Project Overview
As part of a multi-million dollar renovation to the Albert Simons Center for the Arts, located on St. Philip Street within the College of Charleston, CP&P’s Summerville precast plant provided a box culvert-style StormPass system to Gulf Stream Construction. This innovative solution facilitated efficient underground stormwater management with minimal disruption. Upon completion, the revitalized Simons Center will offer over 99,000 square feet of classroom and performance space, cementing its place as “The Artistic Heartbeat of Charleston.”
Challenges
The primary challenge was accommodating 14,500 cubic feet of stormwater storage within the confined space of the College of Charleston campus. The solution needed to meet the following criteria:
- Meet the required detention volume and support parking lot traffic loads (H20 loading).
- Preserve existing trees and minimize environmental disruption on-site.
- Overcome design and installation site-constraint challenges.
Aerial View – College of Charleston
Solutions
- StormPass Design:
The StormPass detention system was chosen for its optimal design. Its unique shape helped preserve the surrounding trees while efficiently storing 14,500 cubic feet of stormwater. - H20 Loading Requirements:
The system’s robust construction met the H20 loading requirements, ensuring it could withstand the expected parking lot traffic loads while providing buoyancy resistance through the weight of the StormPass modules. - Manufacturing Proximity:
CP&P’s Summerville precast plant, located just 35 minutes from the project site, streamlined production and delivery, ensuring timely execution. - Ingenious Installation:
Space constraints necessitated the initial use of an excavator and loader for installation, with two pieces positioned daily. Later, a crane was brought in to accelerate the final stages of installation.
StormPass Intallation
Conclusion
Through meticulous planning and collaboration, the installation was completed successfully. Permeable pavers were used in conjunction with the StormPass sections to finalize the assembly, maximizing the site’s limited footprint while meeting stormwater detention requirements, and structural standards for parking lot loading. The project exemplifies the power of innovative problem-solving and effective teamwork, achieving both functionality and structural integrity. Ultimately, this renovation will breathe new life into the Simons Center, providing students and faculty with a vibrant hub for artistic expression.
Simons Center
Download the digital case study, product brochure, or request a lunch and learn today: StormPass Product Information Page
