By: Southeast Culvert, Inc
Cherokee Growth Ball Ground is a medical office building & future mixed-use development in Ball Ground, GA. Ball Ground is a rural community at the base of the Appalachian Mountains. The engineer typically designs in more urban environments. On this project they chose to design a precast vault system for detention. These types of systems are typically designed on very tight sites where a large volume of storage is needed in a confined area. Vault systems also tend to be expensive and require the use of a crane to set the system in place.
The developer of this site did not like the cost or logistics required by the vault system so they approached Southeast Culvert, Inc. to discuss alternatives. After studying the site layout it was apparent that there was plenty of room for a corrugated steel pipe system. SEC was able to extend the pipe system beyond the original footprint and meet the design requirements. Cherokee County requires runoff reduction where possible. Cherokee is a unique county where half lays in the Piedmont geographical area and the other half lays in the Foothills. Infiltration is often possible in the Piedmont but not typically in the Foothills due to rock. It was possible on this site. 56,000 cubic feet of storage was required and the first 1 inch of runoff was required to be contained on site. SEC was able to redesign the system using a 72″, 5″x1″, 14 gage, perforated Aluminized Steel Type II retention system and save approximately 30% on the finished material bill.