Descriptions of Representative Projects Conducted by Firm’s Engineering Staff

Note that all work described was primarily conducted and coordinated by a member of Gracie Engineering’s current staff.  However, the engineering firm responsible for the work may have been different.  These other companies include: Black & Veatch, Inc.; City of Austin; Mike Capt, P.E. Consulting Engineers; Parsons Engineering Science.

ARCO Chemical Company – Conducted various continuous flow and batch laboratory studies for the treatment of industrial wastewater for ARCC Chemical Company.  The product tested was the waste product from the production of various petrochemical products.  Laboratory testing involved the setup, testing, running of analyses on, and drawing of conclusions from the various investigations.  Such investigations included various biological, chemical, and physical treatment processes, combining together in various aerobic and anaerobic treatment studies.  Both batch scale and continuous flow studies were conducted.

Capitol Gardens Inn Site Plan – Design of site improvements on undeveloped land to support 30 unit hotel.  Conducted site design, including hydraulic and hydrologic analyses, ponds design, utilities design, and parking design.  Conducted permit processing services through City of Austin.

Crow Lane Subdivision – Feasibility studies for subdividing an approximately 3 acre tract for future cul-de-sac street improvements to produce 23 individually owned parcels.  Study involved use of spreadsheet analyses wherein Owner and Engineer could refine design approach by changing input parameters, and having the spreadsheet use its formulas to sum the resulting incomes and expenditures.  In this manner, and through incorporation of all the expected costs (including marketing; land purchase cost; professional fees; construction phase unit-based quantity takeoffs incorporating expected unit cost pricing), the financial feasibility of the particular selected approach could be determined.

Escarpment Boulevard Extension – Design of Arterial Roadway and Associated Facilities in Circle C Ranch Area of Austin, Texas, located over the Edwards Aquifer.  Facilities included; Roadway; Specially Designed Curb Inlets; Innovative Vegetative Filter Strips Configuration to Meet Site Design Constraints, and to Save Numerous Existing Trees; New Water Lines and Wastewater Lines; and Foundations and Retaining Walls to Support 36’ Long x 9’ Wide Precast Arch Culvert, and Associated “Classic” Railing.  Site design met all requirements of the Save Our Springs Ordinance, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements for construction over the Edwards Aquifer.  Work included design work and project management through construction.

Kansas City, Kansas Board of Public Utilities Potable Water Treatment Pilot Plant – Conducted design of, fabrication of, and study of various aspects of the permanent Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) potable water treatment pilot plant.  Individual unit processes included chemical addition pump facilities, rapid mix chambers, plate settlers, sand filtration columns, and activated carbon treatment columns.  Studies involved refining each of the individual treatment components to develop optimal treatment approaches for the overall treatment of varying influent conditions, and communicate these results to the full-scale treatment plant.  In that manner, efficient and effective processing of KCK’s potable water was implemented.

Lake Creek Professionals Site Plan – Design of Combined Sedimentation/Filtration/Detention Facility for the Treatment of Stormwater Runoff at new Dental Office in Austin, Texas.

McNeil Specialty Products Company – Conducted various continuous flow and batch laboratory studies for the treatment of industrial wastewater for McNeil.  The product tested was the waste product from the production of Sucralose, which was to become the artificial sweetener Splenda©.  Laboratory testing involved the setup, testing, running of analyses on, and drawing of conclusions from the various investigations.  Such investigations included various biological, chemical, and physical treatment processes, combining together in various aerobic and anaerobic treatment studies.    Both batch scale and continuous flow studies were conducted.

Pleasant Valley Road Rehabilitation – Design of Roadway Reconstruction and Associated Improvements for Major Arterial Roadway in Austin, Texas.

Resubdivision of East Travis Hills Lot 20 – Resubdivision of Existing 5 acre Tract that is in Both Bastrop County, Texas, and Travis County, Texas, for the formation of 4 new Lots.  Site Evaluation was required to determine suitability of soils to support septic systems.

Resubdivision of Sun-Tex Lot 11-A – Resubdivision of urban subdivision lot, from 1 lot into 2 lots, near downtown Austin, involving requests for variances to have existing structures comply with current zoning requirements.

Wren Avenue Sidewalk – Sidewalk design to support bike access along busy interstate highway frontage road.  Project was strongly supported by employees at the State’s Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to allow them to safely commute via bicycle to their own work facilities along IH-35 in Austin, Texas.  Project was located in State right of way, and included coordination with Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), and satisfaction of design criteria of both TXDOT and the City of Austin.