F&R has completed over $2 million of work on JMU projects, most under a term contract for geotechnical and construction engineering services. The centerpiece of this work includes the Union Bank & Trust Convocation Center with a 1500-space parking deck. The arena replaced a 1980s-era Convocation Center and was finished before the 2020-21 basketball season.

In the final design phases and prior to the start of construction, F&R provided a complete subsurface exploration and field and laboratory testing program to ascertain the soils’ suitability for the proposed design and loads. Once the data was analyzed, F&R’s geotechnical engineers provided a report outlining foundation recommendations, site preparation, seismic site classification, and other construction considerations.

F&R’s materials testing and inspections professionals returned to the site during construction phases to monitor and test earthwork, foundations, cast-in-place concrete, masonry, structural steel, and fireproofing.