MakeABridge Wins ET Design Competition Award

May 14, 2008

The MAADI Group, an engineering firm specializing in aluminum bridges and marine applications, received the 2008 ET Foundation’s Design Competition First Place Award in the Structural category for their MakeABridge aluminum modular bridge system.

 

MONTREAL, CANADA – May 14, 2008 – The Aluminum Extrusion Technology for Profiles (ET) Foundation, of Wauconda, Illinois, awards design winners in three categories at both the professional and student levels, with professional winners chosen every two years, and student winners every year.

The MakeABridgeTM system was recognized for its innovative use of interlocking extruded aluminum components in a structural product. The modular system was chosen for its patent-pending design that takes advantage of aluminum’s strength and light weight to deliver an economical and easy-to-install pedestrian bridge that offers a better way to meet infrastructure needs in construction, industrial and sustainable development project applications.

A three-judge panel awarded MAADI Group the first-place prize for MakeABridge, and the competition winners were announced at the International Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar and Exposition, ET ’08, in Orlando, Florida at an awards ceremony during Wednesday’s General Session on May 14.

“We are very excited to receive the ET Foundation Design Award,” said Alex de la Chevrotière, MAADI Group’s president, “This is a validation of Make-A-Bridge’s unique design, and also of its sustainable benefits in a building industry that is highly environmentally conscious. We have tremendous goals for MakeABridge’s success as the new standard in pedestrian bridges and walkways for many infrastructure and commercial building applications.”

The extensive use of aluminum extrusions is integral to the versatility of the MakeABridge modular design. According to de la Chevrotière, extruded aluminum provides structural strength and light weight, while remaining totally weld-free.

“Aluminum was chosen for this load-bearing structure for its flexibility, mechanical properties, and ability to be extruded to precise specifications,” says de la Chevrotière, “No fusion welding is required, and components may be disassembled. The A6061 alloy, at 35,000 psi without any welds, has the strength of A36 steel. The aluminum elements may be anodized in architectural colors, and are able to be transported on standard-size trailers and installed on site with minimal labor.”

MakeABridge is designed to further the sustainable benefits required in green building and sustainable development projects for new and renovated structures to enhance quality of life and safety in urban, commercial, and recreational settings.

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