Atlantic Park
Virginia Beach, Va.
BEST PROJECT
Sent by: WM Jordan Co.
Owner/Developer: Venture Realty Group
Main design company: Hanbury
Construction Manager at Risk: WM Jordan Co.
Architects: Gensler and Cooper Carry
Architect for Structures of Lacuna: Orange Architects
Civil Engineer: Kimley-Horn & Associates Inc.
Structural Engineer: Uzun & Case LLC
Lagoon design: Coffman Engineers
Subcontractors: Agent Wall Systems Inc.; Baker Concrete Construction; century concrete; East Coast Plumbing; James River Exteriors; LE Ballance Electrical Service Inc.; Mid Atlantic Fire Protection Inc.; Shoreline Industries Inc.; SteelFab of Virginia; Warwick Mechanical Group
Atlantic Park transformed 13 acres of long-defunct surface parking lots into a year-round surfing development and live entertainment venue, as well as dining and retail space. At the heart of the $350 million project is Wavegarden Cove’s surf lagoon, the first in North America. About the size of a major league baseball field, the lagoon delivers up to 1,000 waves per hour and is integrated into an urban setting, one block from the Atlantic Ocean. Adjacent to the lagoon is the Dome, a 3,500-seat entertainment venue with retractable hangar doors that open to an additional 1,500 lawn seats. The project also includes 309 apartments, a 20-room hotel and more than 110,000 square meters of shopping, dining and entertainment.
Project execution required coordination between hundreds of entities and a disciplined, solution-oriented team approach. The laser team scanned all off-site utilities to develop a complete 3D civil information model. Crews then upgraded and installed new utilities, storm and sewer lines, traffic signals and technology infrastructure for both the site and surrounding roadways. The digital model streamlined construction coordination and was shared with the City of Virginia Beach for future maintenance and planning.
Photo of Hanbury, courtesy of WM Jordan Co.
The work was complicated by the city’s moratorium on road closures during the peak tourist season from May to October, which required extensive planning, communication and flexibility.
The team also overcame large underground obstructions, including abandoned creosote piles, underground storage tanks, car parts and a cache of old glass soda bottles and medicine. Through soil testing, careful debris removal, proper hazardous material controls, and thorough documentation, the site was safely and responsibly prepared for new construction.
Several major components were constructed simultaneously, while critical infrastructure and access to the site were established early. Limited space and the demands of an active tourist environment made just-in-time deliveries essential.
The project was completed on time and on budget with no recordable incidents and no lost time accidents for nearly 1 million man hours.
