Fontbonne Academy

Highlights of our investigation include the following:

• Reviewed available structural, civil, and geotechnical information and performed detailed site visits to understand the existing conditions
• Identified design flood elevations, building and site vulnerabilities, and flooding causes
• Evaluated options for floodproofing the existing site infrastructure
• Determined that installing a flood wall around the building’s perimeter was the most feasible option
• Developed the design concept for a new floodwall around the low-lying areas of the building complex, including a subsurface cutoff to eliminate excessive seepage below the wall due to the highly permeable sand and gravel stratum
• Reviewed accessibility issues related to maintaining access to the building through the floodwall
• Evaluated potential seepage paths into the building space, including backwater through plumbing utility lines
• Developed drainage concepts for pumping stormwater, which could not drain by gravity once floodwaters surrounded the building
• Prepared construction cost estimates for the owner’s consideration