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Storing stormwater in a historic neighborhood’s community park

At a Glance

  • 4.4M

    Gallons Storage

  • $15M

    Project Cost

  • 3

    Awards

Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Offices
Client
  • City of Ottawa
Partners
  • IBI Group
  • Golder Associates
Architect
Civitas Architecture
Award
American Public Works Association Project of the Year Award, Environment ($5-$25 million) 2010
Award
City of Ottawa Urban Design Award of Merit, Public Spaces and Civic Spaces 2009
Award
Consulting Engineers of Ontario Award of Merit 2010

Sandy Hill Community Flood Control Solution

Sandy Hill is one of the oldest and more prominent communities in the City of Ottawa. For many years, the community had experienced chronic basement flooding. This was due to combined sewer backups and poor surface drainage in low-lying areas of the downtown community. Looking to remedy the situation, the City engaged us to help.

We designed and integrated an innovative stacked water storage facility, recognizing that Sandy Hill Park could work to manage flooding. Our flood control solution consists of a 12,500-cubic-metre (441,433- cubic-foot) underground sewage storage tank covered by a stormwater pond that holds excess surface flows during rare flood events. Imperceptible to the public, the underground tank prevents combined sewage from backing up into basements and provides the first line of defense when the sewer system becomes overloaded. For even larger flood events, the 1.1-million-gallon (4.2-million-litre) stormwater pond provides for the safe management of excess stormwater and can be used as a multi-sport field in the summer and an ice rink in the winter.   

Residents of the Sandy Hill community have always enjoyed Sandy Hill Park. But now they have one more reason to love it. The new park incorporates an improved layout, modernized facilities, and comfortable outdoor spaces with a playing area and ice rink. And with the implementation of a creative stacked stormwater storage facility, the City has provided them with dry basements for the first time in decades.

At a Glance

  • 4.4M

    Gallons Storage

  • $15M

    Project Cost

  • 3

    Awards

Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Offices
Client
  • City of Ottawa
Partners
  • IBI Group
  • Golder Associates
Architect
Civitas Architecture
Award
American Public Works Association Project of the Year Award, Environment ($5-$25 million) 2010
Award
City of Ottawa Urban Design Award of Merit, Public Spaces and Civic Spaces 2009
Award
Consulting Engineers of Ontario Award of Merit 2010

Meet Our Team

Susan Alarcon, Senior Associate, Water

Our team brings valuable water solutions and resources to communities across Ontario, improving the quality of life for everyone living there.

Gregory Chochlinski, Associate

I strive to deliver high-quality results on all projects—big and small—and believe that no detail is too small to be ignored.

Stéphane D’Aoust, Principal, Water

My goal is to provide our clients with the support they need to make informed decisions with respect to water related issues.

Adrien Comeau, Vice President, Water, Wet Weather Practice Leader, Water Delivery Group

Our projects improve the lives of residents in communities across North America—that’s why I became an engineer.
Adrien Comeau Vice President, Water, Wet Weather Practice Leader, Water Delivery Group Read More

James Ricker, Associate, Water

My primary goal is to provide our clients with excellent designs for water that meet their needs and respect their budgetary constraints.

Bernadette Callahan, Senior Associate, Green Infrastructure Sector Leader, Water

Green infrastructure supports urban resilience. Now, more than ever, cities will need to be resilient.
Bernadette Callahan Senior Associate, Green Infrastructure Sector Leader, Water Read More

Susan Alarcon

Senior Associate, Water

Gregory Chochlinski

Associate

Stéphane D’Aoust

Principal, Water

Adrien Comeau

Vice President, Water, Wet Weather Practice Leader, Wat...

James Ricker

Associate, Water

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    Work with passionate people who are experts in their field. Our teams love what they do and are driven by how their work makes an impact on the communities they serve.

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