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GAI Consultants10-12-18 | Feature

GAI Consultants
Homestead, Pennsylvania

Founded in 1958, GAI is an employee-owned engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firm with 60 years of experience providing local expertise to worldwide clients in the energy, transportation, development, government, and industrial markets. It employs over 900 people and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. One hundred percent employee owned, GAI's mission is to meet clients' challenges by empowering employee-owners to transform ideas into reality.

GAI Consultants — West Virginia State Capitol Campus Perimeter Safety Improvements Master Plan Charleston, W.Va.

GAI was awarded a contract to provide master plan landscape design and planning services to the West Virginia State Capital campus. The campus required enhanced levels of security while maintaining an architectural and aesthetic continuum with the strong participation of the West Virginia National Guard and thorough research into the "best practices" of security devises and applications used elsewhere. Both perimeter and interior areas of the campus require degrees of security/protection. This very necessary protection is to be accomplished while enhancing the "park-like" qualities of the campus and ensuring the campus is inviting to the pedestrian.

GAI Consultants — West Virginia State Capitol Campus Perimeter Safety Improvements Master Plan Charleston, W.Va.

GAI was awarded a contract to provide master plan landscape design and planning services to the West Virginia State Capital campus. The campus required enhanced levels of security while maintaining an architectural and aesthetic continuum with the strong participation of the West Virginia National Guard and thorough research into the "best practices" of security devises and applications used elsewhere. Both perimeter and interior areas of the campus require degrees of security/protection. This very necessary protection is to be accomplished while enhancing the "park-like" qualities of the campus and ensuring the campus is inviting to the pedestrian.

GAI Consultants — Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, W.Va.

GAI's Community Solutions Group has assisted in leading the master plan and landscape architecture for a major renovation to the downtown Charleston Civic Center, as well as the associated adjacent streets and waterfront. Their work focused on the urban experience of arrival, parking, outdoor gathering, and adjacent urban development. This work was completed in several components of landscape architecture and urban engineering. The team's proposed renovations and updates presented a modern vision by updating exterior and interior aesthetics, designing additional spaces, and tying the site to the downtown core. The work included several distinct areas of improved visitor experience around the new Civic Center.

GAI Consultants — Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, W.Va.

GAI's Community Solutions Group has assisted in leading the master plan and landscape architecture for a major renovation to the downtown Charleston Civic Center, as well as the associated adjacent streets and waterfront. Their work focused on the urban experience of arrival, parking, outdoor gathering, and adjacent urban development. This work was completed in several components of landscape architecture and urban engineering. The team's proposed renovations and updates presented a modern vision by updating exterior and interior aesthetics, designing additional spaces, and tying the site to the downtown core. The work included several distinct areas of improved visitor experience around the new Civic Center.

GAI Consultants — East End Park, Charleston, W.Va.

The East End Community Park was planned on a 2-acre tract of land that was acquired by the city of Charleston. The site has a history of both residential and industrial uses going back more than 100 years, both of which had adverse effects on the property. After acquiring and clearing the land, the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority hired GAI's Community Solutions Group for remediating the brownfield issues, providing landscape architecture and engineering services, and transforming the community blight into a neighborhood and citywide gem. The effort was broken into phases, the first included a grand entrance to the park that boasts a steel and masonry arch, spelling out the words "East End Community Park." After passing under the arch, guests are invited to walk along a 100-ft by 24-ft linear plaza that is divided by raised planters and lined with LED lit benches and vegetation.

GAI Consultants — East End Park, Charleston, W.Va.

The East End Community Park was planned on a 2-acre tract of land that was acquired by the city of Charleston. The site has a history of both residential and industrial uses going back more than 100 years, both of which had adverse effects on the property. After acquiring and clearing the land, the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority hired GAI's Community Solutions Group for remediating the brownfield issues, providing landscape architecture and engineering services, and transforming the community blight into a neighborhood and citywide gem. The effort was broken into phases, the first included a grand entrance to the park that boasts a steel and masonry arch, spelling out the words "East End Community Park." After passing under the arch, guests are invited to walk along a 100-ft by 24-ft linear plaza that is divided by raised planters and lined with LED lit benches and vegetation.

GAI Consultants — Valley Park Master Plan, Hurricane, W.Va.

Completed as a portion of the Putnam County PROS Plan, the Valley Park Master Plan project encompassed renovation plans for a popular 60-acre park in Hurricane, West Virginia. The existing park was designed and built in fragmented phases and, as a result, faced several issues. GAI's Community Solutions Group team worked closely with the Putnam County Parks and Recreation Commission, the owners of the facility, to identify key issues and problems, and create design solutions. Once it was determined how Valley Park positively supports the county's recreational needs, and which opportunities are potentially available to better serve the community and region, the design team brought forth a master plan that leveraged the park's already valuable assets and creates additional amenities that will strengthen it and the countywide system at large.

GAI Consultants — Valley Park Master Plan, Hurricane, W.Va.

Completed as a portion of the Putnam County PROS Plan, the Valley Park Master Plan project encompassed renovation plans for a popular 60-acre park in Hurricane, West Virginia. The existing park was designed and built in fragmented phases and, as a result, faced several issues. GAI's Community Solutions Group team worked closely with the Putnam County Parks and Recreation Commission, the owners of the facility, to identify key issues and problems, and create design solutions. Once it was determined how Valley Park positively supports the county's recreational needs, and which opportunities are potentially available to better serve the community and region, the design team brought forth a master plan that leveraged the park's already valuable assets and creates additional amenities that will strengthen it and the countywide system at large.

GAI Consultants — Haddad Riverfront Park and Boardwalk, Charleston, W.Va.

