Signature Projects

South River Tunnel Pump Station
Atlanta, Georgia

The city of Atlanta implemented a program to upgrade its existing sanitary sewer system to eliminate sanitary sewer overflow. To accomplish this objective, the city proposed a series of system improvements for South River Water Reclamation Center. The improvements include upgrading existing hydraulically overloaded sewer segments by removal and replacement with larger size sewers and/or construction of relief sewers, construction of tunnels to store excess flows and to transport the excess flows to existing water reclamation facilities, and construction of tunnel pump stations to pump the excess flow from the tunnels to existing water reclamation facilities for treatment during low flow periods.

This project consisted of the construction of a pump station for a new tunnel that was under design. The pump station shaft will be approximately 50 feet in diameter, 165 feet deep. United Consulting evaluated the geotechnical characteristics of the subsurface conditions (i.e., soil, rock, groundwater, etc.) related to the support of the pump station structure at the final location selected. In particular, the scope included performing triple tube rock coring, performing packer tests in rock, field permeability in overburden soils, geophysical logging using state-of-the-art equipments such as Automatic Telescoping Viewer (ATV), Sonic tools, etc. Detailed laboratory testing and engineering analyses followed by preparation of ‘Data Report’ and ‘Geotechnical Design Report’ were performed to assist in design.

Georgia State University Greek Housing
148 – 158 Edgewood Avenue - Atlanta, Georgia

United Consulting performed a Phase II Environmental Assessment (Phase II) on the Edgewood Avenue Greek Housing Site, located at 148–158 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia. This downtown Atlanta property was planned to be developed as fraternity and sorority housing for Georgia State University (GSU). The Phase II identified lead in the soil above the Georgia Hazardous Sites Response Program (HSRP) Notification Concentration (NC), which required proper Environmental Protection Division (EPD) notification. United Consulting assisted the client with this notification. 

Based on the properties proposed development, along with the results of the initial Phase II, it was determined that to avoid potential listing on the Hazardous Site Inventory (HSI) the impacted soils would need to be removed from the Site.  Therefore, United Consulting recommended performing an additional Phase II Environmental Assessment to better define the limits of the impacted soils, which could in turn be used in development of a remediation plan and to provide cost estimates for the soil remediation.

United Consulting analyzed the data collected from the Phase II Environmental Assessments and worked closely with GSU to develop a remedial plan. United Consulting also worked with GSU to select a remediation contractor. Once a remediation contractor was selected, United Consulting attended the start up meeting to ensure that the parties involved understood their responsibilities and the goals of the remediation plan.          

The remediation plan prepared by Untied Consulting called for the lead impacted soils to be excavated, and either treated on site to render the soils non-hazardous, or if the soils were already non hazardous be directly loaded onto trucks. The non-hazardous soils were then transported off site and disposed of at an appropriate Subtitle D landfill. As part of the remediation plan, United Consulting prepared drawings that showed the extent of the impacted soil and defined how the impacted soils in each area were to be handled. This plan was provided to the HSRP as a supplement to the initial notification to assist in their evaluation and comfort with providing a non HSI determination for the site. Throughout the process, United Consulting acted as a liaison between GSU and the EPD in an effort to secure the non HSI status. 

During the remediation, United Consulting provided a full time Senior Environmental Specialist to oversee the remediation and act as GSU’s on site representative. The United Consulting representative collected verification samples and kept track of the quantity of soils being treated and transported off of the Site. When the remediation was complete, United Consulting prepared a documentation report that included pertinent information including: analytical testing data, soil disposal manifests, photographs of the operations, and drawings summarizing the excavations and sample locations. The documentation report was submitted to the HSRP to document the remediation efforts. 

Due to the thoroughness of the pre-excavation efforts along with the oversight provided in the field, Untied Consulting was able to save GSU both time and money.  These savings were realized by ensuring that only the impacted soils were remediated and that the remediation was performed in a safe and efficient manner. Further, due to the remediation efforts and United Consulting’s communications with the EPD, the site received non HSI status. 

