The Kent County Animal Shelter replaces an existing, outdated animal shelter building. The new 23,000-square-foot shelter is nearly three times the size of the existing one, which dates to the 1950s. In addition to the County’s animal control role, the new facility optimizes the County’s veterinary capabilities and its pet adoption program.
A major design consideration in the development of the Animal Shelter was the management of storm water. The proposed Animal Shelter was positioned on top of a hill in the center of the site with a drainage channel containing regulated wetlands along the west side of the site. A surface detention basin was not feasible due to topographic constraints, so the runoff was managed below the parking lot. Williams & Works evaluated the use of underground detention chamber systems; however, the cost of an underground system required another alternative. The final design incorporated the use of leach basins, perforated pipe, and sand backfill, all of which were connected to the native sandy soils found below a 6’—13’ deep clay layer beneath the parking lot. The infiltration rates of the underlying soils were exceptional and allowed the project to move forward without unnecessary expense.
TransDevelopment Group is a world-class developer of specialized transportation facilities for shippers and carriers in the rail, highway and marine cargo industries. They contracted Williams & Works to provide civil engineering services for the development of a 223-acre vehicle transfer facility outside of Lansing, Michigan. Services were provided through the planning, design, bidding and construction stages.
Williams & Works provided construction staking services for the installation of a 1.25-mile rail embankment, more than 22-miles of new rail, and 68-acres of paved parking. The firm designed the storm water management facilities, obtained well and septic permitting, and designed a sanitary lift station. Bidding assistance and coordination with the general contractor regarding the structures, electrical, paving, fence, and concrete were required throughout construction.
Williams & Works coordinated with the various governmental agencies to obtain construction permits and develop traffic detour routes. Meetings were held with the adjacent property owners to keep them informed of the project schedule and the impacts the construction activities. Regular meetings were held with the Client, Owner, and User of the facility to monitor the project schedule, modify particular design aspects, and provide value engineering alternatives. Williams & Works issued bulletins to contractors, evaluated alternatives proposed by contractors, reviewed shop drawings, inspected the constructed improvements and obtained final occupancy permits.
Design began in July 2004 and site plan approval was obtained in September 2004. The project was placed on hold through 2005 pending budget allocation. In February 2006, after negotiations with several contractors, TransDevelopment Group selected DeAngelis Contractors of Woodhaven, MI to construct the project. During the bid and negotiation phase, Williams & Works provided bidding assistance-working closely with three separate contractors to provide clarification of the design, evaluate mass grading of over 600,000 cubic yards of material, and review contractor proposals.
Construction staking was provided to the contractor and subcontractors on the site, providing the vertical and horizontal controls necessary to complete the project.
Construction was completed in 2007.
Williams & Works provided design and construction engineering services for the replacement of the Bridge Street Bridge over the Flat River in Belding, Michigan. As part of the MDOT Critical Bridge Program, the existing 2-span structure was designated for removal and replacement. Williams & Works developed a type, size, and location study with several alternative structures types for the City of Belding to review. Public information meetings were held, and, after a 2-span structure with various architectural details was selected, Williams & Works developed construction plans and specifications.
Williams & Works performed a hydraulic and scour analysis using HEC-RAS and submitted the results to the MDEQ for the necessary permits and compliance with State floodplain regulations. Williams & Works was also responsible for submitting all programming information to MDOT.
The bridge design included spread prestressed concrete box beams with a concrete deck and decorative cast-in-place concrete railings. The bridge substructure included concrete abutments and pier supported by steel piles. As part of the approach roadway reconstruction, the storm sewer system was redesigned to improve drainage in the area.
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Civil-Engineering
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Site-Design
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Engineering
The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre is the largest community theatre in Grand Rapids and one of the largest and oldest in the entire U.S. The building, originally construct...
Civil-Engineering
Ivanrest Christian Reformed Church, a growing church in Grandville, Michigan recently completed a new multi-propose room addition they call the ‘West Wing'. The multi-...
Site-Design