Garver made significant gains in the Roads & Bridges magazine annual "Go-To List" of the 2010 Top Design Firms. The magazine listed Garver as #22 in its list of Top Road and Highway Design Firms and #17 in the list of Top Bridge Design Firms.
According to Roads & Bridges magazine, the Go-To list is compiled through a survey that is answered by government readers who "select the firms they prefer to work with out on the jobsite."
Click here to view the 2010 Road & Bridges Go-To list.
The Fayetteville Public Library in Arkansas has installed a solar test bed on top of its roof to help produce electrical power and reduce energy costs. Garver provided guidance to University of Arkansas students in developing construction plans and specifications for the 60-panel, 15kW solar cell test bed facility. The test bed facility also includes a kiosk for public education and smart-meter for utility integration. A Website has been launched that shows the real-time energy generated by the solar array.
Garver's involvement included coordinating the project, conducting meetings, mentoring students, and providing quality control. Garver Electrical Engineer Bart Gilbreath, PE led Garver's services and helped students recognize the "real-world" implications of the engineering design process, such as functionality, safety, and system longevity.
The Library recently held a public presentation to show off its new technology. The project was funded through a $60,000 grant from the International City/County Management Association.
Garver congratulates two of our engineers for being elected as officers for the Tulsa Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
Garver construction observer Charles Petty has qualified for the World Duck Calling Championship for the 24th consecutive year after winning a regional championship. Charles won the Susquenhanna Flats Regional Duck Calling Contest in Easton, Maryland and will compete for the world title in Stuttgart, Arkansas this November.
"Endurance, determination, and the love of the sport has motivated me to continue to compete," Charles said.
Charles has previously finished as high as second place in the world competition, and for nine consecutive years he placed in the top ten. Charles, 61, is also the reigning Senior World Champion, and ESPN wrote a feature article about Charles after he won the 2009 competition.
Crooked Creek Productions created a video featuring Charles' winning duck call at last year's Senior World Championship. Check it out and then cheer on Charles later this year as he seeks the highest prize in the duck calling sport!
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby has announced that a Senate-approved appropriations bill includes $10 million to widen a vital corridor in Huntsville, Alabama, which is a Garver project. The Huntsville Times recently ran an article about Martin Road and its funding.
Garver is responsible for field surveying, preliminary design, corridor and environmental studies, traffic studies, bridge hydraulic modeling, preliminary bridge design, right-of-way acquisition documents, and design and construction plan preparation services to widen Martin Road from a two-lane facility to a five-lane roadway with curb and gutter, sidewalks, integrated bike lanes, traffic signal, and a new bridge structure over Betts Spring.
The Martin Road corridor provides a vital connection between Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville International Airport, and the proposed additional lanes will provide the needed capacity to handle the increased traffic volumes on Martin Road. This project will also provide the capacity needed for the rapidly growing residential developments in the area as well as the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) related growth anticipated at Redstone Arsenal.
Project Engineer Ian Toohey serves as president of the Central Oklahoma Professional Chapter of the Engineers Without Borders-USA as well as the South Central Region, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas. EWB-USA is a national volunteer organization that brings together engineering students and practitioners to work on vital infrastructure projects in the developing world.
Ian's roles include serving as a mentor and providing student volunteers with knowledge of engineering practices. He also assists regional chapters as an engineering resource. Earlier this year, Ian delivered a keynote speech at the senior awards banquet as part of Arkansas State University's College of Engineering commencement ceremonies. He discussed the goals and vision of EWB-USA and the importance of corporate citizenship.
As University of Oklahoma students, Ian and future Garver employees Steve and Mike Rice volunteered their services on projects in other countries. Ian and Steve provided surveys to build a mission hospital near La Ceiba, Honduras, and Ian and Mike Rice helped develop a water supply in La Pradera del Quetzal, Guatemala. Mike returned to Guatemala a number of times with EWB.
Garver's Norman office currently hosts the Central Oklahoma Professional Chapter of EWB-USA, and has supported local events held by the student chapter at the University of Oklahoma. In addition, several Garver employees in our North Little Rock, Arkansas office are officers in the Central Arkansas Professional Chapter.
