• Cost Estimating Alternatives                                                      
• Site Grading                     
• Earthwork Volume Computations
• Hydrology and Storm Drainage
• Pavement Design
• Traffic Planning
• Water, Sewer, Gas, and Communications Utilities Design

James Gores and Associates provided site grading, earthwork balancing, utilities, and paving design for this project as a subconsultant to the architect, Quinn/Richardson/Kucera. The site had several unique characteristics that made for a challenging design.

 

The Thermopolis Middle School site was a previously excavated borrow area. The site spans a partially covered draw that commonly floods during thunderstorms. This called for special drainage considerations in constructing the new school on the site. The site was too steep to allow the new building to be constructed with a single floor level.

 

James Gores and Associates conducted a hydrologic study of the draw upstream of the site. We then set the building floor elevation above the expected water level in the event of a flash flood. We designed a major storm drain to carry floodwater across the site in an underground pipe. The grading design directed surface flow to the storm drain and to a nearby draw. This design also protected the Town of Thermopolis streets from taking on additional flow from the school site.

 

Because the site was steep, some 40,000 cubic yards of excavation was required. Our grading design optimized the earthwork so that cut and fill quantities balanced. This eliminated the need to either export or import material.

The design provided for easy traffic circulation for buses, emergency vehicles, and passenger cars. The design included curb, gutter, and paving of the parking area. Our design provided city water and sewer connections for the new school. The water system provided a looped main for fire protection.

 

This project came in under budget.