As the new school year approaches, educational institutions across the region are bustling with preparations to welcome students back to safe, functional, and innovative learning environments. At Sunrise Engineering, we’re proud to play a vital role in this process, offering a range of specialized services that contribute to the development, safety, and efficiency of schools and universities. From building inspections to land development, transportation solutions, and materials testing, our team’s expertise ensures that educational facilities are equipped to serve their communities for years to come.
Building Inspection and Plan Review: Ensuring Safety and Compliance
James Short and the rest of our building inspection and plan review team provide comprehensive services for educational buildings, ranging from preschools to universities. Covering the entire state of Utah, James and his team work with a variety of educational institutions, including home schools, charter schools, and major universities like Utah State University (USU).
One of the unique challenges in this area is the scale of the inspections, which are often more extensive due to the size of educational facilities. However, James notes that the regulatory landscape is largely consistent with other types of projects, with only minor variations in travel distance requirements.
James is particularly proud of is the extensive work his team has done at USU over the past 15 years, having been involved in nearly every inspection on the campus. “We provide weekly or monthly updates to school officials, ensuring that they are involved in critical code-related decisions that help keep costs down,” says James. The timing of the school year also plays a crucial role, with the team often expediting reviews and inspections to ensure that projects are completed before students return to campus.
Land Development: Creating Functional and Accessible Spaces
In the realm of land development, our team has worked on numerous projects that enhance the functionality and safety of school campuses. Jason Linford, PE, Vice President out of our Star Valley, Wyoming office, highlights some of the key projects in this area, including the design and permitting of UCI septic systems where municipal sewer systems were unavailable, as well as site and roadway design for several schools in the Lincoln County School District.
One standout project is the site design for Afton Elementary, where Jason and his team were responsible for everything from drainage to utility design, ensuring that the school’s infrastructure met all necessary standards. “Bus turn radius, utility locations, and wastewater disposal are among the critical considerations in our designs,” Jason explains. These projects, though often driven by architects’ concepts, rely heavily on the technical expertise of our engineers to bring them to life.
David Bond, another key player in our land development efforts, focuses primarily on the Phoenix metro area. His work includes grading and drainage improvements, hardscape enhancements for safety and accessibility, and full civil design for campus expansions. A project that stands out in David’s portfolio is the Payson High School in Payson, Arizona, where his team provided engineering solutions to mitigate stormwater runoff issues, enhancing the overall site performance.
Transportation: Safe Routes for Students
Transportation is another critical component of our work with educational institutions. Robert Worley, PE and his team have been instrumental in helping municipalities secure funding through the “Safe Sidewalks to School” program by UDOT. This initiative focuses on designing and constructing sidewalks that ensure students can walk to and from school safely, reducing the need for them to walk on roads.
Additionally, our transportation team has been involved in upgrading school parking lots and improving pedestrian pathways between buildings, contributing to safer and more efficient campus layouts. These projects, while often tied to municipal efforts, are crucial in supporting the overall safety and accessibility of school environments.
Materials Testing: Ensuring Quality and Safety
Ryan Brown and his team at Utah Testing and Engineering provide essential materials testing services for educational projects, ensuring that every component used in construction meets the highest standards. Their work includes soil compaction testing, concrete testing, and special inspections for reinforcing steel, masonry walls, and Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF).
Accuracy and safety are paramount in materials testing, especially when working on educational facilities where the well-being of students and staff is at stake. “We’re always mindful of working with taxpayers’ dollars, ensuring that our work is both precise and prudent,” Ryan emphasizes. A project that Ryan takes great pride in is the work done on several phases of the Huntsman Cancer Center, which, while not a traditional educational facility, is part of the University of Utah, and underscores the importance of their work in creating safe environments for all.
Conclusion: Sunrise Engineering’s Commitment to Education
At Sunrise Engineering, our commitment to supporting education is reflected in the quality and scope of the services we provide. From ensuring that buildings are safe and up to code, to developing accessible and functional campus layouts, enhancing transportation safety, and rigorously testing materials, our team is dedicated to helping schools and universities thrive.
As we move into the new school year, we take pride in knowing that our work contributes to the success of educational institutions across the region, providing students with the safe, supportive environments they need to learn and grow