La Bonita Park Water Facilities

Owner: La Habra Utility Authority

Location: La Bonita Park

Designer: CivilSource / Team Engineering

Contractor: Orion Construction Corporation

Delivery Model: Design-Build

Contract Value: $9.7 million

Schedule: 2011 - 2012

Scope: The projects involved installing large-diameter piping in city streets and parks, extensive underground piping, and constructing a 250,000-gallon underground reservoir alongside large vaults up to 30 feet deep. Mechanically, the project included high-capacity pump stations with 5- to 200-horsepower pumps and an 880-foot-deep well. The electrical and control systems were integrated with the city's existing water system to meet varying pressure requirements. Architecturally, the goal was to design buildings that are resistant to vandalism while maintaining the park's aesthetic.

Challenges: Large-diameter pipes in streets, parks, and under existing facilities. Deep well with high horsepower pumps, underground reservoir construction, and integration into the city’s existing water system with varying pressure gradient requirements.

Results: This project embodies the design-build approach. Orion delivered the project faster and achieved greater cost savings, shaving over a year off the delivery time. The overall project quality was higher with Orion being able to incorporate the City’s needs directly into the design. With Orion as the single point of responsibility, the city reduced its administrative burden and controlled costs, schedules, and performance while optimizing risk.