Structural Projects

McLaren provided shoreline stabilization design, geotechnical design, soil surcharge design, and soil monitoring programs, and provided the structural design and construction oversight of a number of the buildings in Port Imperial. McLaren has incorporated industrialized construction techniques in the structural design by designing light-gage steel load bearing wall buildings where the walls were fabricated off-site in a controlled environment, saving construction time and overall building costs. Design challenges included creating a new residential and commercial development on a former rail yard; the dilapidated condition of existing waterfront structures; the lack of infrastructure; and contaminated soils.

McLaren is providing overall project management as well as structural, foundation, and site/civil engineering services. The complex will include administrative and engineering building providing office space for 60+ people, comprising multiple divisions of the Highway Dept., as well as the County’s emergency backup computer operations; operations and maintenance building with space for repairs of department’s equipment; and other facilities. Project challenges included substantial grade elevation changes that limited placement options for the buildings. It is also a long narrow site, which required creative design solutions to utilize the entire site and minimize inefficiencies.

In what is one of the most significant aspects of the development, McLaren has undertaken improvements to provide public access to the Saw Mill River that have included daylighting and re-alignment of approximately 1,300 linear feet between Elm Street and Palisade Avenue. McLaren is also developing the site plans for the City of Yonkers’ Preliminary Site Plan Approval for the Super Block bounded by Nepperhan Avenue, New Main Street, Palisade Avenue and Elm Street. The Super Block is the project’s centerpiece and will include over a dozen buildings accommodating retail, residential, and recreation facilities.

McLaren is providing structural and bridge engineering services that include design of concrete frame with post-tensioned slab for hotel; design of masonry columns and walls, concrete beams and hollow core roof planks for utility buildings; design of marina bridges; assessment of construction materials and methods; design of spread footing and pile foundations; and structural design of lightgauge metal framework for canopies and soffits. Project challenges include hotel foundation choice between piles or spread footings based on assessment of storm water surge and armored beaches; misaligned concrete shear walls and concrete columns in the hotel and the utility buildings to accommodate architectural design; and minimal use of structural steel due to the highly corrosive environment.

McLaren provided civil and structural engineering services, including structural design, drainage and utilities plan, site layout plan, grading plan, and construction administration. McLaren also provided assistance in site selection. Four locations were evaluated, taking into consideration typical issues such as grading and utilities; campus lifestyle and relationships to the existing buildings and campus amenities were key. Also important were ensuring campus functionality was not disturbed and that a positive image of the expansion was maintained. Once the site was established, McLaren developed design documents for the foundation demolition plans that involved demolition of two buildings, major utility demolition, and sand relocation.