18B — September 25 - October 15, 2015 — Owners, Developers & Managers — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
www.marejournal.com
2015 G overnor ’ s C onference
By Dan Schauble and Rachel McCaffery, Advantage Engineers Geotechnical & environmental design creativity is required for difficult development projects
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known for solving the most challenging design issues as- sociated 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 investiga- tions 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-
he need for creativity and innovation in the engineering consult-
and construction budget con- straints, demand the services of professionals who are will-
erations require a specialized consultant capable of working with project stakeholders and regulatory agencies, while developing innovative cost- effective strategies that comply with the overarching design objectives. Raw land sites also have associated geotechnical and environmental design chal- lenges. First, site selection may include properties with pre-ex- isting steep slopes that require innovative stabilization meth- ods prior to construction. Site grading on tight sites may also require careful geotechnical evaluation to ensure long-term 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 investi- gations in even the most chal- lenging karst terrains. Third, many development sites that would be considered “low risk” development areas, such as for- mer farmland, may have envi- ronmental issues arising from historic pesticide use, impacted 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 projects have environmental permitting requirements that may involve the presence of site wetlands, sensitive ecosys- tems and nearby waterbodies. Advantage Engineers has the in-house expertise to evaluate these site concerns and work with regulators to implement solutions that allow site de- velopment to continue while protecting the natural environ- ment. Dan Schauble is the Division Director, Geo- technical, while Rachel McCaffery holds the title of Division Direc- tor, Environmental. n
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
ing to think beyond the convention- al – to walk the line with their clients and explore solutions that will bolster project value.
significant challenges is dra- matically dwindling, even when compared to just the previous decade. These factors, combined with development Dan Schauble
Rachel McCaffery
While our clients routinely ask Advantage Engineers to ad- dress their standard geotechni- cal and environmental design needs, we have also become
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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