AMT Honored with ACEC/MW Merit Award for Church Creek Fire Tower Restoration

Company News | January 31, 2025

AMT proudly announces that we have received an ACEC/MW Merit Award for our work on the Church Creek Fire Tower Restoration project on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This recognition highlights engineering excellence and our commitment to preserving this historical structure while incorporating modern innovations.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from ACEC/MW,” said Matt Ernest, AMT Vice President. “The Church Creek Fire Restoration project demonstrates how thoughtful engineering and restoration can bridge the past and the present to create a lasting impact on the Church Creek community.”

The Church Creek Fire Tower, a vital part of Maryland’s forestry heritage, underwent a meticulous restoration to ensure its preservation for future generations. AMT provided comprehensive civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the fire tower design which included a new foundation to support the tower, a small public informational park, and an ADA accessible parking lot. Historic rehabilitation architectural services were provided by Quinn Evans Architects and structural engineering services were provided by Simpson Gumpertz & Heger.

The ACEC/MW Merit Award exhibits AMT’s collaborative approach and dedication by blending historical preservation with modern engineering practices. The Church Creek Fire Tower now stands, at one-third of its original height, as a symbol of resilience and commitment to preserving the past. It is also a tribute to the rich history of combating fires in rural areas throughout Maryland during the early and mid-20^th century. Visible from the road again, and erected from its prone position, the Church Creek Fire Tower is now a destination where visitors can learn the unique role fire towers played throughout Maryland’s history and interact with the tower in quiet and relaxed setting.

AMT extends our appreciation to our client, the State of Maryland, Department of General Services (DGS), our partners, and team members who contributed to the success of this project. Together, we shaped impactful solutions that honor and preserve the past.