Williams & Works

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Kent County Animal Shelter

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Civil-Engineering

Story

The Kent County Animal Shelter replaces an existing, outdated animal shelter building.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.

 

Facts

  • Title: Kent county animal shelter
  • Location: Grand rapids, michigan
  • Postal code: 49503
  • Phase: Complete
  • Delivery method: Construction management
  • Budget: $4,725,000
  • Size: 23000.0


Project Identification Number:

PP-CST-C22C-CABE-2950-C60A-1


Status: Completed


Tags

  • government
  • roads
  • site-development
  • stormwater
  • survey


Project Credits:

Triangle Associates

Construction-Management

Williams & Works

Civil-Engineering

Central Ceiling West

Acoustical-Installation


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