Helping you create safe and functional spaces that foster learning and growth.
Manhard Consulting delivers complete services for educational and training facilities across the US. Our teams look for ways to improve efficiency across the campus environment, addressing issues such as student safety, drop-off zones, sports facilities, and integration with the surrounding neighborhood. Renovations and additions are planned for minimal disruption to classroom environments, and are completed with one goal in mind: to create quality learning environments that support a first-class education.
Helping you create safe and functional spaces that foster learning and growth.
Manhard Consulting worked with Legat Architects and the College of Lake County on the master planning for a community college campus with multiple buildings, storm water management facilities and wetland mitigation area.
The scope of services performed for the multi-phased project included preliminary and final engineering, major utility relocations, H&H modeling, and stormwater management. The 1st phase of the project was designed in 1994 with multiple building, parking lot and roadway projects constructed over the last 12 years.
Field elements included construction management, construction staking, and other miscellaneous field services.
The Consolidated District 158 – Algonquin Campus is a 220-acre master planned school site intended to service students from kindergarten through high school. The campus includes an administration building, a transportation facility, two elementary schools, a middle school and a site for a future high school.
District 158 services the communities of Huntley, Algonquin and Lake-in-the-Hills. Due to the explosive residential growth or these communities in the 1990’s, the district was experianceing enrollment growth of 15% to 20% per year. In order to meet the educational needs of the community despite this unprecedented growth, the district decided to purchase a 220-ac parcel in Algonquin for a new master planned school campus. After the initial intent to purchase the property was finalized, Manhard Consulting was hired to provide a due diligence report to identify any issues on the property. Our report outlined several Village fees (totaling over $1,000,000) as well as off-site sewer and roadway improvements and timelines needed for the development. This allowed the district to budget accordingly for their campus project prior to construction.
After the due diligence phase was completed, Manhard Consulting was brought into the project to assist the project architect with the master plan and site layout. Following the original master plan would have resulted in significant wetland and floodplain impacts. Manhard Consulting revised the land plan to avoid all floodplain fill and minimize the wetland impacts to <0.25ac. We also interviewed members of the district staff concerning bus traffic, parent drop-off and faculty parking. Based on those conversations, we initiated changes to the site plan that resulted in simpler, more efficient traffic flow that was consistent with the client’s operational needs.
Manhard Consulting was responsible for all of the aspects of the infrastructure design which included a main campus collector road, a 15” collector sewer and lift station, several parking lots, stormwater detention system and a 16” watermain.
During construction, Manhard Consulting provided assistance by reviewing change orders, performing periodic site visits and providing field sketches as needed to clarify the intent of the contract documents.
Eagle Valley Middle School is a two-phase project totaling $9 million with $1.3 million in site improvements, including modifications to both the interior and exterior of the existing school to create a safer environment for students during school hours.
Phase 1 of the project is currently under construction and consists of a 16,000 square foot gymnasium and administration building addition, existing site and building demolition, curb and gutter and sidewalk improvements, and construction of a new entrance for student pick-up and drop-off.
Phase 2 of the project will consist of upgrades to the existing kitchen area, construction of a parking lot, loading dock upgrades, curb and gutter and sidewalk improvements, and relocation of the student playground area.
The scope of services for the project included conceptual planning and design of site improvements. Manhard also provided land use planning, grading and drainage design, ADA accessibility design, and playground equipment relocation.
Manhard was also responsible for the preparation of construction specifications and coordination between the client, project architect, landscape architect, structural engineer, electrical engineer, and public agencies.
SCHOOL EXPANSION: Manhard Consulting worked with VanWoert Bigotti Architecture (architect), and the Carson City School District on the civil design of an expansion to Fremont Elementary School, in Carson City, Nevada.
This project included modifications to both the interior and exterior of the existing school site. The expansion created 11,407 square feet of additional classroom and storage space and associated landscaping.
The scope of services for the project included conceptual planning, design of site improvements, and production of site improvement plans. Services also provided for this project included land use planning and permitting, grading and drainage design, ADA accessibility design, and playground equipment relocation.
Manhard also performed a FEMA Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) to revise the flood inundation mapping per the Flood Rate Insurance Map (FIRM). The existing FIRM encroached upon the areas of the school expansion.
Manhard Consulting was hired by ARCON Associates to provide civil engineering design and surveying services for athletic complex improvements, including replacing the existing field with synthetic turf.
Provided final engineering design; soil erosion and sediment control; stormwater management; and MWRDGC permitting for storm sewer connection and stormwater detention.
The Grass Valley Elementary School Site Improvements project consisted of 60,000 ft2 of parking lot rehabilitation and the addition of a bus turnout lane and sidewalk along the south boundary of the school property. Manhard staff worked with the Humboldt County School District in preparing construction plans to address the infrastructure improvement needs of the school.
The scope of work for the parking lot rehabilitation involved the reconstruction of existing paved parking areas and drive isles, paving of existing dirt driveways, construction of a new asphalt parking lot, and the installation of curb and gutter in the parking areas. Manhard completed the site layout and grading design for these improvements. During the design phase of the project, it was important for the Manhard team to modify the existing site grading in order to improve the stormwater drainage and prevent potential problems in the future.
In addition to the parking lot rehabilitation, Manhard worked with the School District to design a bus turnout lane along the south boundary of the school property. Manhard prepared a design that included approximately 530 LF of sidewalk, curb and gutter, and roadway improvements for the bus turnout lane. The bus turnout portion of the project was federally funded through the Safe Routes to School program. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) was in charge of administering the program funds, so Manhard was required to prepare construction contract and specification documents in accordance with NDOT regulations.
