As professionals, we tend to focus on the technical dimensions of a project. However, for users and consumers of our projects, the focus is placed on the value and benefit projects bring to every day life. Consider the Wounded Warrior Covered Walkway in Walter Red National Military Medical Center, a walkway intended to provide protection for vets against harsh weather conditions. We first shared the news of this project, at its onset.
Two years later, the project is now completed, resulting in over 1,000 linear feet of covered walkway connecting the patient recovery dorms and the main hospital, along with a new ADA accessible bus stop facility and it benefits vets by providing protection against inclement and harsh weather conditions, while seeking medical care for traumatic injuries.
This Wounded Warrior funded project is located on the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center campus in Bethesda, Maryland. While linear in nature, the site included a number of challenges, including:
• Multiple conflict points between pedestrian and vehicular traffic,
• A limited site area for feasible environmentally sustainable designs (ESDs), and
• A need to remain open to pedestrian movement during construction.
To avoid construction changes, a detailed site investigation was performed of the project area to include a topographic, utility infrastructure and as-built survey. A complete engineering review of adjacent plans of development, existing ESD designs and utility alignments was undertaken to confirm the elements of the survey and identify critical conflict points. For example, proper design of stormwater drainage areas is a common focus area for projects but in a project like this it is even more critical given that vets in wheelchairs, crutches and other medical devices would be primary users during extreme weather conditions. The finished project includes four bio retention ponds to meet ESD site designs.
The information gathered, in conjunction with discussions with the Owner, teaming partners Giuliani Architects and TMG Construction and end users, was then used to determine best fit solutions for the pedestrian routing and location of the bus stop facility. Timmons Group provided survey, design and permitting services, ESD design, MDE Certification and construction administration / project closeout tasks. The completed project was reviewed for approval by Walter Reed Medical Center and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Now that the covered walkway is in full use, it’s evident how its practical its benefits are to the vet community.
To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit their website.
