Marygrove Early Education Center

Overview

Giffels Webster provided civil engineering services in collaboration with an architect and third-party landscape architect. The existing Marygrove campus presented challenging infrastructure including an unmapped combined sewer system and undersized water service. We designed and pioneered the stormwater ordinance as one of the first projects to receive complete stormwater approval. The site is unique in that the soil profile provided adequate infiltration, allowing a greener BMP system. Most of Detroit is hard clay to bedrock, which inhibits infiltration and requires discharge to the public sewer.

Problem

The existing combined sewer had to be separated to the public right of way for discharge, and the undersized water service needed coordination for a new water meter pit with the DWSD urban permits division.

Solution

Giffels Webster designed a green BMP system taking advantage of the site’s infiltration capacity. The combined sewer separation and new water meter pit were successfully coordinated, ensuring compliance with DWSD permits and allowing proper stormwater and water service management for the development.