The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) has named the Irishtown Bend Slope Stabilisation Project in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, as the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Project Award (OPA).
The award-winning project was submitted by Richard Goettle and is being recognised during DFI's 51st Annual Conference, November 2–5, in Orlando, Florida.
The project addressed one of the region's most significant geotechnical challenges by implementing a large-scale deep foundation system to halt an actively moving landslide along the Cuyahoga River.
The 24-acre hillside had experienced decades of movement caused by weak clays, historic fill materials and river dredging that removed support at the toe of the slope.
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A slope failure posed a direct risk to the river's navigation channel, a critical corridor supporting approximately US$4.7 billion in annual economic activity.
The completed stabilisation system, featuring a 670m long pipe pile and sheet pile combiwall tied back into the hillside, has significantly reduced the landslide risk while enabling the development of a new public park along the riverfront.
"Receiving DFI's Outstanding Project Award is a tremendous honour," said Nick Kloenne, P.E., project manager at Richard Goettle.
"Irishtown Bend was one of the most technically demanding projects our company has ever delivered. It showcased the expertise, innovation and craftsmanship of the project team that designed and constructed this landmark project. We are incredibly proud of the project team and grateful to DFI for this recognition."
DFI also gave "Honorable Mentions" to four other projects. These were:
- 4800 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, submitted by Isherwood Geostructural Engineers with DFI members Dan Brown and Associates and Green Infrastructure Partners;
- A Record Setting Slurry Drilled Shaft Solution, submitted by A. H. Beck Foundation, with DFI members HDR Engineering and GRL Engineers;
- Bentley Residences, submitted by Keller North America with DFI member GRL Engineers;
- Expansion and Renovation of a Federal Building in Washington, D.C., submitted by Berkel & Company Contractors with DFI members Haley & Aldrich, Nucor Skyline, Triad Metals and International Construction Equipment.
Established in 1997, the OPA recognies the superior work of DFI members. A committee selects the projects based on size, scope and challenges of the project; degree of innovation and ingenuity exercised; and uniqueness of the solution to the difficulties of the job.
