2023 Project of the Year Winner – Retention: Digital Technology Site

By: Contech Engineered Solutions

mobile mill stormwater management system runoff

A global digital technology company is investing over $20 billion in constructing two new leading-edge chip factories in Ohio to boost production and meet the demand for advanced semiconductors. Spanning nearly 1,000 acres in Licking County, just outside of Columbus, the “mega-site” can accommodate a total of eight chip factories as well as supporting operations and ecosystem partners.

The site called for a stormwater management system to capture runoff from the temporary construction facilities, including office trailers, construction employee parking lots, and precast manufacturing facilities, whose purpose is to provide materials to be used in the construction of the Chip production buildings. Local stormwater regulations, including Ohio EPA’s requirements, needed to be met, including water quality treatment and water quantity storage.

Given the enormous runoff volume of 2.2 million cubic feet, a traditional land-based solution was not feasible. Engineers from SSOE in Columbus, OH, worked with Contech to design an underground detention system made from 22,259 linear feet of 108” diameter Aluminized Steel Type 2. The large pipe diameter maximizes the available depth at the site and minimizes footprint. Engineers designed the system to hold 1.8 million cubic feet of runoff within the pipe and an additional 400,000 cubic feet within the stone using Contech’s Exfiltration Joint, a specially designed joint to exfiltrate stormwater into the surrounding stone backfill.

mobile mill stormwater management system runoff

Contech Stormwater Design Engineers provided multiple iterations of the system layout to optimize the design and avoid other facilities over and around the system. Contech also provided a Professional Engineering Stamp on the submittal drawings.

The construction of the stormwater system was part of the first phase of a multi-year project, and the owner insisted on a quick installation. Contech manufactured the pipe on-site using the mobile mill to meet the construction timeline. Headers and fitting pieces were manufactured offsite in KY and shipped to the site as needed. Contech manufactured the entire system in just three months.

Because 90% of the pipe was manufactured on-site, this enabled the contractor, George Igel, to pick up and place up to 1,000 feet of pipe per day. Backfill operations commenced as the pipe was placed, allowing for continuous system installation.

The design and manufacturing of a detention system of this size and complexity demonstrate Contech’s ability to provide local project support, technical expertise, and manufacturing proficiency to meet the most demanding project goals.