RS&H Promotes James Avitabile as National Design-Build Market Leader, Dennis Gowins as Senior Engineer

ORLANDO, FLA. – Jan. 14, 2009 – RS&H, one of the nation’s leading facilities and infrastructure consulting firms whose client-centered program structure provides value added solutions to clients around the world, has promoted James Avitabile, P.E., vice president and former manager of RS&H’s office in Orlando, as the firm’s national design-build market leader. The firm has also hired Dennis Gowins, P.E., to serve as a senior bridge engineer for segmental concrete design and design-build bridge projects.  Design-build procurement combines the traditionally separate phases of design and construction into one contract and has become an increasingly popular method to accelerate the delivery of needed transportation and public infrastructure projects.

“In the past few years, many of our clients have shifted an increasing portion of their work programs to the design-build procurement strategy,” said Joe Debs, senior vice president and director of the transportation and public infrastructure programs of RS&H. “Assigning a dedicated team leader to focus our pursuit of major design-build projects nationwide is an essential step in capitalizing on RS&H’s expertise in this market.”

RS&H has a significant design-build résumé that includes active and recent roles on several large projects. The firm has acted as the engineer of record in several joint ventures with contractors and has also supported owners like the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and other agencies in the development of numerous criteria packages and associated documents to assist in the design-build procurement process.

Projects have included improvements to Interstate 95 from State Roads 514 to 519 and 528 for the FDOT, the design of toll plazas in Leesburg and Sunrise for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and the reconstruction of the St. Louis Bay Bridge along U.S. 90 for the Mississippi Department of Transportation. RS&H has also provided design-build procurement assistance for weigh-in-motion stations along I-95 and I-75 for the FDOT, as well as for several interchange projects for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority along major routes in North Florida, including Beach Boulevard to Kernan Boulevard, Arlington Expressway to the Southside Connector and Branan Field to Chaffee Road.

Avitabile has over 30 years of experience in transportation planning, engineering, design and construction administration. Since joining RS&H in 2001, he has successfully managed more than 175 associates in over three offices with direct responsibilities for the development and delivery of strategic business initiatives, operational plans and project-specific oversight. He has also been responsible for overseeing a range of projects that have included project development and environment studies, major systems widening, new corridors and design-build toll facilities. Avitabile received a master’s degree in civil engineering from Northeastern University.

Gowins has nearly 30 years of experience in the design and management of projects involving complex bridge structures for projects that have included design, design-build, construction and peer review services. He was responsible for the design of the Ochlockonee Bay Bridge, the FDOT’s first design-build project, as well as the more recent Evans Crary Sr. Bridge, which received the National American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Value Engineering Award for its innovative approach and guaranteed savings of time and money to taxpayers. Gowins has completed numerous projects throughout the U.S. in states such as Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Hawaii. He received a master’s degree in civil engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

About RS&H:
With more than 830 employees, RS&H is one of the nation’s leading facilities and infrastructure consulting firms whose client-centered program structure provides value added solutions to clients around the world. With a tradition that began in 1941, RS&H has 30 offices and market sector programs which include Aerospace and Defense, Aviation, Commercial, Institutional, Public Infrastructure and Transportation.  Construction Engineering Inspection (CEI) services are provided through its wholly owned subsidiary, Reynolds, Smith and Hills, CS Incorporated. RS&H can be reached at 1.800.741.2014 or www.rsandh.com.