The renovation of the Highland Park High School track and field facilities and football field included multiple components. Manhard Consulting provided design services for the widening and extension of the existing track in accordance with IHSA standards, regrading and resodding of the football field, the installation of an improved drainage system between the track and football field, and the extension of a water service to the existing concession stand. Assistance was also provided in the evaluation of contractor bids and the administration of the site construction.
Manhard Consulting was hired by ARCON Associates to provided engineering services for this new middle school located on +/-12-acres in Northbrook, IL.
The new school improvements include new classroom space, state of the art indoor basketball/volleyball gymnasiums and an outdoor soccer field with underlying stormwater detention.
The new school was built while the existing school was still in session and required using temporary detention in the neighboring property owner’s pond.
Logistics played a major role in the building of this new school. The temporary detention plan was unusual but required to have detention based on local requirements. There was no place on site to build a temporary pond and the permanent stormwater volume and storage was to be under the existing school, which could not be demolished until a later date.
Manhard Consulting, Ltd. worked with VanWoert Bigotti Architecture (architect), and the Carson City School District on the civil design of an expansion to Fremont Elementary School, in Carson City, Nevada.
This project included modifications to both the interior and exterior of the existing school site. The expansion created 12,580 square feet of additional classroom and storage space and associated landscaping.
The scope of services for the project included conceptual planning, design of site improvements, and production of site improvement plans. Services also provided for this project included land use planning and permitting, grading and drainage design, ADA accessibility design, and playground equipment relocation.
Manhard provided construction administration for the necessary onsite improvements. This included coordination and attendance at meetings, assistance on changes during construction due to existing field conditions, site visits to monitor project progress, and reviewing and processing requests for information. Manhard coordinated the permit process and worked closely with Carson City School District Staff.
Arcon Associates Architecture was commissioned by the Prairie Hills Elementary School District 144 to set a vision for their school campus in Markham, Illinois that would address the evolving needs of their district. This vision included the design of a brand new, state of the art junior high school that would meet LEED Silver Certification standards. Manhard Consulting was contracted by Arcon Associates to coordinate all sitework related design and permitting asscociated with the project.
A critical component of the campus planning phase involved coordination with the local municipality regarding zoning and land use modification. Arcon Associates and District 144 Officials looked to the expertise of the Manhard Consulting team to execute the required documents and submittals, as well as coordinating the public meeting process.
The design phase of the project was met with its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. The design input from the Manhard team began early in the process during the due diligence phase where it was critical to ensure that the existing infrastructure was adequate to support the newly proposed facilities.
Manhard Consulting was tasked with developing the design of stormwater management facilities, site utilities and infrastructure, as well as grading and earthwork analysis. The Manhard team also handled coordination with the applicable reviewing agencies, which included the City of Markham, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA).
Manhard Consulting was hired by ARCON Associates to provide civil engineering design and surveying services on Schrum Memorial Middle School in Calumet City, Illinois. The replacement school and campus was designed with a focus on flexible learning and collaboration.
The Manhard team faced many challenges in the design of the project. Most notably, the logistics of building a new school and campus while the old school remained in use. Site work for parking, utilities and detentions had to be completed on a tight schedule during the summer while students were on break. In addition, the team had to re-route an existing sewer line that ran under the old building to around the new building.
The completed project was honored as an Outstanding Project for 2017 by Learning By Design Magazine.
Manhard Consulting, Ltd. worked with Sheehan Van Woert and Bigotti Architects, Miles Construction and the Sierra Lutheran School personnel on the civil design of the school, in Douglas County, Nevada.
The scope of services for the project included conceptual planning through final engineering, the development of improvement plans and major utility relocations. Services also provided for this project included land use planning and design for the site, infrastructure design including water, sewer, storm drain and roadway system improvements.
Manhard prepared construction documents for the onsite and offsite improvements necessary to extend the sewer and water to the site. These documents included two complete sets of improvement plans, two cost estimates, a sewer analysis, a water analysis, and a technical drainage analysis. The plans included site plans, grading plans, utility layout, plan and profile sheets, details, and erosion control. Manhard coordinated the permit process and worked closely with Douglas County Staff and Miles Construction.
Manhard Consulting, Ltd. worked with the Washoe County School District to address several of the District’s concerns at Verdi Elementary School. Prior to construction of the project, Verdi Elementary School was in need of water system improvements.
The scope of services for the project included both electric and civil improvement plans, technical specifications, bidding services and subcontractor coordination. Manhard prepared and coordinated with sub-consultants to prepare the Technical Specifications section of the project specifications book and the Bid Schedule. Manhard conducted on-site pre-bid meetings with each prospective bidder, attended the bid opening and tabulated the bid results.
Manhard provided construction administration for the necessary onsite improvements. This included coordination and attendance at meetings, assistance on changes during construction due to existing field conditions, site visits to monitor project progress, and reviewing and processing requests for information. Manhard worked closely with Washoe County School District Staff.
In the fall of 2008, Vernon Hills High School renovated the infield of their varsity baseball field. Prior to the renovation, games and practices had been continually cancelled following inclement weather due to the field’s poor drainage conditions. To correct these issues, a synthetic turf surface and underdrain system were installed. This new surface and drainage system removes moisture more quickly from the infield and provides a more consistently playable surface, minimizing the loss of game and practice time on the field.
Services provided by Manhard Consulting included final engineering of the various site improvements, investigation into synthetic turf products, preparation of project specifications, and preparation of bid documents. Manhard also assisted with obtaining permit approval from the Village of Vernon Hills and the Lake County Regional Office of Education.