Altoona Blair County Development Corporation, Blair County
Keller Engineers’ team provided all necessary survey and civil engineering services to design and construct a new 114-acre industrial park. Specific amenities in the park include design and construction of 2,300’ of new Township roadway and infrastructure such as utility extensions, drainage, water, and sewer. Drainage improvements included constructed wetlands and bio-retention facilities to control stormwater runoff rate and volume, and to improve water quality.
Project Uniqueness/Challenges: The most challenging aspect of this project was obtaining the NPDES permit. FEMA revised the floodplain maps after design was under way, which resulted in the wetlands being reclassified as Exceptional Value (EV). This change made permitting wetland impacts far more difficult. Once permits were obtained, a major modification was made to the NPDES permit to better utilize the available grant money.
We have worked with Keller Engineers for structural and civil engineering support on six projects over the past five years and have been very pleased with the results. Our projects tend to be complicated phased renovation/ addition projects calling for creativity in planning and construction. I have been particularity pleased with their responsiveness to issues that arise during construction which is of particular importance to us and our clients. Vern L. McKissick, III, AIA, LEED AP, Owner/Architect McKissick Associates