• Owner: City of Spokane Parks and Recreation

Pierce County selected Tacoma Rescue Mission (TRM) and its consultant team to evaluate the feasibility of a micro‑home village providing long‑term supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals. AHBL collaborated with TRM and the project architect to define programmatic requirements, evaluate potential site options, and develop preliminary development cost estimates. The concept was modeled after Austin’s Community First Village and designed to address regional homelessness through a comprehensive approach that integrates housing, employment opportunities, and community participation.

Following completion of the feasibility study in 2022, the project received funding approval from the Pierce County Council, with construction anticipated to begin in summer 2024. AHBL is continuing to support TRM and Pierce County through the entitlement and permitting phase, including coordination to secure construction approvals. The proposed development utilizes micro‑homes to house chronically homeless residents while incorporating on‑site employment and responsibility‑building opportunities such as community garden operations, facility maintenance, and small‑scale entrepreneurial activities that support long‑term stability and self‑sufficiency.

AHBL provided comprehensive, multidisciplinary services to support planning, design, and implementation of the micro‑home village, including master planning through civil engineering, land use planning, landscape architecture, and land surveying. Services also encompassed community engagement with historically underrepresented stakeholders, detailed site planning, utility and stormwater design, analysis of access and site constraints, and coordination of permitting and project scheduling. AHBL further supported project viability through cost estimating and budget development, along with graphic creation to clearly communicate concepts, phasing, and technical information to stakeholders and decision‑makers.

Concept Renderings: Tacoma Rescue Mission

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Tacoma Rescue Mission

Amara acquired 29 acres in the Summit‑Waller area of unincorporated Pierce County to develop resources for children and families impacted by foster care, family separation, and related trauma. AHBL led the master planning effort, developing multiple feasible plan alternatives in close collaboration with Amara. The team evaluated opportunities for walkways and trails that support nature exploration and education while protecting designated wetlands, and planned outdoor classroom spaces and staging areas with weather protection for summer and after‑school programming, including wilderness training and camping. The master plan also incorporated Amara’s vision for an indoor‑outdoor flexible multi‑use building accommodating groups of 20–250 for programmatic use and special events, as well as designated areas for small‑scale farming compatible with wetland conditions, including irrigation needs, water sources, greenhouse and hoop‑house areas, and adjacent sheltered educational spaces.

Family Photo: Amara
Renderings: Northwest Studio

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Amara
• Architect: Northwest Studio

AHBL spent more than two years providing on-call and on-site counter service to cover a period of staff transitions at Franklin County. While at the County, AHBL staff answered applicant questions regarding the zoning codes and development regulations and how they would affect development proposals. AHBL staff reviewed site plans for conformance with the County’s development regulations and other applicable policies and regulations, and successfully processed numerous short plats and several subdivisions, including preparing public notice requirements and performing SEPA environmental review.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Franklin County

AHBL provided structural engineering and landscape architecture services for the United Way of Lewis County, United Learning Center and Discovery Children’s Museum. This project includes a 12,000 SF early learning center with a 3,000 SF outdoor play area and a 4,640 SF Children’s Museum.  The site allows for future expansion, with long term plans to include a gymnasium, a Boys and Girls Club, and an 18,000 SF two-story museum. The current building includes vaulted ceilings with clerestory windows in the classroom and museum spaces with exposed CLT panel roof framing to promote biophilia. The project is currently under construction and will achieve LEED Silver certification when completed.

Photos: Renderings: KMB Architects

Teaming Partners

• Owner: United Way Lewis County
• Architect: KMB Architects
• Contractor: Construct, Inc. General Contractors

As part of an on-call services contract with Pierce County Parks and Recreation, AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the addition of a new restroom facility at the Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway. The project site, located adjacent to the Parkland Community Trail, required careful coordination with existing infrastructure and ongoing construction activities. AHBL’s scope included site grading, stormwater management, utility connections (sewer, water, and power), and pedestrian paving around the new facility. The team prepared an abbreviated stormwater plan in accordance with the 2021 Pierce County Stormwater Manual and coordinated with Pierce County Utilities for sewer pretreatment requirements. Landscape architecture services focused on integrating the restroom into the existing park setting with accessible paving and site furnishings.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Pierce County Parks and Recreation

