Engineering Ventures

Civil and Structural Engineering

City Center Park, South Burlington, VT

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There are new beginnings on the horizon for South Burlington, Vermont. For years, leaders of the city were enticed by the chance to create a true city center and with that develop a tighter knit community. The first step of this process is City Center Park.

The new park includes a network of accessible trails that traverses boardwalks, bridges and gravel walkways. There is a natural playground in the center clearing of these pathways and a large cord wood log spiral in another clearing. Natural areas are preserved and stormwater from an adjacent city street is now being treated. City Center Park turned an undeveloped area right in the middle of the city into a beautiful oasis signaling the start of something amazing.

For this project, our firm introduced the opportunity to develop stormwater treatment for the existing nearby street that flowed into the park wetlands untreated. Our team saw the chance to improve water quality at the end of the street before it entered the wetlands surrounding the park. They determined that a gravel wetland could be installed in an existing wetland buffer. The city hadn’t been able to previously permit this area, but our firm worked with the city and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to get it approved.

For the bridges, the materials used were traditional concrete along with glulam, timber, and granite. The playground utilized natural tree trunks from the site, stacked cord wood and boulders.

City Center Park is the first step towards the South Burlington City Center Initiative. Since 1985, the leaders of South Burlington have been developing a comprehensive, centralized downtown area with parks, a city hall, a library, and a senior center. Along with a proposed Recreation Center further down Dorset Street, residents of South Burlington will see a lot of growth in the coming years!

Winner of the 2021 Vermont Public Places Merit Award.

  • One of the neighborhood meetings.
  • An old footbridge over a Potash Brook tributary.
  • Opening day!

Birds of Vermont Museum Pedestrian Bridge, Huntington, VT

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In 2013, a rain-fed flood carved out a deep ravine near the Birds of Vermont Museum. In the process, it destroyed the gravel walkway connecting their parking lot to the museum itself and to the hiking trails beyond. This was a tragedy for such a rural museum. However, the staff saw the disaster as an opportunity to build something even better.

Our structural team assisted with the design for a new accessible pedestrian bridge with panel guard rail features. They implemented sustainable design practices with the use of Black Locust lumber, an invasive species of tree in New England known for its rot-resistant and hearty wood. The bridge blends into its surroundings with natural wood beams and simple wire mesh panels.

Years later, the ravine is a lush habitat and the bridge allows for visitors to take a close look at the birds without disturbing them.

Thank you to the Birds of Vermont Museum for the use of their ‘before’ pictures.

  • Before…
  • During the flood.
  • … After.
  • The museum’s original bird sculptor, Bob, looking at the tree removal.
  • The finished bridge, facing the museum.

Stone Hut Restoration, Stowe, VT

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The Stone Hut that rests upon Mount Mansfield’s peak was constructed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It is only accessible by ski lift, and all guests must carry in their own gear. For 80 years, ski enthusiasts used the hut for the chance to get first tracks.

In an unfortunate accident, the hut burned down on Christmas of 2015.

Engineering Ventures assisted with the design and rehabilitation of what remained of the structure. As part of the rehabilitation of the hut, they needed to alter the structural systems to comply with modern code. Our engineers performed an evaluation of the site, and developed an improved site plan for visitor access. On the side, they assisted with designing a wood shed.

EV’s engineers determined that the stone masonry walls were sturdy enough to keep. However, the fire burned the wooden elements beyond repair. In an effort to preserve the historic nature of the building, our engineers made an effort to replicate the original log roof framing and supports.

Not even a year after the fire, the Stone Hut was open for reservations in November of 2016. The interior has a modern look with its bright new wood, yet it keeps the rustic charm of the previous iteration. Guests can once again be delighted with the opportunity to claim first tracks on Mount Mansfield.

  • The burned interior of the Stone Hut
  • Burned interior
  • Cleaned and ready for a new roof!
  • The new beams
  • Putting the finishing touches on the new roof
  • View from the hut in October
  • Ready for first tracks!

Allen Brook Nature Trail, Williston, VT

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The Allen Brook Nature Trail in Williston, VT includes a 150ft boardwalk that allows for visitors to experience the natural area without disturbing the wetlands. Since the last renovation of this heavily-trafficked trail in 2008, the wood has started to sag and deform. Though this is a symptom of normal use, the town hopes this next iteration will last longer without compromising its appearance.

No, there is nothing wrong with your monitor! The bridges that cross over streams at the park are settling due to normal use. This causes the wood to warp, bend and crack.

Engineering Venture’s team of structural engineers is taking on that challenge! They are working on re-designing the boardwalk for a long-lasting alternative.

EV’s engineers are making the new design as sustainable as possible. To do this, they are re-using the majority of posts holding up the current bridge. They plan to use helical piles to keep the bridge portion from settling into the river bank. The team is also considering using local black locust wood to replace the current structure. Black locust is a sustainable wood source – as a hardwood, it won’t sag as quickly. It’s an invasive species in New England and projects like this help to control its population. The team is considering constructing the bridge locally in Rutland, VT, which will cut back on the cost of transport.

When completed this boardwalk will serve the community at large with a convenient means across the “roaring” Allen Brook!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hQIUzGzQJI
A video explaining helical piles.