GAI Consultants was selected to provide master planning, public participation services, design, construction, and engineering solutions for the renovation of the Haddad Riverfront Park, which is a popular concert, festival, and leisure site in downtown Charleston, West Virginia. Among the City of Charleston's project requirements were a retractable canopy to provide protection and visual interest, an overlook plaza and pavilion that extends Court Street to the Kanawha River, an extension of the lower wharf area, a new streetscape design along Kanawha Boulevard, and an event stage for concerts. Change orders during construction amounted to less than 0.5% of the total cost. The design was highlighted by a grand staircase that would lead to the proposed amphitheater, which serves to open the park to Kanawha Boulevard, making it an integrated part of downtown Charleston.

GAI Consultants — Haddad Riverfront Park and Boardwalk, Charleston, W.Va.

GAI Consultants was selected to provide master planning, public participation services, design, construction, and engineering solutions for the renovation of the Haddad Riverfront Park, which is a popular concert, festival, and leisure site in downtown Charleston, West Virginia. Among the City of Charleston's project requirements were a retractable canopy to provide protection and visual interest, an overlook plaza and pavilion that extends Court Street to the Kanawha River, an extension of the lower wharf area, a new streetscape design along Kanawha Boulevard, and an event stage for concerts. Change orders during construction amounted to less than 0.5% of the total cost. The design was highlighted by a grand staircase that would lead to the proposed amphitheater, which serves to open the park to Kanawha Boulevard, making it an integrated part of downtown Charleston.

GAI Consultants — Brawley Walkway/Court Street Improvements, Charleston, W.Va.

The landscape architects and planners of the Community Solutions Group were retained by the city of Charleston and the Kanawha Valley Rapid Transit Authority to redesign their transit mall, along with a critical section of Court Street, facing the Town Center Mall. The goal of the design was to move the transit mall to the south of the plaza, streamlining pedestrian traffic flow between the Downtown Village District of Charleston, and the popular Town Center Mall. GAI's Community Solutions Group further designed streetscape enhancements in front of commercial properties facing the Town Center Mall, which sits at the intersection of the Brawley Walkway and Court Street. The main focus of the project included replacing the existing narrow sidewalk with a wider walk. Additionally, site lighting was added to improve nighttime security and large planters were used between the walk and the adjacent roadway to define a safe pedestrian zone.

GAI Consultants — Brawley Walkway/Court Street Improvements, Charleston, W.Va.

The landscape architects and planners of the Community Solutions Group were retained by the city of Charleston and the Kanawha Valley Rapid Transit Authority to redesign their transit mall, along with a critical section of Court Street, facing the Town Center Mall. The goal of the design was to move the transit mall to the south of the plaza, streamlining pedestrian traffic flow between the Downtown Village District of Charleston, and the popular Town Center Mall. GAI's Community Solutions Group further designed streetscape enhancements in front of commercial properties facing the Town Center Mall, which sits at the intersection of the Brawley Walkway and Court Street. The main focus of the project included replacing the existing narrow sidewalk with a wider walk. Additionally, site lighting was added to improve nighttime security and large planters were used between the walk and the adjacent roadway to define a safe pedestrian zone.

GAI Consultants — John Slack Green, Charleston, W.Va.

GAI's Community Solutions Group provided master planning and rehabilitation services for a large urban plaza in downtown Charleston. The existing plaza had become tired and in disrepair over the years and, as a result, went unused by the 9 to 5 office employees in the surrounding downtown area. The design team analyzed the factors contributing to its underuse and responded with a design that would ultimately energize the space and invite new users. The design team's solution was to provide an expansive multiuse lawn in the core of the plaza to transform the bleak hardscape into a vibrant and active park. The lawn panel is surrounded by a cobblestone walking trail, an outdoor dining space, and a stone seating terrace, all of which are all wrapped in lush vegetation. Extending beyond the park to the east and west are two linear walkways that connect the downtown core and commercial districts. The walkways are lined with unique lighting displays and artful paving patterns along their entire length.

GAI Consultants — John Slack Green, Charleston, W.Va.

GAI's Community Solutions Group provided master planning and rehabilitation services for a large urban plaza in downtown Charleston. The existing plaza had become tired and in disrepair over the years and, as a result, went unused by the 9 to 5 office employees in the surrounding downtown area. The design team analyzed the factors contributing to its underuse and responded with a design that would ultimately energize the space and invite new users. The design team's solution was to provide an expansive multiuse lawn in the core of the plaza to transform the bleak hardscape into a vibrant and active park. The lawn panel is surrounded by a cobblestone walking trail, an outdoor dining space, and a stone seating terrace, all of which are all wrapped in lush vegetation. Extending beyond the park to the east and west are two linear walkways that connect the downtown core and commercial districts. The walkways are lined with unique lighting displays and artful paving patterns along their entire length.

GAI Consultants — Kanawha Boulevard Bikeway, Charleston, W.Va.

GAI's Community Solutions Group was part of a 2-mile bikeway project along a riverfront boulevard in the West Side neighborhood of Charleston. In addition to a two-way bike lane, the team incorporated state-of-the-art stormwater management techniques to showcase the City of Charleston's commitment to water quality and best management practices.

GAI Consultants — Kanawha Boulevard Bikeway, Charleston, W.Va.

GAI's Community Solutions Group was part of a 2-mile bikeway project along a riverfront boulevard in the West Side neighborhood of Charleston. In addition to a two-way bike lane, the team incorporated state-of-the-art stormwater management techniques to showcase the City of Charleston's commitment to water quality and best management practices.

As seen in LASN magazine, October 2018.

Filed Under: FIRMS, MID-ATLANTIC, PENNSYLVANIA, LASN

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