AHBL provided civil engineering services to upgrade the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Tribal School’s baseball and softball fields from natural turf to high-performance synthetic turf. Our team coordinated closely with the Tribe’s contractor on field layout, perimeter flatwork, and base locations to ensure a seamless installation. We prepared grading plans, secured drainage permits, and supported construction with on-site oversight to maintain design intent. The project also included a new pre-manufactured concession and restroom building, with utility plans for domestic water and waste lines. These improvements deliver durable, low-maintenance facilities that enhance the athletic experience for the community.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• Contractor: Hellas Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, land use planning, and land surveying services for the renovation of the Kent-Meridian baseball, softball, and practice fields for the Kent School District. This project included converting the existing natural turf baseball field to synthetic turf, constructing a new synthetic softball field, and restoring the existing multipurpose practice fields. AHBL’s scope also included the installation of supporting utilities and the restoration of several track and field facilities. The existing softball field was stripped, regraded, and overhauled with new natural turf. AHBL’s surveyors managed local coordination with third-party utility companies to locate utilities and identified asphalt, concrete, parking areas, fences, buildings, finish floor elevations, existing field layouts, permanent equipment, and all other improvements within the project area.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Kent School District
• Contractor: A-1 Landscaping and Construction

Photos: Jeff Caven, Korsmo

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Brookfield Properties
• Architect: RGA Architects
• Contractor: Korsmo Construction

AHBL is providing comprehensive services—including civil and structural engineering, land use planning, landscape architecture, and land surveying—for Phase 1A of the City of Gig Harbor Sports Complex. This phase includes two synthetic turf fields with lighting, a restroom and concessions building, a storage facility, and approximately 100 parking stalls, all aligned with the 2018 master plan for the 20-acre site.

The team began with a topographic and boundary survey to validate design feasibility and adjust layouts based on site conditions. Civil engineers refined field orientations and coordinated traffic assessments for access and mitigation requirements. Structural engineers delivered full design and analysis for the storage building, incorporating geotechnical recommendations and designing cast-in-place retaining walls to manage grade transitions. AHBL worked closely with the owner and contractor during construction to implement value engineering and cost-saving measures while ensuring structural integrity and long-term durability.

Renderings: Bruce Dees & Associates
Construction Photos: Pease Construction

Teaming Partners

• Owner: YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties
• Contractor: Pease Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering services for the 3,900 SF expansion of the Chapel at Whitworth University. Site improvements included grading, stormwater management, utility connections, and fire access needed to support the new addition. The $2.8M expansion creates stronger connections between campus ministry, the theology department, and the Office of Church Engagement.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Whitworth University
• Architect: Integrus

AHBL provided civil and structural engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying for this industrial park project in Sumner. The logistics center is made up of seven buildings. The project provides 2.7M SF of industrial space with clear heights of 40 feet. Our civil engineers designed a four-lane lighted entry road with appropriate truck circulation. The industrial development is accessed off both State Route 167 and Interstate 5 corridor. In the future, the industrial park will include outdoor gathering spaces and amenities such as a sports court and food truck area.

Building 1
141K SF  •  10  acres  •  32-foot clear heights  • 30 dock doors  •  95 auto stalls

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Land Use Planning
• Land Surveying

Building 2
268K SF  •  9.3 acres  •  36-foot clear heights  • 39 dock doors  •  174 auto stalls  •  54 trailer stalls

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Landscape Architecture
• Land Surveying

Building 3
501K+ SF • 21.9 acres • 40-foot clear heights • 86 dock doors • 294 auto stalls • 67 trailer stalls

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Landscape Architecture

Building 4
440K+ SF • 9.3 acres • 40-foot clear heights • 82 dock doors • 273 auto stalls • 38 trailer stalls

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Landscape Architecture

Building 5
293K+ SF • 11 acres • 40-foot clear heights • 42 dock doors • 176 auto stalls • 56 trailer stalls

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Landscape Architecture
• Land Surveying

Building 6 – Under Construction
324K+ SF • 15.7 acres • 40-foot clear heights • 79 dock doors • 19 auto stalls • 33 trailer stalls

