The Booker T. Washington School project includes the redevelopment of the school campus in which most of the original 1940 structure was removed and replaced by a new school building. The design includes a new school structure (three floors and a roof totaling approximately 200,000 square feet) and the renovation of the original school entrance and auditorium, which were the only retained portions of the original buildings. The structure includes a foundation system that is supported by steel pipe piles, a conventionally reinforced concrete ground floor slab on grade, and structural steel building framing above the ground floor. Eighty percent of the building structure is composed of structural steel.

A structural challenge was introduced to the project when contaminated soil was discovered on the site. Soil remediation was necessary to remove contaminated soil to a depth of approximately three and a half feet. It was replaced with a geomembrane liner and structural fill, which increased the structural loads induced on the supporting piles. This challenge was overcome by an increased pile embedment for support of the heavier loads.

The storm water design of the site has considered the presence of the contaminated soil, and numerous efforts have been made to minimize any potential disturbance. Specifically, all of the underground detention basins have been designed to be as shallow as possible. Additional efforts have also been made to reduce the length of storm water drainage required for the site to reduce the impact that construction will have on the contaminated soil. The detention basins have been designed to temporarily detain both the first 1.25” of runoff, and also the site’s increase in peak flows so that the developed site discharge is equal to or less than the pre-developed site discharge to meet local (Department of Public Works and Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans) requirements.  MMI was also responsible for design of new parking lot paving and site utilities.

FILED UNDER: PRE K-12, RENOVATIONS