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St. Charles, MO, February 25, 2008 – SCI Engineering, Inc. (SCI) received an Honor award for its natural resource work on the Des Peres Medical Arts Pavilion project in the Engineering Excellence Awards competition sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Scott Harding, CPSS/SC, Vice President and Director of Natural Resource Services with SCI, served as a primary consultant providing natural resource and additional services for the planning and construction of a new Medical Arts Pavilion (MAP) building, an adjoining parking area, and conservation areas for the Des Peres Hospital campus in St. Louis County, Missouri. Farnsworth Group served as the Civil Engineer, and Summit Development Group served as the Land Development Consultant. Hastings & Chivetta Architects, Inc. were the architects of record, and S.M. Wilson & Company served as the Primary Contractor.

“Based on the original development plan, the proposed parking area next to the MAP building would impact a segment of a tributary running through the property – which had been previously deed restricted as a conservation area – as well as an emergent wetland,” explained Harding. “This deed restriction proved to be a significant stumbling block and main problem in the design and construction of the MAP building.”

Starting in 2004 and continuing into 2007, SCI was contracted by Rendina Companies to provide a wide range of consulting services on the project. The natural resource services included: an exploratory survey and wetland delineation; communication with all regulatory agencies and coordination of communications between the other consultants and regulatory agencies; a thorough alternatives analysis; and preparation of permit applications and approvals through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Geotechnical services included a subsurface exploration and design and construction recommendations for the new building, a lake, as well as the resulting unique solution for the parking area. A Phase I Cultural Resource Survey was also completed.

Several alternatives that had less impact on the site’s waterbodies had been submitted and rejected by the city, and also would have added considerable expense to the total cost. The solution recommended by SCI was to use pre-cast concrete modules to span the 515 l.f. of the tributary to preserve the streambed and to allow the construction of a parking area over it. Using this technique for spanning the streambed instead of completely encasing it in concrete pipe meant that the biological integrity of the tributary could be maintained and the project could be approved by the regulatory agencies.

“This project showed that product selection can be critical in balancing development goals and environmental objectives,” Harding said. “We were able to balance everyone’s needs and deliver a successful project.”

By using the concrete modules and enhancing natural areas on the property, the developer and regulatory agencies were satisfied, construction costs were contained, and patients had a more accessible building and restored natural areas. In addition to the building and parking area, the project resulted in a 3-acre lake and 4 acres of mitigation area with pedestrian access that will be preserved as a conservation amenity for the benefit of the hospital campus and neighborhood.