WATER + STORMWATER
VMI’s Corps Physical Training Facility under construction.
For example, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) recently faced a storm- water design challenge when planning the school’s new Corps Physical Training Facility. Nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains in Lex- ington, Va., VMI is the oldest state-supported military college in the United States. The proposed state-of-the-art training facility will play an integral part in fulfilling VMI’s mission to prepare citizen-soldiers for a life of service and leadership. Given the site constraints, the design-build team had to get creative with the design of this facility, including the stormwater practices. Topographic and geologic constraints at VMI create a unique and daunting set of challenges anytime the school needs to add new fa- cilities. VMI is located in an area with steep slopes and karst geology (i.e., sinkholes). An initial site limitation to the training facility was the Town Branch Creek, which runs beneath the building and is prone to flooding. Addressing this issue with stormwater controls accomplished a number of objectives, including no impact to the current flood zone adjacent to the creek at VMI and in the surrounding community. Of course, stormwater planning also had to take into account erosion control phasing during construction to prevent sediment from washing into the creek from the jobsite to minimize environmental impacts to the stream. Stormwater controls were planned and tailored to the site’s conditions, geology, and ultimate use early in the design process. As many engi- neers understand, it’s also important to consider controls that are easily maintainable and accessible. In all, this project called for more than a dozen stormwater controls, including a vegetative roof, three bioreten- tion ponds, permeable pavers, an underground cistern to collect runoff, a rainwater harvesting system, an underground stormwater retention facility, and five manufactured BMPs. By planning ahead early in the design process, engineers, architects, general contractors, and landscape architects can better understand project constraints and opportunities, manage project schedules, and craft an accurate construction budget.
An integrated approach to stormwater management
Early planning and leveraging multiple best practices can enhance project outcomes. By Carolyn Howard, P.E.
Design and implementation of stormwater controls on any construction project can be challenging and complex, often resulting in headaches for the design and construction team. For example, it can be tricky to decide the type and number of stormwater controls that would be the most successful, and cost effective, for meeting the specific require- ments of a project. Proper planning for stormwater management early can alleviate many potential pitfalls. Furthermore, utilizing an integrated approach to stormwater controls that leverage multiple best practices can yield enhanced results and a better end-product. Engineers and their clients would be wise to consider early in the de- sign process a holistic approach to stormwater management, choosing best management practices (BMPs) that provide multiple benefits. This integrated approach can help engineers better service their clients and offers a variety of advantages. The top four benefits of this integrated All projects are unique, and stormwater solutions should be tailored to a project’s specific location, use, and goals. Increasingly, those needs call for multiple stormwater controls. As stormwater controls multi- ply, the more time is needed to plan ahead for those controls. Thus, stormwater planning should be considered early and often in the design process. It will save time, money, and heartache later! stormwater strategy include the following: Benefit 1: Encourages early planning
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csengineermag.com
june 2018
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