where she handles land development projects, ensuring proper site grading, drainage and erosion control. She started with the company in the materials testing lab, gaining hands-on experience with construction materials. Her future plans are to combine her technical expertise with people and project management skills.

“Engineering offers diverse career paths, and I believe in defining my own journey,” Erica says.

Growing up, Erica was surrounded by smart, strong and accomplished women, and that played a crucial role in shaping her aspirations.

“I was fortunate to have a lot of women in my life who were very successful — doctors, nurses, a lawyer. My mom started out as an accountant and now she’s a COO,” says Erica. “I saw firsthand that women could excel in traditionally male-dominated fields. Their achievements inspired me to believe that I could make my mark as well.”

Erica says having family backing was key to her success.

“I’m grateful for my parents’ guidance and support. I realize now that my path to engineering was influenced significantly by my family,” says Erica. “As immigrants from the Philippines, my parents instilled in me the importance of a stable and successful career.”

Erica passed the Professional Engineering exam earlier this year and will be going through the application process to receive her license in the next couple of months. Her advice to engineering students is to stay focused and remember that the effort will pay off. Studying for the PE is challenging, but perseverance and dedication made it worthwhile.

When she’s not working, you can find Erica outside, enjoying all Colorado has to offer. She loves to hike, and one of her goals is to hike all of Colorado’s 14ers — those are the mountain peaks in the state that are more than 14,000 ft. above sea level. In total, there are 58.

“I’m about halfway complete and plan to spend my summer hiking and camping,” says Erica.

The outdoors can bring on all kinds of inspiration, even inspiration in engineering.

“The natural environment and its integration with human-made infrastructure fascinate me. Driving through Glenwood Canyon in Colorado, I marvel at the harmony between engineering and nature,” she says. “Civil engineering intertwines with the natural world, reminding us to be mindful of the environment. We can’t just build anywhere; we must be respectful of the earth.”

Finally, Erica offers this advice to young professionals: “Say ‘yes’ to opportunities. When I was offered a chance to take on the office safety officer role, I initially hesitated, but it brought unexpected learning experiences and growth. Embrace new paths and be open to opportunities — they can lead to incredible journeys.”

Did Erica’s story inspire you to start your next journey? Come join us at Atlas!