Educational/Institutional

Engineering services for educational and institutional facilities are delivered expeditiously, efficiently, and reliably by an experienced team of engineers and scientists, and include:

Site Civil Design
Veterans Administration, Altoona, PA. Site civil design for a renovation and addition to existing laboratory space, including topographic survey and site plans for landscaping, entrance signage, benches, site concrete and asphalt (paving, curbing, steps, retaining walls, sidewalks), site lighting, parking, patios, entry doors, steps, ramps, and railings. Existing conditions were altered or modified as required for Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards and other applicable code compliance. Sci-Tek assessed current conditions and prepared a final design incorporating modifications to the existing site layout required to meet project requirements.

Environmental Assessments
Environmental Assessment for Edinboro University, Cooper Hall Renovations. Working with a local Architect, Sci-Tek provided a asbestos surveys, abatement plans, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, and Phase II subsurface investigation including soil borings, groundwater sampling, monitoring well installation, and laboratory analysis to identify the presence of hazardous materials or petroleum products on the property.

Hazardous Material Investigation for Carnegie Library, East Liberty Branch. Sci-Tek provided the construction manger with an asbestos and hazardous building component materials survey. After meeting with the Architect to review the scope of work and identify areas of the building which impacted by the design, Sci-Tek environmental scientists reviewed as built drawings for the building and provided asbestos sampling and a survey to quantify hazardous material building components. Samples collected were sent to a laboratory and a final report was prepared, identifying the type, condition and estimated quantities, bulk sample mythology, and sample locations. Sci-Tek also provided laboratory reports, a list of the suspect hazardous materials, and recommended response actions.

VA Butler Medical Center IDIQ. Sci-Tek performed various environmental services for the Veterans Administration Medical Center located in Butler, PA, including an AHERA investigation of all 43 buildings on-site. The scope of work consisted of asbestos surveys of buildings, O&M plans, cost estimates, and design drawings. The buildings included the main hospital complex, living quarters, recreation facilities, administrative and medical care facilities, a swimming pool, and a fire station. Comprehensive inspections were provided in occupied as well as unoccupied patient care locations to evaluate the potential for accessible asbestos behind walls and ceiling tiles; however the inspections were unobtrusive with regard to occupant comfort.

Environmental Remediation
Environmental Assessment and Remediation for a New Elementary School. Sci-Tek provided Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessment services for the construction of a new elementary school for the Pittsburgh Public School District. Preliminary studies evaluated the proposed location of the school on properties formerly used for a plating shop and an auto body shop. Follow up studies were conducted to delineate the extent and nature of subsurface contamination. The scope of work included soil borings and groundwater sampling, monitoring well installation, and laboratory analysis. A conceptual model of the environmental condition of the site was developed which detailed the lateral and vertical extent of subsurface contamination. A risk assessment and written report detailing conclusions, recommendations and suitable response actions was provided. PA Act 2 Clearances were obtained for the site.

Foundation Design
Carnegie Library, East Liberty Branch . Sci-Tek performed a subsurface investigation to support the design of a 2-story, 9,400ft 2 addition. Sci-Tek reviewed available geotechnical, geological and existing foundation information and performance, followed by a subsurface investigation. Two (2) test borings were drilled within the proposed building footprint to depths of 19.6 feet, and one (1) test boring was drilled within the proposed building footprint to a depth of 26.2 feet, which included 4.4 feet of rock. Continuous split-spoon sampling was performed in the soil zone at each boring. Soil and rock drilling and sampling was generally performed according to Penn DOT Standards.

Geotechnical and Geological Studies
Expert Witness Consulting for a Local Landslide. Sci-Tek was retained by an attorney representing a general contractor in a civil action associated with landslides which occurred after the construction of a baseball field embankment at South Fayette High School. Sci-Tek reviewed the case files, provided a report and rendered an informed opinion regarding the causes of the landslides that occurred in the fill slopes.