14th and Juniper Street - Atlanta, GA

United Consulting performed a Quality Level “B” Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) effort for the 14th Street “Static Pipe Burst” for a 10-inch sewer line for the Clean Water Atlanta initiative. This project of approximately 2000 linear feet required an area of 66,000 ft² to be surveyed for utilities. The level of accuracy for Quality Level “B” is ± 12 inches on both the horizontal and vertical axis. Utilities are marked in the field according to the APWA Uniform Color Code and transferred to the site drawings for reference prior to trenching operations. United Consulting has utilized state-of-the-art surface geophysical methods; including ground penetrating radar, radio detection, magnetometer to complete this complex urban subsurface environment. Typical working depth range in piedmont soils for subsurface utility location by geophysical methods is up to a maximum of 5 to 10 feet.

Mary Alice Park - Cumming, GA

This project involved construction of a hotel/conference center, water park, parking areas, and associated amenities on a 112-acre peninsula, on Lake Sidney Lanier in Cumming, Georgia. This Project consisted of a somewhat dilapidated public park with a boat ramp and picnic facilities. The Project Site is owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and any proposed developments must be approved by them prior to construction with an approved master plan and lease agreement. United Consulting was contracted to prepare a Phase I Environmental Assessment and National Environmental Policy Act Environmental Assessment (NEPA EA). The Phase I was conducted to meet lender requirements and the NEPA EA was required for approval of the proposed master plan by the USACE. 

The Phase I assessment did not identify recognized environmental conditions related to the Project Site. The NEPA EA document was reviewed by several agencies including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and several different departments within the USACE. The NEPA EA was also posted on a public website for public review. During the review process, several concerns were identified. These concerns included storm water runoff and controlled access of a former public park. 

United Consulting coordinated the approval of the NEPA EA with revisions and alternative design solutions to address the concerns identified during the review process. To address the concern that a private resort was proposed on former public park property, several changes to the proposed plan were recommended. Several storm water design solutions were also recommended to address concerns expressed during the review process. These design solutions included a structured parking deck, pervious paving surfaces, and water quality ponds. The recommended changes were added to the NEPA EA and master plan. Following these revisions, the proposed master plan and NEPA EA were approved by the USACE.

Avondale Avenue Development - Atlanta, GA

United Consulting conducted numerous investigations on this site during the due diligence process for multiple purchasers. The planned development was for a townhome and 342- unit apartment complex, a 5 level vehicle parking deck, and an 8-acre park. The park was to be deeded to the City of Atlanta.

The site consisted of five tracts which totaled about 18 acres. Two tracts were a historic, unregulated landfill, with the three remaining tracts historically being unused or used for commercial purposes. During site due diligence, compounds regulated by the Georgia Hazardous Sites Response Program (HSRP) were detected in both the soils and groundwater. The tract slated for re-development as a park was a former landfill, and methane was also detected on the site. United Consulting prepared a HSRP release notification package for landfill portion of the site, which resulted in the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) issuing a “no-listing” letter for the site in September 2005.

Due to the impacts present on the site, United Consulting recommended that the client obtain the liability protections offered by the Georgia Hazardous Site Reuse and Redevelopment Act (HSRRA or “Brownfields Act”) for the three non landfill tracts. Working with the environmental team consisting of two environmental attorneys and EPD personnel, United Consulting prepared a Brownfield application through the submittal of a prospective purchaser corrective action plan (PPCAP). The PPCAP included provisions for additional sampling at the site for complete soil and groundwater characterization, plans for soil remedial action as necessary, and the preparation of a Prospective Purchaser Compliance Status Report (PPCSR) certifying compliance with applicable Risk Reduction Standards (RRS) under Hazardous Sites Response Act (HSRA) with respect to various hazardous substances. United Consulting received approval of the PPCAP from the EPD in May 2007.

United Consulting began the implementation of the PPCAP in June 2007. Site characterization was completed in November 2007, which identified the extent of soil and groundwater impacts on the site. Areas of soils with concentrations in excess of calculated residential RRS were identified. As such, soil excavation and off-site disposal was planned for 2008. Following the completion of the soil removal and confirmation activities, United Consulting will prepare a PPCSR for the client which will certify compliance with the residential standards. This will complete the limitation of liability process for the client.

To further protect human health on the site, United Consulting designed a Methane Collection System to be installed along the property lines separating the former landfill/future park from the planned residential structures and other nearby existing residential structures. This system was designed to limit methane emanating from the former landfill from migrating onto the nearby properties. The designs were also to meet the general criteria of EPD for management of methane. As with most successful design projects, the entire design process was a challenge from construction and cost feasibility assessment to permitting.

