With the eastern suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, rapidly growing, the city needed to increase capacity of the existing sewer line. The project called for 24,000 linear feet of a 10-foot finished inside diameter tunnel, access shafts, hydraulic drop structure, passive air quality control and open-cut sanitary sewers.
The interceptor sewer tunnel will connect residences east of Columbus with the collection system that feeds the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project area encompasses the Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road corridor and extends from Blacklick Ridge Boulevard, north to Morse Road. The extension will provide capacity for future growth within the Blacklick Creek Watershed.
The 4-mile long tunnel was constructed in highly complex glacial and post-glacial soil and rock geology with an earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine (EPB TBM) and lined with precast concrete segments. A particular challenge of this project was the high variability of ground conditions. Although EPB TBMs are typically suitable for soft ground, the Blacklick machine was specially designed to handle shale rock as well.
The segments were designed using steel fibers only for enhanced long-term performance. Corrosion inhibiting admixtures were included for long term concrete protection. The project also included near surface facilities such as odor control and junction chambers
The four shafts along the length of the tunnel vary in depth from 35 to 135 feet. Four drop shafts varying in depth and diameter were constructed as part of the project. The shafts involve both soil and rock excavations. Hydrogeological, geotechnical and geophysical studies were performed to select the best technology for tunnel construction and ensure the TBM is designed to operate in a manner that greatly reduces impacts to surface structures and utilities and nearby wells.
As the tunnel Engineer of Record, AECOM provided planning, design and construction services for the project. We also completed numerous workshops with the client and the community during the design process and during construction. The tunnel construction was completed in 2020.
With the completion of a new patient tower at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH), the renovation and expansion of the neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) was one of the first back fill projects.
Consolidation: Consolidating all the NICU beds to create a center-of-care for NICU patients was the main goal of the project. NCH previously served 114 NICU patients spread out between three wings on the third and fourth floors. Consolidation was made possible by moving the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to the new tower, opening space for the NICU. The consolidated configuration optimizes staff efficiency and workflow.
Program: The programmatic goals included centralizing respiratory support for NICU, consolidating administrative offices and staff support lockers, lounges, and physician call rooms and workroom. Existing NICU patient rooms were maintained in place, existing PICU patient rooms were converted to NICU rooms and nursing care areas and support optimized to improve flow and access in the consolidated NICU.
Phasing: With the need to work around critical NICU patients, sensitivity to noise, and staff access and services was essential. Phased construction was the answer. The AECOM team worked with NCH to coordinate construction phasing with a separate 5th floor renovation project located directly above the NICU renovations. The phasing allowed for ongoing operations and kept common use rooms and support spaces available for the NICU units.
Interior Design/ Wayfinding: The existing C4 and J4 NICU wings were constructed at different times and didn’t have a visual connection to each other or the new patient tower. The AECOM team mimicked the new tower’s construction finishes, extending the design into the NICU expansion. Now, when they arrive at the NICU, families and visitors are greeted at a central station and directed to one of three nearby color-coded NICU bays.
Following five years of steady growth, Port Columbus International Airport reached the 6-million passengers-per-year threshold. Airport officials sought a design firm that could answer the need to accommodate this increased traffic. AECOM was selected to provide professional planning, architectural design and engineering services for a multi-discipline airport enhancement. The project includes utility/infrastructure improvements and relocations, modifications to existing access roads, construction of a new short-term parking lot, a new 4,000-car parking garage, a new pedestrian access tunnel and a new terminal expansion.
AECOM provided professional planning, architectural, engineering and interior design services for the Jerrold Friedman Operations Center, world headquarters for NetJets, the largest fractional jet ownership program in the world. The heart of the complex is a 70,000 sq. ft. showcase office and operations center designed with functional and attractive furnishings, equipment and accessory items. An 80,000 sq. ft. aircraft hangar features two 28 ft. x 100 ft. individually motor-operated doors that are set to expand up to 160,000 sq. ft. An aircraft parking apron, approximately 600 ft. by 300 ft., is designed to accommodate B-737-700 series aircraft.
The facility is protected by an AFFF (low expansion foam) fire protection system that is served by a 300,000 gallon private water storage tank. Maintenance and support space totaling 32,000 sq. ft. are designed for flexibly and possible expansion. The complex is supported by more than 500 parking spaces with extensive landscaping and secure fencing.
AECOM provided professional architectural and engineering services for the Nationwide aircraft hangar and office facility located at Port Columbus International Airport. The 35,000 sq. ft. hangar area, designed for a future 10,000 sq. ft. expansion, serves as the base of operations for the corporate jet fleet of Nationwide. The hangar is protected by a Group I AFFF (low expansion) fire protection system and supported by an additional 14,000 sq. ft. of maintenance and support space constructed for direct access to the hangar, including a one-ton crane and fall protection system in the maintenance shops areas. A 10,000 sq. ft. of Class A office area features a striking, double-height lobby and steel and glass canopy overlooking the airfield. The complex is served by a new 5,900 sq. ft. automobile garage.
AECOM helped Grant Medical Center revitalize their landlocked, urban campus in Columbus, Ohio. Due to the tight site, maximizing the use of available space was a top priority. To replace the antiquated, undersized facilities, an existing, underutilized building on the campus was demolished to create the site for the new facility. To maximize the development of the site, the project was designed for future vertical expansion of approximately four additional levels.
The design of the Surgical and Heart Center embraces the urban nature of Grant Medical Center. Architecturally, the building’s dominant feature is a four-story circular glass rotunda. The rotunda visually announces the entry and is an urban landmark for Columbus. The rotunda waiting areas frame views of the city with full walls of glass, flooding the spaces with natural light. At night the rotunda is illuminated, acting as a beacon to identify the main entrance.
The building is open, connecting with the surrounding urban landscape. The interior design focuses on providing spaces that give visitors a wide range of amenities including: a gift shop; a café and bakery with wireless Internet; outdoor patio spaces; including a roof top patio. The main lobby of the hospital is designed as neighborhood gathering place in addition to a resource for those using the facility. The lobby is a showcase for artwork by local artisans and is highlighted with a monumental stair that provides convenient access to second floor waiting areas.
Elements designed to improve the experience of patients and families continue throughout. Visitors and patients enter the Surgery Center and are treated to a spacious reception and family waiting space. Here, family members have room to relax and spread-out in comfortable “living room” accommodations.
As the lead firm, AECOM is providing program and construction management for the City of Columbus for its planned capital improvements for the Division of Water’s Water Supply Group. The program involves a six-year contract with AECOM to provide professional construction management services during design, bidding, and construction of various water treatment and supply projects. Of the 14 projects in the program, the most substantial includes an 850-acre geomembrane-lined, upground reservoir, with connected pump station and raw water line; substantial treatment improvements for three water treatment plants in Columbus that total 215 million gallons per day, and the construction/renovation of two pump stations.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
- $516 million program – includes 14 projects
- 850 acre, 9 billion gallon, geomembrane lined upground reservoir
- Hap Cremean/Dublin Road Water Treatment Plants LEED Gold Certified