February 2, 2006 - American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) presented Borton-Lawson with the Grand Conceptor Award for their engineering efforts on Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains at their annual Diamond Award event. The firm’s extensive work on this beneficial project earned them the top honor among professional consulting firms throughout the state of Pennsylvania.

This annual engineering competition recognizes the outstanding efforts of Pennsylvania engineering firms, highlighting prominent projects that demonstrate a high degree of achievement, value, and ingenuity. Each firm’s presentation is judged by a distinguished panel to determine the winner of several categories along with one Grand Conceptor honor. Christopher McCue, Project Manager of Borton-Lawson, accepted the award on behalf of the company and Dale McFarland, General Manager of Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains, offered a his appreciation and congratulations.

The long awaited Great Wolf Lodge opened its doors for business in the Pocono Mountains in October 2005 adding to the many amenities of the Pocono Mountains. This northwoods-themed, four-story, log-sided resort is like nothing else Northeast Pennsylvania has to offer. Its impressive climate controlled, 78,000 square foot indoor waterpark combined with numerous hotel amenities sets this resort apart from the rest making Great Wolf a coveted vacation destination.

This specialty resort attracts visitors from all over the East Coast looking for year round recreation and is a unique addition to the Pocono region’s plethora of popular winter sports. The Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains has created an abundance of jobs for local residents, and has been experiencing record numbers of guests since its grand opening in the fall. This project took place at no cost to public, and travelers will notice improvements to Interstate 80 and Route 611, associated with this project. These improvements will result in fewer traffic accidents, reduced delays, and reduced pollution due to increased efficiency.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. of Madison Wisconsin had previously completed five Great Wolf Lodge Resorts throughout the United States. The Pocono Mountains project was their largest Great Wolf Lodge facility to date and the largest resort to be built in the Pocono Mountains in over 20 years. It was also the most difficult site Great Wolf Resorts had encountered to date due to the general topography, environmental constraints, and lack of existing infrastructure available to the parcel. The client worked extensively with Borton-Lawson, throughout the design and construction of the Pocono Mountain facility. They expressed that Borton-Lawson exceeded their expectations by helping Great Wolf Resorts overcome infrastructure issues, environmental and topographical constraints, and lack of water and sewer systems. Borton-Lawson succeeded in solving the infrastructure issues, obtained all the necessary approvals, and designed a quality site in an environmentally sensitive area that now supports the newest Pocono Mountains landmark.