Flood Hazard Area Permit Exception for Dewitt D. Barlow Elementary School

The Plainfield Board of Education retained LAN to provide surveying, engineering, and architectural services for an addition to a local elementary school. The entire site was located within the floodplain of the Green Brook, as such, the project required approval pursuant to the NJDEP’s Flood Hazard Area Control Act Rules.

LAN coordinated with the NJDEP to identify application and design requirements early in the planning stages. Several project alternatives were explored, however, to meet the District goals, the project required a hardship exception from two code requirements; one to allow the lowest floor of the school, which housed its mechanical equipment, to remain below the required elevation; and the other to allow the school which is considered a “critical building” to be served by existing roadways that are below the required elevation.

LAN worked closely with the District and NJDEP representatives to craft a plan that met the District’s needs and did not compromise public health, safety, welfare, or the environment. Services performed to obtain the NJDEP approval included boundary and topographic survey, wetland investigation, structural evaluation, geotechnical engineering, grading and drainage plans, net-fill calculations, alternatives analysis, and cost estimating.

After the site plan was completed, LAN was hired to design the addition and accompanying renovations to the elementary school. The project included a new cafetorium, kitchen, indoor and outdoor storage, and a newly renovated lobby and gymnasium. Having separate spaces for athletics and meals was the project’s major goal. This improved scheduling opportunities and greatly impacted day-to-day operations at the school.