Before ground is broken on any project, much behind-the-scenes work takes place that can make or break the schedule and budget. We do what it takes to make each project a success, whether it’s navigating a complex regulatory permitting process, leveraging funding sources to make an envisioned project a reality, or managing past or future environmental liabilities associated with a site’s use. Since 1979, our environmental and site-civil specialists have been committed to working with regulators to achieve project solutions that are technically sound, cost-effective, environmentally safe, and acceptable to the public. We move projects from conception to construction by facilitating a collaborative public participation/stakeholder process without compromising the original project’s goals. We maintain close working relationships with critical agencies in the environmental, highway, utility, and conservation fields. Clients also benefit from our experience with funding strategies, grant/loan administration, and access to short- and long-term financing sources. We leverage lesser-known sources to develop creative and tailored funding packages.

Project highlights 

Athletic Fields Upgrades
City of Stamford, CT
Flooding issues and the presence of contaminated soils had the City of Stamford, CT searching for a solution to improve field conditions and protect the environment and residents’ health at three properties in the city. Stamford turned to the design-build team of Woodard & Curran and DeRosa Tennis Contractors, Inc. to permit, design, and construct replacements of existing natural grass athletic fields with synthetic turf. Because environmental conditions at the sites were generally complex, and included contaminated soils and historical flooding issues, Woodard & Curran made careful provisions for the management of contaminated soil to address environmental and health risks due to the contamination. Woodard & Curran also employed advanced stormwater management strategies, including subsurface detention and piping systems, to address historical flooding conditions, control stormwater flow and minimize game play downtime. The project received an Engineering Excellence Award from the Connecticut chapter American Council of Engineering Companies.

Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements
Long Creek Watershed, South Portland, ME
In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency exercised its Residual Designation Authority, requiring landowners in the Long Creek watershed, a heavily developed area, to retroactively comply with state stormwater standards or participate in a Watershed Management Plan.
The Long Creek Watershed Management District was established to tackle the challenges, and Woodard & Curran was hired to help develop a plan and implement stormwater best management practices to improve stormwater quality and restore the watershed. This effort is one of the first such regional collaborations in the U.S., and will serve as a model for other communities. On Darling Avenue, Woodard & Curran designed an advanced stormwater filtration system within the constraints of the existing roadway that fit in a small footprint to accommodate the complex utility infrastructure present. The system also immediately stabilized the site and added native vegetation using locally grown sod.

Tidal Gate Design and Habitat Restoration
City of Rye, NY
Manursing Lake, also known as Playland Lake, is a man-made water body in the Edith G. Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in the City of Rye. The tidal gates that regulated flow between the lake and the Long Island Sound were only periodically opened or monitored, leading to damage to sensitive fish and bird habitat. Woodard & Curran was selected to plan and design an automated tide gate and habitat restoration. The new gate system is comprised of motorized, stainless steel slide gates and is controlled automatically by a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system. The gates open and close based on specified minimum and maximum water levels within the lake and the actual water level within the Long Island Sound. The new gate system allows for safer, more efficient operation, and more control of the flows in and out of the lake. Preliminary studies have shown that the new system has potential for significant ecological improvements within the lake. The habitat restoration work created approximately four acres of tidal wetland, grassland, and upland planting. The project received an Engineering Excellence Award from the Ney York chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies.

School Facilities Upgrade
Bristol, ME
The Bristol School needed a number of upgrades to its HVAC system to improve indoor air quality and occupant comfort. Using a creative approach, Woodard & Curran designed upgrades that made the most of the client’s budget and were completed in the tight timeframe available. Upgrades included reducing the heating load and using fabric ducts to save space in the newly renovated gymnasium and adding high-efficiency air outlets and dehumidifiers in the computer room ventilation system to address mold issues and improve comfort. Woodard & Curran managed the project to a tight budget, and helped the school district obtain additional funding when an unexpected need arose, despite many other districts receiving over-budget bids for projects due to rising fuel costs driving prices up.