Early Childhood Education Facility – Boulder, CO

The Challenge

This early learning center was developed on a compact urban lot in Boulder, subject to strict grading, drainage, and infrastructure requirements. The site needed to accommodate the building footprint, outdoor play areas, parking, and access while conforming to the City’s rigorous technical standards. With limited space, a strategic and creative civil engineering approach was essential.

Land Pro Civil’s Solutions

• Integrated Grading and Drainage Strategy: We designed a grading and drainage system that complemented the site’s existing topography while ensuring positive drainage, ADA-compliant pedestrian access, and accessible building entries, all within the site’s tight constraints.

• Three-Phase Erosion Control Planning: To satisfy the City of Boulder’s stormwater and erosion control regulations, we prepared phased erosion control plans: initial, interim, and final. This approach maintained compliance throughout construction.

• Utility Design in Confined Conditions: Our utility plan successfully integrated water service, fire protection, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems. Each was carefully routed to avoid conflicts and enable efficient installation within the constrained right-of-way.

• Collaborative Site Optimization: Through close coordination with the owner and design team, we developed a layout that met zoning, grading, and stormwater requirements. This approach preserved critical program elements without overbuilding the site.

• Parking Compliance Through Traffic Coordination: To address challenges with Boulder’s parking code, we engaged a traffic engineer and facilitated a parking analysis. This resulted in a creative, code-compliant solution that supported the site’s spatial limitations.

• Streamlined Permitting and Review: We managed the City’s technical review process, responded quickly to comments, and implemented revisions to keep the project on schedule.

The Outcome

• Approved Construction Plans: Grading, drainage, erosion control, and utility plans were approved by the City of Boulder.

• Optimized Site Functionality: The final design supported all critical site functions within a challenging urban footprint.

• Code-Compliant Parking: Our coordination enabled a successful parking strategy without compromising the overall site design.

• Efficient Project Delivery: Clear communication and collaboration across disciplines allowed for a smooth transition from design through permitting and into construction.