Relevant Project Features:

Back to Environmental

Dresdner Robin is providing environmental and engineering consulting services to The Salvation Army to support the development of a Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center (RJKCCC). The proposed RJKCCC will contain approximately 120,000 sq. ft. with a central “town plaza” reception area. It will also contain recreational and fitness areas, educational, social services, arts programs, an early childhood operation and the Salvation Army worship center. In addition, there will be outside areas with playing fields, courts, walking/jogging path, children’s playground, and passive park space. The facility is proposed to be built on the Harrison Avenue municipal landfill, following remediation.

During the Development Phase of the project, significant technical studies were completed to provide information on geotechnical (foundations) and environmental (contamination and remediation) conditions. In order to meet the timeframes set by The Salvation Army for the project, the studies involved an unprecedented level of teamwork from: The Camden Redevelopment Agency (CRA); New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP); New Jersey Geological Survey; United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA); and other experts consultants.

Initially, a combined environmental and geotechnical investigation was completed. The results of the investigations and analyses revealed a geotechnical constraint and an environmental constraint with respect to the location of the proposed building. NJDEP indicated that building over this part of the Site would not be permissible, so the building was relocated to the northern part of the Site and additional investigations were undertaken to evaluate foundation options.
Subsequently, CRA’s consultant prepared the Conceptual Remedial Action Workplan which presented the investigation results and outlined the proposed Remedial Action for the Site which includes removal of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) beneath the proposed RJKCCC building and immediate surrounds, localized removal of Residual Industrial Waste (RIW) treatment of contaminated groundwater, on site fill management, importation of clean structural fill and capping. The NJDEP provided unconditional approval of the CRAW which cleared the way for the CRA and The Salvation Army Camden to proceed with the remediation of the Site and the design and construction of the facility.

In addition to the environmental and geotechnical investigations, Dresdner Robin will be providing site civil design, landscape architecture, regulatory permitting, survey and construction support services. Regulatory permitting requires multiple approvals from NJDEP (wetlands, flood hazard area, waterfront development) and Army Corps of Engineers (individual permit). A key component to successful completion of the project is linking these services with the remedial action design prepared by CRA to ensure a smooth transition from the environmental clean-up to the development of the site for the RJKCCC. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2010.