Lochmueller designed an innovative storm water solution along with roadway, structural, and permitting services to support the development of Grand Junction Park in downtown Westfield. The storm water retention system mimics the pre-construction conditions where an abandoned railroad embankment with a culvert controlled the water flow of the existing channel.
Storm water detention for the park was challenging because a significant portion of the area is within the 100-year flood elevation. The design concepts re-used most of the existing hydrology, such as rebuilding a no-longer-used railroad embankment, to maintain the same water flow dynamics. The final design incorporated the embankment and 3-sided box culvert, both with decorative limestone facades, to provide the same service that the railroad embankment and pipe culvert provided previously.
Our team blended the hydraulic design with the architectural vision and the requirement to control the flow of water through a floodplain to form a stunning underground entrance for pedestrians to access the park without having to cross traffic.