Automated People Mover, H-J AIA - Atlanta, GA

In 2009, a Consolidated Rental Car Facility (CONRAC) will be completed south of Camp Creek Parkway and west of I-85. The facility will accommodate 10 rental car companies and will have approximately 8,700 parking spaces. Additionally, this project will include accommodations for customer service centers, storage and minor maintenance areas, wash lane facilities and vehicle fueling positions to support the quick turn around operation used by the rental car agencies. An Automatic People Mover will accommodate passengers to and from the new CONRAC facility. The track will travel over I-85 and U.S. Highway 29 and will have three stops - one at the CONRAC facility, a second at Gateway Connector near the Georgia International Convention Center and the third at H-JAIA Airport.

In the capacity of Geotechnical Engineering and Materials Testing, United Consulting is responsible for the project management of a 1.5 miles long, dual lane elevated guideway with 3 Stations. These responsibilities include project management, personnel scheduling, budget control, review and submittal of daily reports, field inspection of pile driving, drill shaft inspection, fill and concrete placement inspection and testing, as well as reinforcing steel inspection.

U.S. 411 Connector - Cartersville, GA

The ever-expanding greater Atlanta area highway transportation system will be welcoming the new U.S. 411 Connector in the near future. This new high speed roadway is designed to expedite travel time from the Interstate 75 corridor to Rome, Georgia. The new connector will be approximately 11 miles long and shorten the travel time from Atlanta to Rome by up to 30 minutes.

The U.S. 411 connector will cross multiple existing roads, commercial and residential development, and undeveloped wooded land. This route creates a daunting challenge for the designers of the project, due to the complex existing utility infrastructure. United Consulting’s experience in Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) was utilized by the design team under the authority of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to locate the existing utility infrastructure. In addition to field locating the utilities, the SUE process includes a comprehensive CAD drawing depicting both the above and below ground utilities and their connectivity. This information is then combined with the preliminary route design to identify conflicts between the new and old infrastructure. The design team can then modify the preliminary design to minimize these conflicts in the final design. This process also aids GDOT in resolving the remaining conflicts by providing a comprehensive list of utility providers and the locations that need to be addressed.

Greensferry Basin Sewer/Water Replacement - Atlanta, GA

United Consulting has been performing a Quality Level “B” subsurface utility engineering effort for the Greensferry Basin Sewer/Water Replacement project of the approximately 10.89-mile project section. The level of accuracy for Quality Level “B” is ± 12 inches on both the horizontal and vertical axis. Utilities are marked in the field according to the APWA Uniform Color Code and transferred to the site drawings for reference prior to trenching operations. United Consulting has utilized state-of-the-art surface geophysical methods; including ground penetrating radar, radio detection, and magnetometer to complete this complex urban subsurface environment. Typical working depth range in piedmont soils for subsurface utility locate by geophysical methods is up to a maximum of 15 to 20 feet. Our professionals have identified multiple active utility targets and abandoned features such as street car tracks, UST’s, building foundations and numerous geological features (such as voids).

Realm - Atlanta, GA

The ever-expanding Atlanta skyline has a new addition – Realm. This 30-story, mixed-use high-rise is located in Buckhead at Piedmont and Peachtree Roads was designed with the young professional in mind. A premier residence consisting of 406 condominiums atop 13,000 square feet of office space, Realm has top-notch service, advanced technology features and modern design in an urban setting.

Because of the unique nature of the soil this project required specialized geotechnical engineering for the deep foundations (caissons) used for the condominiums. United Consulting’s expertise determined that the office building needed shallow foundations. United Consulting geotechnical engineers monitored and documented the installations of these foundations. Our engineering staff also performed grout testing, concrete testing, soil compaction testing, observed and measured post tension cable elongations for the elevated slabs, and verified field and shop welds for the structural steel.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - 5th Runway Bridge

In December 2002, United Consulting was awarded the Geotechnical Value Engineering and Construction Materials Testing contract for the new 5th Runway Bridge and Taxiway Bridge over I-285. The value of the Engineering Design Contract is approximately $3 Million while the total value of the contract is expected to fall around $159 Million.