The next major event for the South Central Region is a training workshop November 12-14 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, which is near Garver's Frisco, Texas office.
For more information about the South Central Region of EWB-USA and Garver's involvement, please contact Ian at IPToohey@GarverUSA.com
Garver is designing a new water treatment plant in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and our design team is utilizing building information modeling (BIM) to enhance design and aid in public communication and awareness. BIM is a 3D-based technology that increases design efficiency and construction document accuracy.
The new plant will include a state-of-the-art, series membrane process involving ultrafiltration followed by reverse osmosis. These processes are designed to provide safer, softer water to city residents.
Because the membrane systems and ancillary equipment are intricate, Garver is using BIM to coordinate design disciplines within the facility. The new plant is located near historic Big Spring Park, and Garver capitalized on the benefits of BIM to create a realistic rendering to show residents how the facility will aesthetically fit within the site.
The project proposes new raw water pumping, pretreatment basins, UF and RO membranes, disinfection, and high-service pumping. Garver is currently providing design, and construction is scheduled to begin in the fall.
A number of Garver friends and clients also came out in support. Jon Honeywell of Little Rock Public Works (pictured on right with Bill Ruck) and Mike Maulden of Entergy, Little Rock Port Authority Board Chairman, both ran outstanding times. Though sidelined by injury this year, James Firestone, Little Rock Port Authority Director of Operations, came with his family to support his daughter and the Garver runners.
The Firecracker 5K has been held annually since 1976 and attracts runners throughout the region. This year nearly 1,000 participants ran in the event.
Garver Water Team Leader Kirby Rowland, PE recently updated the Hot Springs Village Property Owner's Association on its water treatment plant improvements. Hot Springs Village posted a blog about Kirby's presentation, which can be read here.
Garver is in the process of designing a plant upgrade from 4 million gallons per day (mgd) to 6 mgd. Due to budget constraints, the POA's board of directors requested that Garver provide updated cost estimates and evaluate available alternatives to bring the project cost within its budget limits. Garver recently completed a report that provided this information. Improvements include increasing the capacity of the intake and high service pumps and improving chemical treatment, clarification, filtering, and backwash processes.
(The above photo was taken by Hot Springs Village and posted on its Website.)
Michael Graves, Garver's Oklahoma Water Group Leader, participated in a golf tournament in support of Claremore's Habitat for Humanity chapter. Graves (center of picture) hit the links with City of Claremore Utilities staff and 60 other players at Heritage Hills Golf Course with proceeds benefiting the non-profit humanitarian group.
"We've had the privilege of working with the City of Claremore for nearly a decade to help provide sustainable solutions for their water and wastewater infrastructure," Graves said. "It's nice to have the opportunity to give back to the communities we are fortunate to work with."
Garver's Oklahoma Water Group, recently completed design and permitting for Claremore's new biological nutrient removal wastewater treatment plant. Garver is currently providing daily project administration, inspection, operator training, and plant start-up services during construction. Upon completion of the improvements, the city is expected to gain much-needed wastewater treatment capacity and meet more stringent water quality requirements. The program costs of the improvements is nearly $20 million.
Additionally, Garver has completed a Water Master Plan to assess water infrastructure and determine future drinking water supply and production capacity needs for the next 50 years. Garver is assisting Claremore move forward with recommendations from the plan.
A new greenfield airport in Texas that will meet the needs of business aviation. Austin Executive Airport, a future reliever airport, is taking shape.
The careful design of a new intake pump. The facility's tight quarters required Garver to expertly design the new vertical turbine pump barrel to come through existing openings with a clearance of less than 2 inches.
The steps taken to eliminate flooding in a Tulsa neighborhood. A bridge replacement and creek-widening project has washed the site's hydraulic inadequacies downstream.
Garver's education in LEED design. Our new corporate office advances our understanding in green design.
How Garver is utilizing 3D design. Garver is using 3D technology to drive project documentation and graphically detail design intent.
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