Burlington, Mass., Feb. 11, 2026 — The American Public Works Association (APWA) announced that a Haley & Aldrich-designed seawall repair project in Northern California has won a 2026 Public Works Project of the Year Award.
This award recognizes the alliance between managing agencies, contractors, and consultants, as well as their cooperative achievements on infrastructure projects that promote excellence in construction management and administration.
The APWA shared the honor at its Feb. 4 chapter meeting. A Haley & Aldrich team that included Dan Peluso, Kate Krug, Edmond Babayan, and many others earned the award in the Under $5 Million division of the Disaster or Emergency Construction Repair category. The winning work restored and reinforced critical sections of the Pajaro Dunes seawall in Watsonville, California, protecting the Pajaro Dunes Geohazard Abatement District (GHAD) community from coastal erosion and storm damage.
Working with partners Kies & Son Construction and MNS Engineers, Haley & Aldrich repaired sections of the nearly 2,000 linear feet of seawall, focusing on restacking the seawall to original design conditions, removing temporary mitigations in place from previous flooding and erosion events. Our team designed a solution that repaired the wall while safeguarding protected wildlife and adhering to multiple agencies’ regulatory requirements. The team’s approach enhances shoreline protection, shields private property, and maintains the resilience of the Pajaro Dunes GHAD community against future coastal hazards.
“This project demonstrates how, even in challenging regulatory conditions and limited work windows, we can collaborate to reach a thoughtful solution with lasting benefits,” says Kate Krug. “It’s an honor to contribute to a project that will enhance shoreline resilience and safeguard a community for years to come.”
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