Environmental Site Redevelopment

Introduction

The Foundry site was an 8.5-acre parcel previously occupied by a metal works facility. Though it had previously undergone environmental remediation, the contaminants were encapsulated under an ID barrier that severely restricted traditional development options.

This case study outlines how we helped the client move forward by leading with data, reversing the design flow, and maintaining regulatory compliance without compromising project viability.

Project Overview

● Client Type: Developer

● Project Focus: Risk Assessment & Pre-Acquisition Strategy

● Site: 8.5 acres

● Challenge: Contaminated ground beneath an untouchable ID barrier

The Challenge

Redeveloping the 8.5-acre Foundry site presented significant constraints due to prior industrial contamination. Years of metalworks operations had left behind hazardous materials such as asbestos, petroleum, and heavy metals. These contaminants had been encapsulated beneath an ID barrier as part of the approved remediation plan.

“The real challenge wasn’t the contamination. It was the lack of reliable data and the inability to investigate the site using standard engineering practices.”

— Lead Advisor, StrideArc

This barrier could not be breached. Any excavation, utility trenching, or grading had to be done with extreme caution. Disruption would trigger new testing requirements and potential regulatory delays. The development team also lacked precise subsurface data, which increased the risk of costly missteps. Meanwhile, the project still required complete utility service, new street layouts, and structural pads that worked around the constraints of the protective cap.

The Solution

Rather than beginning with traditional surface-level design, our team took a reverse-engineered approach driven by environmental constraints. The first step was to precisely identify the location and depth of the ID barrier, which had not been clearly documented. We directed the civil engineering team to conduct a series of shallow test holes in a grid pattern across the site, creating a detailed map of the subsurface conditions.

“We had to rethink the design sequence entirely, starting from underground utility needs and working our way up.”

— Site Planning Lead, StrideArc

Once we understood where utilities could be safely placed, we laid out the site infrastructure in reverse. Utilities came first, followed by street alignments, then building pads. To accommodate everything without compromising the ID barrier, we raised the final site elevation between four and eight feet in key areas. This ensured both long-term durability and regulatory compliance while preserving site functionality.

The Outcome

By reversing the design process and grounding every decision in site-specific data, the team avoided costly errors and eliminated unnecessary excavation, testing, and redesign. This approach preserved the integrity of the site’s environmental cap while reducing both compliance risk and development delays.

The project advanced on schedule. Infrastructure, streets, and building pads were installed without disturbing the encapsulated materials. A site once viewed as too risky to develop became a viable, functional asset through strategic planning and technical precision.

Key Takeaways

This project showcases the value of aligning environmental risk management with practical development strategy. By reversing the traditional design approach and grounding decisions in real-time field data, we delivered a compliant, cost-effective, and buildable site solution — without compromising the integrity of the site’s protective systems.

● Reverse-design strategy minimized environmental risk by aligning infrastructure and elevation to the protected ID barrier.

● Data-driven decision making prevented costly redesigns and testing cycles.

● Cross-disciplinary collaboration ensured engineering and environmental requirements were met simultaneously.

● Redevelopment advanced on schedule without compromising compliance or site integrity.

Ready to Move Forward?

If your project has environmental or development constraints, we can help you move forward with confidence. Our approach combines technical precision with strategic planning, so your site becomes an asset instead of a liability.

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Redevelopment of Environmentally Impacted Site