Residential Projects
Westminster Canterbury; Lynchburg, VA
F&R performed the subsurface drilling operations and geotechnical engineering, as well as developed the foundation recommendations for the Westminster Canterbury additions. The project included a six-story addition and two support structures with an estimated construction cost of approximately $25 million and an 18 month window to achieve substantial completion. The project also included slope remediation construction, roadways, parking areas, concrete slabs, and a steel frame/masonry structure. F&R performed construction materials testing and inspection services on the earthwork operations related to structural fills, utility trench backfills, parking areas, and roadways. All of the cast-in-place concrete, masonry, structural steel, and fire resistive materials were inspected and/or tested by F&R to monitor compliance with the contract documents, applicable building codes, and BOCA 1705, special inspections.
Mountain Air Development; Asheville, NC
Due to its relatively isolated location, the Mountain Air project – a mountaintop community made up of million dollar plus residences – posed some interesting challenges for F&R. Located on top of Slickrock Mountain this gated community is near Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Rockies at 6,684 feet. It included a private airport, 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, lodge, dining room, pool, shopping, and concierge service. F&R provided geotechnical engineering, and construction materials testing of soil, concrete, and steel.
Pulte Home Corporation; Raleigh, NC
Since the late 1980s, F&R has provided geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, and construction materials testing services for over 60 residential subdivision projects throughout Wake and Durham Counties, NC. Pulte projects range from small single-family home subdivisions with less than 100 lots to large master planned communities with over 1000 lots and multiple housing products. During the site feasibility evaluations of individual parcels that are proposed for subdivisions, F&R typically performs Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Wetlands Delineations, Subsurface Explorations and Geotechnical Engineering Evaluations. This information plays an integral role in Pulte’s decision to purchase the land. During subdivision design, F&R works closely with the design team to incorporate geotechnical engineering issues into the subdivision layout and grading plans. Above and beyond foundation design related issues, our geotechnical engineers have performed detailed slope stability and design analyses, geotechnical evaluations of existing dams and design of new dams, pavement designs, detailed evaluation of various retaining walls systems and recommendations for the economic use of on-site resources ranging from the use of blast rock fills to the re-use and on-site disposal of topsoil and cleared materials. Also during the design phase, F&R works closely with the project civil engineer to address wetland issues including permitting and interfacing with regulatory agencies, and asbestos abatement issues associated with existing structures that are to be demolished. During subdivision construction, our diversified technical capabilities range from the standard soils and concrete testing, to foundation bearing grade inspections, retaining wall construction monitoring, pavement evaluations and structural inspections.
Rhode Island Mill; Eden, NC
Sitting on approximately 13.71 acres of land, the Rhode Island Mill was formerly a prosperous textile mill that had become all but vacant. The mill building was constructed in 1903 and is a pivotal structure in the Spray Industrial National Register District and was the first local historic landmark established by the City of Eden. Gould & Associates joined with Preservation North Carolina to form a partnership and buy the building. Plans were made to adaptively reuse the mill and convert it into 63 beautiful, affordable, and safe apartment units, along with a state-of-the-art day care center. In order to make the ideas a reality, however, several environmental hazards needed to be remediated. F&R joined the rehabilitation team to provide environmental expertise and consulting services. As part of the renovation process, the owners desired to clean up the environmental hazards that F&R identified within the mill, which included asbestos, lead-based paint and excessive pigeon droppings. Utilizing tried and true techniques, F&R designed project specifications for the removal of the asbestos and clean up of the pigeon droppings. However, due to the vast quantity of lead-based paint that was located within the building and the historically sensitive nature of this project, more innovative measures for removing the lead-based paint were required. In the end, F&R successfully coordinated the abatement of the environmental hazards and, as desired by the owners, the Rhode Island Mill Apartments opened less than four years after F&R joined the project.
Biltmore Farms Developer; Asheville, NC
Biltmore Farms is the developer of three distinct neighborhoods (Biltmore Park, Biltmore Forest and Biltmore Lake) located in Asheville, NC. F&R monitors construction activities at each of these developments. Biltmore Park, whose slogan is “Live, Learn, Work and Play,” is located on the south side of Asheville, and features a traditional village design with a shopping district and business area. Homes and offices have been under construction for several years, and the village continues to take shape. Every few years, F&R returns to Biltmore Forest to monitor construction activities for new additions. Biltmore Forest is a 70-year old, 1500-acre master planned community, and surrounds a Donald Ross-designed golf course. The landscape architect for the community was Frederick La Olmsted, designer for Central Park, the U.S. Capitol grounds, and Biltmore Estate. Of the third neighborhood, Biltmore Lake is a new development nestled around a 62-acre lake, and includes a planned gated community. It is 1,000 feet higher in elevation from the lake, with views of Mount Pisgah, the Biltmore Estate, and downtown Asheville.
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