The staff at GES are fortunate to work on integral projects to our communities. Some are highways or high rises, residential communities and the utilities that make them livable. Yet sometimes we get an opportunity to contribute to the community in a way that touches home.
In July of last year ground was broken on the Shaquille O’Neil Youth Complex. When completed the campus will include a 30,000 square-foot club house containing gyms, mental wellness rooms, technology and innovation labs, and an early childhood learning center. Of course, there will also be a 54,000 square foot outdoor multisport field. In addition, a Communities in Schools (CIS) Alumni Center will provide a space for former CIS students to help youth with their personal and professional lives. Finally, the complex will house a new substation for the metropolitan police department.
All of this was made possible by the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, whose mission is to provide resources and opportunities for underserved youth.
GES’ participation began in 2024 with the purchase of the property. Our environmental program performed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment in search of recognizable environmental concerns. Thankfully, none were found on the site of a former mobile home park.
Following the land transaction GES set out to provide a geotechnical evaluation with the help of our sister company, Eagle Drilling Services. Eagle Drilling drilled borings across the site to assist GES engineers in obtaining representative soil samples. The explorations and lab testing helped gain an understanding of the subsurface conditions before performing geotechnical analyses and providing recommendations.
Now, with ground broken and construction underway, our qualified staff are performing quality assurance observations and testing of construction materials, helping to keep construction moving forward according to plans.
Later this year, the center will be open. Our staff will drive by and hear happy children playing or learning and think, “We helped build that. We helped make our community better.”