Real Estate Journal — Owners, Developers & Managers — July 31 - August 13, 2015 — 11B
www.marejournal.com
M id A tlantic
A rchitects & E ngineers
By Dan Schauble and Rachel McCaffery, Advantage Engineers Geotechnical & environmental design creativity is required for difficult development projects
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projects have environmental permitting requirements that may involve the presence of site wetlands, sensitive eco- systems and nearby water- bodies. Advantage Engineers has the in-house expertise to evaluate these site concerns and work with regulators to implement solutions that allow site development to continue while protecting the natural environment. Dan Schauble is the Divi- sion Director, Geotechni- cal, while Rachel McCaffery holds the title of Division Director, Environmental. n
he need for creativity and innovation in the engineering consult-
objectives. Raw land sites also have associated geotechnical and
slope stability, safe and effi- cient retaining wall design or temporary earth stabilization measures during construction. Second, the presence of carbon- ate bedrock necessitates a geo- technical consultant that fully understands the risks associ- ated with development of sites in karst regions. While many engineering firms shy away from problematic, sinkhole- prone project sites, Advantage Engineers has successfully navigated hundreds of inves- tigations in even the most challenging karst terrains. Third, many development sites
that would be considered “low risk” development areas, such as former farmland, may have environmental issues arising from historic pesticide use, im- pacted site fill, septic fields and/ or buried tanks. On sites where environmental contamination may be more widespread, our engineering professionals per- form thorough evaluations of all viable alternatives, which may include excavation and consolidation of impacted ma- terials onsite, in situ/ex situ treatment options, alternative fill use or removal options. Fi- nally, most land development
ing industry h a s n e v e r been greater. With the in- creased den- sity of devel- opment, the availability of land that is absent of
environmen- t a l d e s i g n challenges. First, site se- lection may include prop- erties with pre-existing steep slopes that require
Dan Schauble
Rachel McCaffery
significant challenges is dra- matically dwindling, even when compared to just the previous decade. These fac- tors, combined with develop- ment and construction budget constraints, demand the ser- vices of professionals who are willing to think beyond the conventional – to walk the line with their clients and explore solutions that will bolster project value. While our cli- ents routinely ask Advantage Engineers to address their standard geotechnical and environmental design needs, we have also become known for solving the most challenging design issues associated with site development. While essential to economic revitalization of urban cen- ters and sustainability from a site selection standpoint, the redevelopment of urban sites and brownfields brings with it the associated challenges of working within a previously developed footprint. Depend- ing upon previous site usage, environmental investigations may need to be conducted and, if issues are encountered, a re- mediation strategy developed before site development can begin. Geotechnical investi- gations and design will likely need to account for previous layers of unstable historic fill or obstructions. Excavation of former storage tanks and other subsurface structures is often required prior to construction, necessitating safe excavation design in congested, limited access areas. Finally, in urban redevelopment locations, the presence of existing utilities that require protection and support during construction may pose additional subsur- face design and remediation challenges. All of these consid- erations require a specialized consultant capable of working with project stakeholders and regulatory agencies, while developing innovative cost-ef- fective strategies that comply with the overarching design
innovative stabilization meth- ods prior to construction. Site grading on tight sites may also require careful geotechnical evaluation to ensure long-term
Expert & Responsive Value-Driven Solutions
Advantage Engineers is a nationally ranked engineering and consulting firm providing expert, responsive and value-driven geotechnical, environmental and construction phase services. Throughout our 14-year history, our experience and thorough understanding of the demands of the real estate development process have enabled Advantage to provide clients with unparalleled levels of service. Our innovative and “outside the box” thinking uniquely enables us to develop time and budget sensitive solutions for our clients. Call us for your next project.
www.advantageengineers.com ▪ 717.458.0800
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