Masterplanning Projects
RAFI
City of Mesquite Masterplan
Located 78 miles Northeast of Las Vegas on U.S. Interstate 15 at the Nevada/Arizona borders, the newly established city of Mesquite was being rapidly affected by new development and unmanageable growth. RAFI was commissioned by the city to assist with the preparation of a master plan that would also serve as a strategic plan to manage and control future growth.
UNLV Masterplan
For larger scale planning projects that incorporate more complex issues, we’ve engaged a broader, far more diverse consulting faculty with expertise in the widest range of planning and community service areas. These specialty consultants respond to legal, socioeconomic, quality of life, community health, infrastructure, environmental, biological and planning issues around public policy that allow us to approach planning holistically. RAFI’s comprehensive community planning work for private sector clients is current. Portions of the plan for the Pueblos at Golden Ridge, located in Inyo County, California are on hold until the economy and demand for housing improves. One segment of the plan is currently underway with infrastructure, landscaping and several buildings complete. Additional buildings are also under construction currently. RAFI has been associated with this project since 2004. The first phase of planned community development contains approximately 1,110 acres. An additional 300 acres are reserved for future growth beyond the first phase of development.
The master plan for the entire community is developed to be completely sustainable and able to operate entirely off the grid. It is planned and designed to achieve LEED Platinum Certification. More than half of the food and protein for residents use will be grown and raised within the community. The town plan is developed along a central infrastructure and transportation spine that supports an electric bus system. The most distant housing is situated within one-half mile of the bus line. Other than choice, residents have no need to own an automobile. When traveling beyond the community autos are available locally for rent. Promenades through town at mid-block are continuous across raised roadway sections that keeps traffic slowed. Promenades are wide enough to accommodate a plethora of transportation alternatives including walking, riding bicycles, skate boards and using electric carts.
In taking a more comprehensive view of planning we realize success often lies well beyond the context of a single block, a subdivision, neighborhood, or even a larger regional district. However, if we can bring together and unify the interests of the community in working cohesively together in strengthening the balance between society’s demands, the needs for a thriving community economy and an urban ecology that enhances people’s lives daily, we have properly used planning and community design as tools in building a stronger sense a place where residents are invested in having a greater community, stronger social capital and happier lives. If we can succeed in these endeavors we have succeeded in creating sustainability.
The initial scope of work for this project involved planning and design of site improvements for future development for the 450 acre campus, as well as, acquisition of adjacent properties with value to the University and recommendations for future satellite campus programs. Service also included assisting the colleges program for future facilities in excess of 1,000,000 square feet.
Update of the land created 22 new parcels for development and 7 sites for major building additions. Proposed future facilities include additional housing, classroom buildings and service structures, administrative facilities and 20 new parking garages accommodating 12,000 automobiles. With the new plan, the central mall system is expanded to accommodate future growth and a campus population increase to 35,000 students. Emergency vehicle access and service are routed along the pedestrian mall system throughout campus.
A new landscape design has been developed for the campus to reduce maintenance costs and emphasize the use of natural resources. The central mall sectors are to become oasis areas with lush landscaping. As the site extends to the perimeters, plant materials transitions to xeriscaping and native desert trees, shrubs and flora. Perimeter planting is small areas of grass at corners and intersections supplemented with mesquite groves, sandstone boulders and crushed sandstone ground cover.
Later, RAFI was asked to return to the project to perform an ADA wayfinding study and provide the conceptual design for 5 future buildings.
Las Vegas Redevelopment Expansion Study
Horrocks Engineering
Horrocks Engineers has made a significant investment into acquiring and developing revolutionary technology that transforms the site selection and assessment process. Through Horrocks’ unique process, developers, municipalities, government agencies, land owners, and real estate and financial professionals can leverage the following services:
Rapid conceptual plan development:
• Quickly develop site concept plans based on real world criteria using parametric design
• Evaluate multiple layout options on the same site
• Develop concept plans for comparison of multiple sites
• Compress the site evaluation process from weeks to hours
Detailed cost estimates:
• Preliminary cost estimates based on national averages including earthwork, storm water, geotechnical conditions, easements, and other ordinance-driven criteria
• Customize costs based on local data
• Compare multiple options based on costs
• Determine site development costs before survey data is available
Site optimization using the cloud:
• Cloud-driven site optimization for both layout and costs
• Proven cost savings up to $15,000/acre through the site optimization process
CURTIS-WRIGHT: SCIENTECH INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING CENTER, IDAHO FALLS, ID
This project was selected for the Idaho Business Reviews 2013 Best Project Award.
Horrocks Engineers provided an array of services for this 112,300 sq. ft. high-tech testing and instrumentation facility. The facility is the headquarters for Scientech, a Curtis-Wright company. Our services included planning, site layout, entitlements (re-zoning, platting, easement, dedication, etc.), survey (boundary, topography, ALTA, etc.), civil engineering (grading, sanitary sewer, water, fire service, storm water, SWPPP, hardscape design, etc.), and landscape architecture.
Part of the site planning included utilization of SiteOps and other state-of-the-art modeling software to determine optimal finish floor elevations due to grade on the site. The optimization provides a quick analysis that assists in minimizing cuts, fills (earthwork) and retaining walls, thereby minimizing project expenses for our client.
Horrocks staff collaborated with the architect, contractor, and other consultants to provide value engineering and ensure a seamless design and construction process.
Idaho Falls Event Center
Idaho Falls, ID
Horrocks Engineers is part of a team selected by the Idaho Falls Auditorium District to design the proposed Idaho Falls Multi-Use Event Center. This facility will be a roughly 140,000 square foot center with a 4,500 fixed seat arena. The center will host a variety of events including hockey, concerts, basketball, trade shows, and graduations. This project is a part of a greater master planned area that Horrocks has been working on for Ball Ventures, a private developer, for several years.
The development of this project will require extensive collaboration and coordination with the architect and other consultants to ensure seamless design. Horrocks design services will include all on-site civil design, survey, platting, planning, traffic impact studies, roadway design, entitlements and other related services. Part of this design has included an evaluation of the basalt rock profile below ground in relationship to site grading to determine the optimal building finish floor elevation and site location to minimize expense. Off-site design has included new roadways, utilities, major canal crossings and linings, and associated extensions. Entitlement services have included annexation, zoning, public hearings, and multiple plan and plat approval processes.
Evanston Railport & Commercial Business Park Master Plan
Horrocks Engineers teamed with RailPros to research, plan, and design a conceptual plan for a 300+ acre business park with rail access in the Evanston, Wyoming, area. The team conducted site visits; coordinated with stakeholders; and performed a market analysis, property research, and preliminary rail development plans for six potential business park sites. A report was created consisting of the initial feasibility studies performed for the Evanston Rail Access Business Park along with recommendations for which sites best meet site selection criteria. The criteria used to determine site suitability include: acreage of potential site, proximity of site to City of Evanston, utilities, rail access, impacts to railroads, operations, road access, environmental issues, planning issues, land ownership issues, topography, and flood plain. After careful evaluation of the six potential sites and consultation with the City of Evanston and the County, a site known as the Jameson site was identified as the best potential rail park site in the Evanston area because it shares many key features of other successful rail parks in the Rocky Mountain West (e.g. affordable land, location near an interstate, and access to a major East/West railroad mainline track).
MUNICIPAL MASTER PLANNING
For 50 years, Horrocks has completed numerous water, wastewater, transportation, and other municipal projects and has established working relationships with municipalities, cities, government agencies, and others. We are committed to planning, designing, and assessing water resource systems, sewer systems, storm drain systems, transportation systems, and communities that will stand up to the demands of the rapidly growing West.