Civil Engineering

From conception through construction, since 1945.

Comprehensive civil engineering solutions

With over 75 years of experience, Bleck Engineering has established itself as a trusted partner in civil engineering across the North Shore and beyond. Our team combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of local regulations, environmental considerations, and community needs.

We work closely with municipalities, private developers, and public institutions to deliver projects that enhance infrastructure, improve quality of life, and respect the natural environment. From initial site planning through final construction, we ensure every project meets the highest standards of quality and sustainability.

What we offer

Our services

Site Planning / DesignMaster PlanningLand DevelopmentDrainage Studies and Watershed ManagementStorm Sewer Systems and Hydrological ModelingSanitary Sewer SystemsWater Distribution SystemsBest Management PracticesTraffic Engineering – Roads and HighwaysStreetscapes

Specialized expertise

Specialized services

Municipal Engineering

Municipal Engineering

BLECK offers a full complement of services to assist municipalities. We pride ourselves in providing cost effective solutions that all stakeholders can buy into as a project progresses. Our design philosophy is to meet and exceed the goals of our client while conforming to the guidelines of the reviewing regulatory agencies.

  • Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Projects
  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects
  • Capital Improvement Projects and Planning
  • Street Maintenance and Rehabilitation
  • Stormwater Conveyance Systems

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Drainage Engineering

Drainage Engineering

BLECK has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to Water Resources and Stormwater Management. Our design professionals can assist our clients from Best Management Practices and low impact design to stormwater master planning, retrofitting, and feasibility analysis.

  • Detention Facility Design
  • Drainage Feasibility Studies
  • Flood Control Analysis and Alternatives Design
  • Floodproofing Design
  • Stormwater Collection Systems

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Bluffs and Ravines

Bluffs and Ravines

BLECK has been providing engineered context sensitive solutions on ravines and bluffs for decades. Whether new development is occurring on a property, routine maintenance and inspections to help prevent property loss, or emergency repairs are needed, Bleck is one of the go-to engineers along the North Shore.

  • Bluff and Ravine Inspection Reports
  • Topographic Mapping
  • Aerial Photography and Mapping
  • Earth Retention Systems
  • Bluff Stabilization

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Our work

Featured projects

USDA – National Nursery System Optimization Planning
Master Planning

USDA – National Nursery System Optimization Planning

National (8 Locations)2024

Providing master planning services to prepare the U.S. Forest Service for the future and meet REPLANT Act targets. The project focuses on optimizing 8 nursery and seed extractory locations across the United States to support planting 1.2 billion trees.

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Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital – Campus Revitalization
HealthcareMaster PlanningStormwater

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital – Campus Revitalization

Lake Forest, IL2017

Bleck Engineering provided civil engineering services for a 160-acre campus featuring a new 483,500 square foot state-of-the-art hospital. The project integrated medical care with health and wellness through walking and biking trails and community spaces.

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Fort Sheridan Ravine & Coastal Restoration
RestorationSurveyingStormwater

Fort Sheridan Ravine & Coastal Restoration

Lake Forest & Highland Park, IL2015

Multi-year project providing surveying and civil engineering services for ravine and coastal restoration along Lake Michigan. Work included new ravine thread lines, stone step pools, and rock riffles to stabilize the area.

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Forest Park Master Plan Implementation
RecreationMaster Planning

Forest Park Master Plan Implementation

Lake Forest, Illinois 20142014

The City of Lake Forest adopted a comprehensive Forest Park Master Plan prepared by **Stephen Stimson Associates** to restore, enhance, and preserve the City's preeminent park. Originally founded in 1856 by the City's original planner, **Almerin Hotchkiss**, Forest Park was established as Lake Forest's first conserved open space and envisioned as a natural resource for passive enjoyment. In 1896, landscape architect **O.C. Simonds** further shaped the park through a formal planning effort. The Master Plan serves as a long-term guide for park improvements, honoring the historic legacy of Hotchkiss and Simonds while addressing modern needs for accessibility, environmental stewardship, and passive recreation. Bleck Engineering prepared civil engineering construction documents for the **37-acre park** in support of the Master Plan's vision and goals. Construction began in 2013, and Forest Park reopened to the public in 2014. Environmental stewardship was central to the project, as the park drains directly to **Lake Michigan**. Improvements focused on reducing impervious surfaces, enhancing stormwater treatment, restoring native landscapes, and realigning walking paths and roadways to create improved circulation and new vistas from the tableland toward the lake.

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Ravinia Festival Food Service Building
Commercial

Ravinia Festival Food Service Building

Ravinia Festival — Highland Park, Illinois Completed 20072007

Bleck Engineering was selected by Lohan Anderson LLC to provide civil engineering design services for a 43,200-square-foot food service and dining facility at the Ravinia Festival. The project required careful planning and coordination to ensure construction activities had minimal impact on the visitor experience and were completed in time for the upcoming festival season. Plans were prepared on an accelerated schedule to allow demolition of the existing food pavilion immediately following the conclusion of the 2006 season. Construction proceeded through the winter months, and the new Food Service and Dining Pavilion opened successfully at the start of the 2007 season. Bleck Engineering's scope included surveying the festival grounds, preparing all site-related civil construction documents, assisting with permitting and entitlements, providing construction administration, and performing construction staking and layout. The project also included 6,000 square feet of outdoor dining patios, thoughtfully designed around several significant existing oak trees. Site circulation paths were reconfigured to improve visitor movement throughout the grounds, and all utility services to the building were upgraded to support the new facility.

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Lake Forest Academy Field Improvements
RecreationEducation

Lake Forest Academy Field Improvements

Lake Forest, Illinois Completed 20182018

Bleck Engineering was retained by **Lake Forest Academy** to evaluate and improve athletic field conditions after recurring flooding of existing natural turf fields resulted in frequent game and practice cancellations. Following a feasibility study, Bleck prepared construction documents for a **3.5-acre multipurpose synthetic turf athletic field** designed to improve playability and meet all applicable water quality and stormwater runoff requirements. The project replaced natural turf with a high-performance field system that allows teams to practice and compete almost immediately after rain events—eliminating the multi-day downtime previously experienced. The design supported fundraising and approval efforts by providing a shovel-ready project for the school board. Constructed in the summer of 2018, the new athletic complex features **six NFHS-compliant fields**, including: 2 field hockey fields 1 boys lacrosse field 1 girls lacrosse field 1 softball field 1 soccer field The field was completed in time for use at the start of the 2018–2019 school year.

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