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Landscape Architecture

Building 7 – Under Construction
321K+ SF • 20.5 acres • 40-foot clear heights • 62 dock doors • 193 auto stalls • 85 trailer stalls

• Civil Engineering
• Landscape Architecture

Rendering: Tarragon
Aerial Photos: SkyTech Aerial
Photos: Sierra Construction

Teaming Partners:

• Owner and Developer: Tarragon
• Contractor: Sierra Construction

AHBL provided landscape architecture services for the expansion of Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville, located within Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve. Because of the site’s historic designation, the project required close coordination with the Historic Preservation Committee, the Town of Coupeville, hospital leadership, and community stakeholders. As the town’s first major construction effort in more than a decade, the addition was shaped through extensive public input and careful review.

Teaming Partners

• Architect: HDR Architecture

AHBL supported the design and construction of a new 79,000 SF steel‑framed federal facility featuring interior mezzanines, specialized program areas, and the new Community Living Center, which includes a nursing home care unit and a dietetics kitchen. The structural design followed the 2006 International Building Code and the Veterans Administration’s Structural Design Manual, while incorporating architectural elements such as a green roof to help achieve LEED Silver goals. The mechanical mezzanine was engineered with a concrete‑topped composite floor deck and pre‑engineered joists, with careful attention to vibration and noise control.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: US Department of Veterans Affairs

AHBL supported the renovation of Parrington Hall, a $19M progressive design‑build project with Absher + Integrus involving 56,000 SF of interior upgrades within the historic four‑story, 1902 building—one of the oldest on the UW campus and protected as a Landmarked structure. The renovation reconfigured interior spaces to meet the Evans School of Public Policy’s needs for flexible learning environments, modern offices, and updated building systems, while preserving the exterior.

Photos: Lara Swimmer

Teaming Partners

• Owner: University of Washington Seattle
• Architect: Integrus
• Contractor: Absher

Since 2008, AHBL has supported Tarragon’s development of the Uplands, a 320‑acre, multi‑phase master‑planned residential community in unincorporated Pierce County near Puyallup. AHBL provided land use planning and civil engineering services for project entitlements and infrastructure associated with the Planned Development District (PDD). The community vision emphasizes preserved forested critical areas, Mount Rainier views, and an amenity‑rich residential environment. In 2017, AHBL assisted with rezoning the property from Rural Residential to Moderate Density Single Family (MSF). This effort required preparation and approval of the PDD and the Master Development Plan, establishing the framework for phased development and increased residential density.

Phase I received Preliminary Plat approval in 2020, including processing of a Minor Amendment. This phase consists of townhomes and single‑family residences organized around a central amenity, the Wedge/Overlook Park, which includes a community center and primary recreation facilities. Phase I is currently under construction, with portions of the development sold to homebuilders.

Phase II recently received Preliminary Plat approval and is entering site work. The phase is organized around a large, walkable central park and includes a mix of single‑family detached homes with both traditional and alley‑loaded lots, a boutique age‑targeted neighborhood, and two for‑rent townhome sites. A key technical contribution by AHBL was updating the Sewer Master Plan, enabling an increase in overall project density from approximately 400 to 1,200 units without requiring major off‑site sewer main or lift‑station upgrades. This infrastructure strategy made the inclusion of multifamily housing on the Uplands property feasible.

AHBL also provided engineering design for Uplands Townhomes, a 10.5‑acre parcel developed with approximately 85 multifamily townhome units, further supporting the project’s diversified housing mix.

Property Mix – 1,200 Units:

• Single-family Detached Home Lots
• For-Rent Townhomes
• Open Space and Parks
• Community Amenities and Character

Photos: SkyTech Aerial

Teaming Partners

• Owner and Developer: Tarragon
• Builders:
  • Century Communities
  • Conner Homes
  • Lennar
  • Richmond American Homes

AHBL’s civil engineering and landscape architecture teams helped shape a pedestrian‑friendly, traffic‑calmed site that seamlessly integrates the new addition with the existing Libby Center. “The Hive” provides four makerspace studios, three training rooms, and dedicated areas for virtual learning and teacher training—including a podcast studio, conference space, and offices.

