Iowa Veterans Home Courtyard Improvements

This project consisted of the reconstruction of the Iowa Veterans Home Courtyard – including the reconstruction of approximately 35,000 square feet of pavement, new stormwater utilities, and new leisure amenities for residents.

Existing sidewalks and site features were removed and new sidewalks were constructed to improve circulation and to connect new leisure amenities. New amenities constructed with this project included multiple gazebos, a basketball court, a putting green, picknick tables, water fountains, and numerous free standing planter boxes.  Additionally, colored concrete was specified for a flag feature in which steel stars were embedded within the pavement to symbolize the folded American flag. New storm structures were strategically placed in landscape areas and piped around new site features. Existing utility tunnels provided an additional challenge as storm utilities had to be routed above a particular tunnel and through a separate tunnel in order to access existing stormwater facilities.

Larson Engineering Services:

Larson Engineering was responsible for the design of site utilities and erosion control for the project, as well as assisting the Project Landscape Architect, Jeffrey L. Bruce and Company, with site grading. Larson Engineering assisted with the project from conceptual design to project completion and was tasked with developing construction cost estimates, plans, specifications, and conducting requested follow-up construction observation.