First Congregational Church, Williamstown, MA

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The First Congregational Church in Williamstown, MA celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2015. Rebuilding, fires, removals and additions may have changed the appearance of the building from its original small wood structure, but the importance of the church to the community at large has held steady. In preparation for their next 250 years, the church leadership requested an evaluation of the building to determine any deficiencies that they will address in future reconstruction.

As part of a larger team consisting of architects, mechanical engineers and civil engineers, Engineering Ventures conducted a structural evaluation for the church.

The site visit consisted of almost the entire building – including attempting to climb inside the steeple! But, due to the cold February weather and limited access to the uppermost peak, they could only make it up to a certain level. The team had compiled drone pictures of the steeple. Those pictures, along with visual confirmation of the interior, were enough to determine that its steel frame was in good shape but needed some refinishing.

After a close look at the other levels of the church, EV determined that the remainder of the building only needed some minor repairs and refurbishments. Other than that, it has held up great over the years!

Fun fact: The clocks on each of the four sides of the steeple are controlled by a single clock in the center! This clock has to be wound once per week, and has been running for the last 100 years. (Source)

  • The clock in the center of the steeple

North Country School Performing Arts Center, Lake Placid, New York

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The North Country School Walter Breeman Performing Arts Center is currently under construction, but will soon be a centralized space for students to develop, practice, and showcase their blossoming talents. The building will house a theater for about 300 people, with a series of catwalks, practice rooms, a workshop, and a grand entryway.

Engineering Ventures helped with permitting the project (civil), as well as structural design. The building is a combination of steel and wood systems. Getting the two systems to play nicely was a challenge, but eventually our structural engineers convinced them to work together… because when a structural engineer tells you to do something, you do it!

The curved wall leading into the theater. This also shows the connection between the wood and steel framing on the left side of the photograph.

Some interesting features of the building include the curved entryway and symmetrical exposed X-braces in the theater.  Curving concrete walls, masonry and steel lintels isn’t easy, but it can be done. The end result is an elegant building that will fit with the design theme of the campus.

One Lakeview Terrace, Burlington, VT

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Seen from a distance, One Lakeview is an impressive structure floating above the tree line. It hovers over the ground on 50-foot angled steel columns. Nearly all of the apartment complex is elevated above grade, other than the lower edge of the structure that just touches the edge of the hillside.

When fully constructed, the building will have two stories of steel framing – a parking garage at the bottom and one floor of apartments – and two stories of wood framed apartments on top of that. The majority of apartments will have a view of the lake and those lakeside apartments will have balconies suspended from the wall framing. From the uppermost level, tenants will be as high up as 90 feet off the ground.

As one might imagine, this project was a challenge.

Engineering Ventures structural project manager, Matt Ernst, P.E. said One Lakeview Terrace required a team effort. In the beginning stages, there was much collaboration with the Geotechnical Engineering firm due to the challenging site location. The contractor and developer helped to come up with a scheme that was within budget. Engineering Ventures civil engineering team also assisted with the site design and zoning.

Given its visibility from Burlington’s popular waterfront, the developer and architect proposed a bold design of canted – or angled – steel columns to support the apartment building. The columns tested the limits of blending creativity with stability. Engineering Ventures was tasked with making this scheme a reality.

“It was fun to figure out how to make the columns look somewhat random, but still function structurally,” Matt said. He mentioned that the round columns could have more easily been straight up and down, but our team committed to delivering the desired aesthetic.

In addition to the canted columns, the project site posed unique challenges. The columns are situated on top of concrete footings that are themselves sitting on top of steel piles driven into the earth. These piles are the key to making One Lakeview stable on the hillside. Our team of engineers designed this foundation system to support the weight of the 43 unit, 4-story complex.

This unique building shows what can be accomplished by facing engineering challenges with a creative approach.

Killington Home, Killington, VT

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Nestled amid Vermont’s Green Mountains, located conveniently alongside a ski trail, this home is designed to utilize the landscape around it. A deck with an upward sloping balcony serves both as the main focal point and as an opportunity for creative engineering. With large overhangs in both the roof and floor framing, and vast expanses of glass, this contemporary residence was fun challenge for our structural engineers.

Steel beams were strategically placed within the different framing levels of the house. These beams cantilever outward to support the floor, roof, and window assemblies. The result is both elegant and structurally sound.

Putney School Gray Dorm Renovation, Putney, VT

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Gray Dorm, Poultney, VT. Photo Credit of The Putney School

EV provided structural engineering services for this sustainably designed renovation to the Gray Dorm at The Putney School, an independent high school in Putney, VT. Energy efficiency was a key element of the project – winning this project and architect, Maclay Architects, the Efficiency Vermont 2019 “Best of the Best” Commercial Building Design & Construction for Commercial Major Renovation. (Photo Credit to The Putney School)

City Market South End Expansion, Burlington, VT

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City Market South End, Burlington, VT – Photo Credit to Freeman French Freeman

This new City Market South End retail store, built on an industrial brownfield site, opened in 2017. EV provided civil and structural design and construction phase services for this project. The building consists of 21,000 square feet of retail and storage space on the ground floor and second floor mezzanine space of about 10,000 square feet. Energy efficiency was a key element of the project – winning this project and architect, Freeman French Freeman, the Efficiency Vermont 2019 “Best of the Best” Commercial Building Design & Construction for Commercial New Construction.