Photos: Lara Swimmer

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Spokane Public Library and Spokane Public Schools
• Architect: Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning Inc.

AHBL supported the expansion of Sumner High School with a new 86,000 SF classroom wing and significant site improvements. As the first step in a larger campus replacement, the project included master planning for future phases and delivering construction on an active school site. The new building features updated service areas, utility connections, pedestrian upgrades, and offsite ADA improvements—enhancing safety, accessibility, and long‑term functionality for the growing campus.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Sumner School District
• Architect: BLRB
• Contractor: Cornerstone GCI

AHBL partnered with Integrus Architecture to create the site development master plan for the Spokane Conservation District’s new 50-acre “conservation campus,” transforming a former asphalt plant and quarry into a hub for sustainability and innovation. Phase I delivered a 12,400 SF office and training center with rooftop solar panels, followed by a Phase II 15,000 SF partnership building housing the Washington Small Business Development Center. Phase III repurposed the historic Scale House into the region’s first year-round farmer’s market. AHBL’s civil engineering and landscape architecture team designed the site to honor its natural features, integrating solar analysis, native vegetation, and repurposed materials to preserve its industrial history. This award-winning project reflects AHBL’s commitment to creative, sustainable solutions that strengthen the Spokane community.

Photos: Lara Swimmer

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Spokane Conservation District
• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Halme Cascade

Tyee High School was transformed into a modern, three-story campus expanding from 129,000 SF to 210,000 SF to serve 1,200 students. AHBL provided civil and structural engineering, land use planning, and land surveying services to support this major upgrade. Our team improved accessibility with new sidewalks, curbs, signalization, and ADA-compliant intersections, while planning athletic fields and coordinating phased utility relocations. We also developed grading, paving, and utility plans for water, fire protection, and sewer connections, and guided the SEPA environmental review process for smooth approvals. The result is a vibrant, future-ready campus designed to meet the needs of students and the community.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Highline Public Schools
• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Absher Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering services for the new 50,000 SF school. Our team prepared a site and utility demolition plan, storm drainage plan, and plans for paving, grading, and utilities. The project was designed to keep Skyline Elementary School open throughout construction, adding an extra layer of complexity. However, our team, familiar with phased construction, rose to the occasion and delivered outstanding results. The school building was completed on time and within budget, providing students with a beautiful and functional learning space.

Photos: BCE Engineers

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Tacoma Public Schools
• Architect: SRG Partnership

AHBL provided structural engineering for a new retail development featuring a 6,500 SF convenience store with a timber-framed entry canopy, a 5,000 SF heavy timber fuel island canopy, a 900 SF coffee shop with drive-thru, and an automated car wash with support spaces. Smaller canopies for express tobacco sales were also integrated into the site. Our team collaborated closely with architects and specialty consultants to unify multiple structures into a cohesive design. Structural solutions balanced durability and aesthetics across diverse building types and canopy systems, supporting an efficient design and permitting process. The result is a functional, visually appealing retail destination that enhances community access to retail services.
 

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Nisqually Indian Tribe
• Architect: KMB Architects

AHBL provided on-call planning services to the City of Richland, supporting key code revisions and staff augmentation efforts. Tasks included updates to the Subdivision Code, Comprehensive Plan, and Critical Areas Code to align with local and state requirements. Our team prepared text amendments and rezoning ordinances for the waterfront district to allow public park use. We also assisted with the Shoreline Master Program update, working with Ecology, staff, and local officials to complete the submission.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Richland

AHBL provided civil engineering and land survey services for the 77,000 SF Pioneer Elementary School. Civil scope included roadway frontage improvements; storm drainage flow control and water quality improvements; water main replacements; new ADA ramps; and roadway signage and channelization plans in accordance with City of Auburn standards.

