Nomination Package

Include one copy of the completed nomination form (for National or State/Local) (for International) and all back up information in print format for record maintenance. If possible, electronic copies of the information should be provided for each committee member. These electronic copies should be placed on CDs. If electronic copies cannot be provided, please provide print copies for all members of the committee. All materials included in the nomination become part of ASCE's permanent archives. A statement of the owner's support of the nomination should be included as part of the nomination packet. Projects should not be nominated unless the owner is supportive of nomination.

It is particularly important that the national significance of the project and its unique features be carefully explained and that they be accurate. Published papers or reports on the nomination are of importance. The names and biographical records of the individuals associated with the project should be included in the presentation when possible and appropriate.

See sample nomination package

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Judging Process and Criteria

For consideration as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, an Organizational Entity or related engineering society must officially nominate a project. To ensure that the designation of a project by ASCE as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark has real and lasting significance, the History and Heritage Committee (HHC) carefully studies and evaluates the data submitted by the nominating Entity or society. Not only must the specific merits of the nominated project be weighed, but it also must be compared to similar projects, including those that may or may not have been nominated and/or designated as landmarks. It is essential that detailed documentation be provided to support statements or claims made in the nomination.

National historic significance is not a quality or characteristic that lends itself to easy evaluation. As a result, HHC uses the following guidelines as it considers the merits of a specific nomination:

1. The nominated project must be of national historic civil engineering significance. Size or technical complexity of design or construction is not sufficient in itself.
2. The project must represent a significant facet of civil engineering history, but does not have to be designed or constructed by a civil engineer.
3. Projects must have some special uniqueness (e.g., a first project constructed); or have made some significant contribution (e.g. the first project designed by a particular method); or utilized a unique or significant construction or engineering technique. The project itself must have contributed to the development of the nation or at least a very large region. Thus a project that did not make a contribution, did not lead to some other development, or was a technical "dead end" may not be of national historic significance, although it was the "first" (or only one) of its kind.
4. Projects should be generally available to the public view, although safety considerations or geographic isolation may restrict access.
5. Nominated projects should be at least 50 years old from the substantial completion at the time an ASCE plaque presentation is desired.
6. Allow room to mount a 13x19 bronze plaque, to be supplied by national ASCE headquarters, which can be viewed by the public.

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Notification Process

Please be advised, each nomination can take up to one year to review. Sometimes the nomination, while worthy, is deemed not to be of national significance. When deemed inappropriate for recognition as a National/International Civil Engineering Landmark, HHC will recommend the site for consideration for local or state designation. These designations are equally important to the profession and the people in the region.
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Landmark Dedication

If the Board of Direction approves an Entity's or related society's nomination for designation as a National/International Civil Engineering Landmark, the Entity or society will plan the plaque presentation event. The full cost of the plaque is the responsibility of the national Society and is usually presented by the president or a delegate.

For a multi-jurisdictional National Civil Engineering Landmark, presentation activities should be coordinated among all Organizational Entities through which the Landmark passes. Duplicate plaques may be provided in such cases. At the conclusion of the dedication, the Entity (s) or related engineering society is asked to submit a final report to the HHC. This report should include, but is not limited to, the following information: 1) date and location of ceremony; 2) names of attending dignitaries; 3) approximate number of attendees; 4) press releases; 5) media coverage (provide copies of articles if possible); 6) materials created for the dedication such as brochures and invitations; and 7) photographs of the ceremony. This report should be sent to the staff contact for the committee.

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