Morristown-based Louis Berger Wins Global Best Project Award

On Apr 16, 2014

The Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam has been selected by Engineering News-Record (ENR) for a 2014 Global Best Project Award. The structure was recognized as the best project in the Bridges/Tunnels category in the second annual competition. Louis Berger and New York-based Ammann & Whitney served as the primary designers of the 666-meter bridge, which is modeled after a dragon flying across the Han River. Local firms TDIC JSC 533 and PICON (formerly BAECCO) served as design subconsultants, and construction was carried out by Vietnamese contractors CIENCO1, Company 508 and Bridge Construction Company No. 75.

“It is a great honor to be recognized in this global competition,” said Nick Ivanoff, president and CEO of Ammann & Whitney. “Louis Berger and Ammann & Whitney set out to deliver a bold yet elegant design that would be culturally significant for the city of Da Nang – the result was a fire-breathing dragon. We are extremely proud that this bridge has become a major tourist attraction in the city of Da Nang and has spurred economic growth in the region.”

Since opening on March 29, 2013, the Dragon Bridge has not only become an important transportation link, but also a major tourist attraction in Da Nang. It draws thousands of visitors to its weekend fire- and water-breathing shows and has raised the city’s profile globally, having been covered by hundreds of local and international media outlets.

ENR’s Global Best Projects Awards honor the best new construction projects around the world. Projects are judged on construction safety, engineering innovation, contribution to the global community, aesthetic merit, and the global diversity of the project team.