Site development included earthwork, grading, paving, water, sewer and storm (including an underground detention for flow control and stormwater quality). Half street road improvements were performed on all three roads bordering the site including one drive lane, parking, bike lane, concrete curb, gutter, sidewalk, and planting strip. Prior to the construction of the replacement elementary school, AHBL conducted boundary and topographic surveys of the property for the Auburn School District. AHBL’s scope of work included a topographic survey of the elementary school campus and adjoining roadways, totaling approximately 14.9 acres. The survey located utilities, buildings, finish floor elevations, asphalt, concrete, curbing, ditches, drives, guardrails, tops and toes of slopes, trees, fences, and all other improvements within the survey area. This survey effort also included the full width of M Street SE, K Street SE, and 25th Street SE. AHBL prepared a topographic survey base map that accurately depicts parcel boundaries, current zoning, easements affecting subject property, physical improvements, and existing ground contours.

Photos: Doug Walker

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Auburn School District
• Architect: NAC Architecture

Wesley Des Moines is a 42‑acre senior living campus with 375 studio, one‑, and two‑bedroom units ranging from 286 to 1,144 SF, supporting up to 600 residents. The campus follows a progressive‑care model that includes independent living, cottages, brownstone‑style apartments, assisted living, memory care, and 24‑hour skilled nursing, complemented by home care, rehabilitation, and long‑term care services. Located near Des Moines City Hall, the Public Library, and the Des Moines Health Center, the campus redevelopment has been supported by AHBL through civil and structural engineering, landscape architecture, and survey services.

Photos: DennonVisuals

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Wesley Homes
• Architect: Insite Architects

AHBL provided civil engineering services for the Richland Public Safety Building 76, supporting site development with a focus on sustainability, resilience, and community-first design. The team delivered grading, drainage, utility layouts, and erosion control plans, along with stormwater, sewer, water, and fire protection systems that met Eastern Washington’s 2019 stormwater standards. Offsite improvements included a 1,500-foot gravity sewer extension and assistance with permitting.

Throughout construction, AHBL remained actively involved—supporting bidding, reviewing submittals, responding to RFIs, and attending weekly virtual meetings. The result is a code-compliant, durable facility that reflects Richland’s commitment to safety, accessibility, and public service.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Richland
• Architect: Architects West

AHBL provided landscape architecture services for Station 84, a 21,800 SF fire station and administrative facility on a 4.7-acre site. The 16,663 SF main building includes four equipment bays, crew living quarters, and space for 12 administrators, while a 5,100 SF storage building adds five bays for fire apparatus. Designed to support a six-minute response time, the single-story station houses a medic, ladder, rescue, and water tender team. AHBL’s landscape design features drought-tolerant plants and a subsurface irrigation system for efficient, low-maintenance water use.

Photos: Michelle Baumbach

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Pasco
• Architect: TCA Architecture
• Contractor: Jackson Contractor Group, Inc.

AHBL provided landscape architecture services for Pasco Fire Station 83, a new $5.2M, 10,612 SF fire station located at Road 76 and Sandifur Parkway. The single-story facility includes four drive-thru bays, crew living quarters, administrative space, and a 5,100 SF storage building with five additional bays. Strategically positioned to improve emergency response times north of the freeway, the station houses a medic, ladder, rescue, and water tender team. AHBL’s landscape design features low-water-use native and adaptive plants supported by a high-efficiency drip irrigation system.

Photos: RK Productions

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Pasco
• Architect: TCA Architecture
• Contractor: Chervenell Construction

The City of Olympia and the Olympia Parks, Recreation, and Arts Department has a vision to develop an urban farm park to increase access to locally grown food, support local food production, and grow future farmers in Olympia. They envision the Urban Farm Park as a place that will be designed to provide education, skills, and tools needed to encourage and cultivate a diverse agricultural community of urban farmers. AHBL was selected to conduct a feasibility study for the Urban Farm Park, which includes identifying potential partnerships and resources, estimating construction, and operating costs, and facilitating diverse community engagement to identify key characteristics of the future Urban Farm Park. 

The AHBL team, which includes ECONorthwest, Olympia-based artist Carrie Ziegler, and Adam Peterson with the Thurston Conservation District, coordinated an extensive community engagement plan, gathering input at Farmers Market and Art Walks, as well as facilitating stakeholder interviews, workshops, and an online survey. The completed study will give recommendations for how the City can feasibly create a future Urban Farm Park. It is a long-term vision, and the feasibility study is an important first step in bringing the City’s vision of an urban farm park, that supports an integrated agricultural network of farmers and gardeners, into a tangible resource available to the entire community. 

