Terracing and Topography

The Client

Our Client is the owner of a highly experienced civil engineering firm based in Cleveland, Tennessee. With over nine years of industry expertise, the firm specializes in delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for both residential and commercial projects. Their services range from precise land development and site feasibility studies to construction management and permitting.  Their core offerings include: 
  • Site Feasibility Studies 
  • Residential & Commercial Site Plans 
  • Stormwater Management & SWPPP 
  • Permitting 
  • Erosion & Sediment Control 
  • Property Rezoning Services 
  • Conceptual Site Planning
Terracing and Topography

Project Scope and Constraints

The project involved the grading of a 6.69-acre subdivision site, detention pond design, and utility modelling. There were some challenges in this project where client wanted our expertise intervention: 
  1. The primary challenge was the site’s steep terrain; there was an elevation difference of approximately 180 feet from the entrance to the rear of the property. 
  2. The proposed location for a playground was a tricky aspect in this project. It was initially situated on the steepest section of the site and meeting the required slope standard of less than 2% in that area posed a significant design challenge. 
  3. Early assessments indicated need for retaining walls, some possibly exceeding feasible construction heights, along certain site boundaries. 

The Intrivis Solution

We approached the problem with an innovative and practical solution approach: 
  1. We assisted in developing a preliminary grading plan that addressed the steep elevation while ensuring compliance with all relevant standards. To manage the grade, we introduced retaining walls at one end of the site. However, the initial design included a 20-foot wall, impractical due to engineering and regulatory constraints. 
  2. To resolve this, we suggested terracing strategy, which was successfully adopted by client, breaking the wall into two smaller segments of 5 and 7 feet. This approach reduced structural complexity, improved visual appeal, and leveraged available space within the site layout. 
  3. For playground we relocated it to a flatter area originally designated for residential lots. The steep original location was reassigned to lots with basement potential, optimizing land use and aligning with the site's natural topography. 

How Our Solution Created Value for the Client

Terracing and Topography Our solution delivered clear value: 
  1. Cost and Time Savings: By addressing site constraints early and effectively, we helped the Client avoid costly redesigns and delays. 
  2. Enhanced Confidence: Our transparent communication and hands-on approach earned the Client’s trust, leading to additional project engagements. 
  3. Team Extension: The Client expressed that Intrivis Inc. had become a seamless extension of their in-house team, because of our collaborative and solution-oriented approach. 
meeting