Prestigious honor recognizes emerging leadership and innovation in tunneling and underground construction
NEW YORK (June 16, 2026) – Jack Lawrence, HNTB tunnel engineer, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Underground Construction Association (UCA) Young Member Award, recognizing exceptional early-career contributions to the tunneling and underground construction industry. UCA honored Lawrence during its 2026 National American Tunneling Conference held in Anaheim, California.
The UCA Young Member Award honors young professionals who have demonstrated outstanding technical achievement, innovation and meaningful contributions to advancing industry practices and complex underground construction operations.
Lawrence is recognized for his innovative application of artificial intelligence and advanced computational tools to solve complex tunneling challenges as well as his contributions to major infrastructure programs. His work integrates emerging technologies with traditional engineering approaches, helping project teams improve decision-making, manage risk and enhance design outcomes.
“Jack represents the next generation of leaders shaping the future of tunneling,” said Sanja Zlatanic, HNTB’s national tunnel practice leader. “His ability to connect advanced technologies with real-world project delivery is already making a meaningful impact on our industry.”
Based in HNTB’s New York office, Lawrence has contributed to several high-profile infrastructure projects, including the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project in New York City, the Los Angeles Metro Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 and the Amtrak Gateway Program. His experience spans structural and geotechnical analysis, risk identification and multidisciplinary coordination on complex underground systems.
In addition to his project work, Lawrence is an active contributor to the tunneling community. He serves as the United States Young Member Representative to the International Tunneling Association (ITAym) and was just elected to the ITAym Steering Board, making him the first board member from the U.S. He has authored and co-authored multiple industry publications focused on the evolving role of artificial intelligence and innovation in geotechnical engineering and underground construction.