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Olympia
• Art: Carrie Ziegler
• Policy Insights: ECOnorthwest

AHBL provided surveying, civil engineering, and landscape architecture services to support Columbia Basin Health Association’s development of a new clinic in Pasco. The effort began with establishing survey control for the 24‑acre site, collecting field data, and reviewing public‑record information to document existing roads, utilities, drainage features, and site conditions. Using this information, AHBL prepared boundary, topographic, and ALTA/NSPS surveys with one‑foot contours, creating a reliable foundation for site planning, grading, and utility layout.

Rendering: KDA Architecture

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Columbia Basin Health Association (CBHA)
• Architect: KDA Architecture

• Owner: City of Federal Way

For this Design-Build project at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, AHBL provided upgrades to the softball field, jogging trail, and multi-purpose ball fields. Site improvements for the softball field included replacing the existing natural turf with synthetic turf. The project also involved installing new curbs, fencing, a scoreboard, foul poles, and new softball bases. Field striping met ASA requirements for fast-pitch softball and included markings for baselines, a pitcher’s circle, batter’s boxes, a catcher’s box, foul lines, coaches’ boxes, and on-deck circles. Stormwater improvements consisted of replacing an existing field drain header pipe with a new perforated drainpipe and installing new field drainage beneath portions of the synthetic turf.

Site improvements for the jogging trail and multi-purpose ball field included removing the existing jogging trail and installing a new synthetic turf field for soccer and flag football, an asphalt jogging track surrounding the field, a scoreboard, fencing, and two asphalt/concrete pads for bleachers.

Teaming Partners

• Contractor: Washington Patriot Construction

AHBL provided comprehensive civil engineering, structural engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the nine-story Napoleon Apartments in Downtown Tacoma. The mixed-use building features five stories of wood-framed residential units above four stories of post-tensioned concrete, including one level of below-grade parking. With 135 units and a rooftop amenity space, the development offers over 100,000 SF of residential space and 50,000 SF of parking. Civil design included stormwater improvements, utility connections, and site development, along with frontage upgrades on Tacoma Avenue and Court E, replacing aging vaulted sidewalks. Land surveying services encompassed topographic surveys and construction staking.

The structural design addressed the challenges of a sloped site and adjacent properties through a combination of sloped excavation and shoring walls, enabling the placement of foundations below alley elevation and optimizing parking levels. Post-tensioned concrete at the lower levels supported five stories of wood-framed apartments above Tacoma Avenue. AHBL collaborated closely with the architect to align column placements with both residential and parking layouts, using Revit BIM modeling for structural drawings and 3D coordination throughout the project. The result is a structurally efficient and thoughtfully integrated urban residential development.

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Studio19 Architects
• Developer: Vision Deuce, LLC

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe transformed the Muckleshoot Market and Deli into the Big Nation Station to enhance convenience, security, and community impact. AHBL provided landscape architectural services from preliminary design through construction, incorporating client feedback into detailed soil preparation, planting, and irrigation plans. The site features a large grocery selection, expanded fuel stations, and a state-of-the-art car wash. AHBL’s planting design reflects the Pacific Northwest aesthetic with a low-maintenance palette that complements the modernized facility. The result is a vibrant, one-of-a-kind destination that supports the Tribe’s vision for economic growth and community service.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• Architect: BCRA

AHBL’s civil engineering and landscape architecture teams provided design and construction phase services for the 105,888 SF Kellogg Middle School project. One goal of this project was to enhance the overall quality of the stormwater exiting the site and entering the Thorton Creek watershed through bioretention cells (Silva Cells) in the interior courtyard of the school that were integrated into the paving and pedestrian areas. In addition to LID design throughout the site, the project included street improvements including street widening, streetscape accessibility design, stormwater infrastructure expansion, and off-site water main utility infrastructure.

