Doucet provided comprehensive civil engineering design, permitting, and construction phase services for this $30 Million new high school for Taylor ISD. The project included 180,000 SF of educational and office space on 50 acres of land at the southeast corner of Highway 79 and FM 973. The project also included the high school parking lot, vehicle driveways and pedestrian access, sport fields and all the utility and drainage infrastructures.
Doucet was responsible for a complete renovation and addition to existing industrial buildings in order to create a two-story elementary school in a highly developed area. This 115,967 SF school includes 112 parking spaces. Due to the large amount of apartments in the area, it was anticipated that 75% of the student population would walk or bike to school. To facilitate pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic, a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) was designed into the project to cross West Rundberg Lane, an arterial road adjacent to the site. We completed all civil engineering and development permitting for the site to include designing a left turn lane on the existing arterial road for access into the site and adjusted internal circulation and existing driveways to create one way traffic flow in and out of the site. We also utilized existing regional water quality and detention facilities to avoid additional on-site stormwater management requirements. In addition, the existing pavement condition was assessed to determine what pavement areas required rehabilitation or replacement.
The Austin Independent School District (AISD) was in dire need of opening a new elementary school to serve the southwest region of Austin, particularly the Circle C area. This area has been served by the Kiker Elementary School since 1991. With the population growth in the region, Kiker had doubled in occupancy through the use of portable classroom buildings and a higher student/teacher ratio. Through the November 2004 Bond election, voters authorized funds to build a new school in this area. AISD scheduled a 40 classroom school opening by August 2006. The selected site was within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone (Barton Springs Zone) and had no road or utilities adjacent to the site. We were responsible for all civil engineering and development permitting for the site and quickly identified that the land plan provided by the architect and AISD would not meet the environmental regulations for impervious cover limits within the Edwards Aquifer. To mitigate this, we worked with the design team in creating a new site plan that was more environmentally sound. Doucet designed the drives, parking, stormwater management and utilities for the site. Our design included a zero-discharge retention/re-irrigation system that met the non-degradation standards of the City of Austin. The irrigation facilities were placed within a native vegetation area with minimal disturbance to the ground. Where necessary, small cedar trees were hand-cut at ground level to provide an area for the irrigation heads to spray. The schedule required a construction groundbreaking by August 1, 2005 for a school opening for following year. Doucet prepared all site development permit application materials, the TCEQ Water Pollution Abatement Plan, construction documents, and permit acquisition. All permits were acquired by August 1st enabling construction to commence on schedule.
Doucet worked closely with the Architect and school district to select a site for the San Marcos High School softball field. Once selected, we coordinated with subconsultants and prepared construction documents and assisted with the construction bidding and administration. Amenities included restroom, concession, and storage building.
Doucet provided engineering services including plans and specs for bidding and construction. Work included design and specifications for grading, earthwork, planting, irrigation and dugouts with slabs to allow for future CMA walls, scoreboard, lighting, power and water and sewer, slabs for press box and bleachers, fencing, and review for compliance with accessibility codes.
Doucet is the on-call engineer for St. Edwards University, providing civil engineering and surveying services for the university since 2014. Currently under construction is the new Residence Hall with a commercial food service space and a new Operations building. The St. Edward's University Residence Hall site is 5.0 acres, and is located within Tract 3 of the overall campus, which is comprised of 4 total tracts at 3001 S. Congress Ave., in the full purpose jurisdiction of the City of Austin. The $40 Million Residence Hall, at 450 beds and 124 units, totals at 185,500 SF and will allow approximately half of the student body to reside on campus. This provides significant housing options to the University as it attracts more out-of-state and international students who often can not afford the rising housing costs in Austin. The site development permit also includes construction of the driveway, parking spaces, grading/drainage, utility, water quality measures and landscape improvements. Construction will be underway in August 2016.
Doucet is serving as design engineer under the project architect for this campus renovation project. The scope includes the prioritization and identification of the school's most urgent issues that includes but is not limited to fire alarm panels, fire suppression systems, reconditioning or replacement of boilers and chillers in TSD's central plant, foundation repairs, security upgrades, campus electrical distribution system repairs, and water and gas line repairs.