Westwood’s Land Team Year in Review

Like many others, we used the month of December as a time to reflect. Reflect on the projects started and completed, client relationships built and strengthened, technological advancements, and employee achievements. We are grateful for another wonderful year full of opportunities. While we celebrate our successes together, we also contemplate the future success for our team in 2022 and beyond.

A Few Project Successes in 2021

Durango, A Station Casinos

Westwood’s Las Vegas team began the Durango, A Station Casinos Resort project in 2021. The casino, located in the Southwest Las Vegas valley off 215 Beltway and Durango Drive, is slated to break ground in March of 2022. Our team will provide several civil engineering services for the 83,000 square foot casino and 200 guest-room hotel. The project is led by Tom Miller and the Las Vegas Commercial Team.

CTH ZZ

Westwood Infrastructure participated in the reconstruction of CTH ZZ. The project, led by project manager, Peggy Hawley, in our Appleton office, involved the realignment and reconstruction of 5.5 miles of rural roadway. The corridor was broken into segments with the first plan set in 2016 and the final segment in 2022. The multi-disciplined project included our team’s expertise in transportation, traffic, geotechnical, stormwater, and environmental engineering, as well as land surveying and aerial photo documentation by drone.

Encore Wire Service Center

Westwood’s Plano team completed the Encore Wire Service Center, a 730,000+/- square foot building. The building serves as a distribution center for a large manufacturing client. The team completed the survey and civil engineering services. Surveying services included topographic survey (drone lidar and conventional), plat preparation, and several easement exhibits and right-of-way abandonment exhibits.

In addition to the roadway paving plans, the project included the design of an underground storm sewer system to provide proper drainage of the roadway as well as water and sewer lines to serve adjacent properties. The proposed roadway alignment crossed through a FEMA Zone A flood plain, so a flood study was required, along with a submittal to FEMA, for a LOMR to redefine the floodplain limits and convert the Zone A floodplain to a Zone AE.

Technology Advancement

In tune with our core values, innovative employees pushed our teams to reach new levels. The team’s efforts were rewarded in advanced data management, new ways to connect our clients directly to data, and overall strengthening of our GIS platforms. We are excited to continue to advance how we manage and consume data.

Our team also tested new geospatial equipment, specifically drones and sensors for medium and large format aerial imagery and data collection. A dedicated group of geospatial leaders created complementary tools to our traditional survey acquisition methods. The result was more data for our clients to create a better understanding of the assessment and design. As the team grows, they will continue to help create more visualization tools to support several services throughout the organization.

Kudos

Additionally, we are excited to celebrate the growth of our teams. In Q2, the Land team appointed five new shareholders and 12 new associates. These individuals are recognized for their dedication and outstanding contributions to the company’s growth, culture, and client service.

Land also promoted team members to assistant project managers, project managers, and senior project managers, and several on our team earned new licenses, registrations, and certifications.

Client Relationships

Like others, we continue to persevere through the pandemic. Some in-person events have returned, but many remain virtual. Our team is grateful for continued partnerships. Many client relationships were strengthened over the year and many more were built. We look forward to continuing to build new and current relationships in 2022 and beyond.

The Future

It wouldn’t be January without creating resolutions and goals for next year. First, our team is eager to keep expanding our teams and client base.

Westwood will continue to develop employees and support their innovative spirits. Many team members have taken the initiative to help improve how we connect. The next year will be an opportunity to continue to meet more clients and share our wide array of services across the nation. The pandemic has shown the endless possibilities of work-sharing with other offices and divisions to increase the value we bring to every project. Virtual meeting and communication platforms have made it easier to provide project services, even across multiple offices across the country.

Westwood is also closely monitoring the impacts of the Infrastructure Bill, additional federal, state, and local legislation that supports infrastructure projects, and programs that support public housing. We look forward to the additional opportunities these bills will bring to our clients and teams.

We are so grateful for 2021 and all that’s to come, and we cannot thank our clients enough. Whether brand new or long-standing relationships, we are grateful for their unending support. Cheers to the future, to the growth of our teams, clients, and new ideas.