Photos: Benjamin Benschneider

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Shoreline School District
• Architect: Mahlum Architects
• Contractor: Hoffman Construction

AHBL provided civil and structural engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying for the new Hailey Apartments. The $40M, 166-unit mixed-use development on Tacoma Ave S. is located in an urban neighborhood of Tacoma. The project contains seven stories, including five wood-framed levels of residential over two floors of ground-level retail. Approximately 150 parking stalls are provided underground on two levels of post tensioned concrete. 

The civil design included stormwater improvements meeting the requirements of the City of Tacoma’s 2016 Stormwater Management Manual. The project also included frontage improvements along Tacoma Avenue South and Court F, including new curb, gutter, driveways, sidewalks, and angled parking.

Our landscape architects provided an overall site design, which contributes to the environment of the city through the use of urban greenspaces, and provides a visual buffer to minimize the visual impact of development. The design also includes street trees to provide aesthetic appeal, traffic calming, as well as separation from the streets.

Land survey services included a topographic survey of the parcel and adjacent roadways.

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Studio19 Architects

The Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound spans 39 acres and includes Washington’s largest indoor waterpark, a 393‑room lodge, conference space, dining, and family entertainment amenities. AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services to support this large, complex resort. Civil work included designing two sanitary sewer pump stations, stormwater facilities using sheet flow and infiltration ponds, and extensive grading, paving, drainage, and utility improvements. Landscape architecture services delivered naturalistic planting and irrigation around lodge entrances, parking areas, and patios—balancing the rural setting with the resort’s playful character.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Great Wolf Lodge of Chehalis, LLC
• Architect: KMB Architects

The Fife School District’s Early Learning Center project enhances the district’s administrative site in Milton with significant improvements to outdoor play and recreational spaces. AHBL is providing landscape architecture and civil engineering services to support the development of new playground areas and improved site entry. The landscape architecture scope encompasses playground design, site furnishings, planting, and irrigation, fostering a vibrant and engaging environment for early learners. AHBL’s expertise ensures a well-integrated design that aligns with permitting requirements while meeting the district’s goals for functionality, safety, and sustainability. Civil engineering efforts focus on grading, paving, stormwater management, and utility coordination to ensure seamless site functionality.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Fife Public Schools
• Architect: NAC Architecture

Bear Lake Regional Park underwent a transformative redevelopment to enhance accessibility, upgrade infrastructure, and restore natural resources. AHBL partnered with Spokane County to develop a master plan and lead Phase l improvements, focusing on the east and west shoreline day-use areas. Key upgrades included replacing deteriorated structures with accessible stairways and fishing piers, improving visitor amenities, and updating sanitary infrastructure. The project also prioritized environmental stewardship with native plantings and habitat enhancements. Funded through a combination of federal, county, and private sources, this revitalization ensures Bear Lake remains a premier recreational destination for the community.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Spokane County

AHBL has provided landscape architecture, civil engineering, planning, and land surveying services for private and public properties and spaces among the Badger Mountain development. One of these properties is located on the vineyard covered south slope of Badger Mountain in Richland. The master-planned community Badger Mountain South is envisioned as a 1,500-acres multi-generational community connected by 200 acres of parks, open spaces and trails. The development will also feature a variety of upscale retail center and restaurants to meet the needs of the surrounding residents.

AHBL worked with Richland City Parks, Badger Mountain South’s development group, and the Richland School District to design and develop bid-ready documents for West Village Park, the first of several major park spaces to be designed in the development. This 35-acre site will be surrounded by homes and churches to the north, south, and west and Richland’s new middle and elementary schools to the east. The park is envisioned as a destination sports field facility hosting events with visitors from the entire Tri-Cities region. The park’s fields and amenities will also support needed programs from Richland School District. A fire station will also be co-located on the park. Park spaces and landscape blend in a variety of uses including four multi-sport fields, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds and splash pads, a hill-side zip line, and amphitheater. Support structures include covered picnic shelters, an office and concessions building, restrooms, a maintenance shop building, and parking for over 200 vehicles.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Richland

AHBL is partnering with Tacoma Housing Authority, Mercy Housing, Mithun, and Walsh Construction to redevelop James Center North into Aviva Crossing—a 7-acre, mixed-income housing community. Since 2017, the team has navigated complex land ownership, securing over 40 titles and finalizing a binding site plan in 2024. The project includes phased utility relocation to maintain service during construction, with Phase I addressing power, water, and gas, and Phase II—currently underway—focused on stormwater and sewer systems.

To support long-term sustainability, AHBL developed a sitewide stormwater flow control master plan featuring an underground detention system topped with a future public park. The design includes infiltration vaults, mechanical bio pods, and a natural rain garden to meet Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard (ESDS) requirements. ADA-accessible routes are integrated throughout the site, ensuring inclusive access to future buildings, courtyards, and the waterway.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Tacoma Housing Authority, Mercy Housing
• Architect: Mithun
• Contractor: Walsh Construction

• Owner: Simplot
• Contractor: Fisher Construction

AHBL provided structural engineering services for a new 4,900 SF retail tobacco sales shop for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe near the ilani Resort and Casino campus in Ridgefield, Washington. The shop features three drive-through windows with protective overhanging canopies to enhance customer service efficiency. The wood-framed building includes expressed tongue and groove timber decking on glu-lam beams in the retail area, with conventional plywood roof sheathing on wood I-joists in the stock, receiving, and employee break rooms. Additionally, AHBL designed the structural support for a large overhead tube steel sign bridge, accommodating digital interactive display signs above the three-lane-wide drive-through.

Photos: Doug Walker

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Cowlitz Indian Tribe
• Architect: KMB Architects
• Contractor: Truebeck Construction

The City of Spokane engaged AHBL to provide civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the Beacon Hill Trailheads project. The scope includes development of detailed design documents, permitting packages, bid‑ready construction documents, bid phase support, and construction administration for improvements at the John Shields Park and Camp Sekani trailheads. These trailheads serve as primary public access points to the Beacon Hill recreation area and include associated park amenities. This project is supported in part through the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), administered by the National Park Service and conveyed by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO).

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Spokane Parks and Recreation

AHBL provided structural engineering services for the 94,000 SF replacement YMCA on Pearl Street. The facility will replace the aged Morgan Family YMCA, which has served Tacoma for more than 40 years. The new facility features a modern aquatics center, gathering spaces, health and well-being areas, cycling and yoga spaces, and a youth and teen center. 

Renderings: BCRA Design

Teaming Partners:

• Owner: YMCA Pierce and Kitsap Counties
• Architect: BCRA Design
• Contractor: Absher Construction

Kitsap County’s first permanent supportive housing complex houses up to 72 adults with chronic mental illness and chronic substance use, bringing stability, and increased opportunities to engage in treatment, healthcare, and employment services. AHBL served as the civil engineer and landscape architect for the steeply sloped 1.66-acre site.

With 50 feet of elevation change across the site, pedestrian and vehicular access required detailed and thorough grading plans. Requiring early site clearing, grading, and erosion control permits to allow earthwork to proceed, the new building steps up the site with grade access provided to multiple floor levels. Additional storm facilities included treatment and an infiltration pond to eliminate discharge to the adjacent state highway right-of-way.

Photos: William Wright

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Kitsap County Department of Human Services
• Architect: SMR Architects

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land survey services for the Midway Logistics Center in Centralia, a 212,000 SF industrial distribution facility on 15.5 acres. The facility includes 200,000 SF of manufacturing and distribution space and 12,000 SF of office space, featuring various bay spaces, 38-foot clear heights, and grade and dock-high loading. The civil engineering team handled preliminary design, SEPA and site plan review, fill and grade design, permitting, final civil engineering design, roadway improvements, and construction support, including a significant off-site sewer extension. Land surveyors conducted updated boundary and topographic surveys, while landscape architects created a planting plan and supported the project through permitting and construction.

Photos: Matt Swain

Teaming Partners

• Developer: Panattoni Development Company
• Contractor: Cornice Construction

AHBL provided structural engineering services for the redevelopment of the River Cities Transit Center in Longview, replacing the outdated and unsafe facility from the 1980s. The new transit center, designed with input from various stakeholders, aimed to enhance safety and accommodate more space for staff. The original 1,250 SF building was replaced with a 4,200 SF facility featuring customer service, rider waiting areas, transit offices, and a drivers’ lounge. Structural improvements included a deep foundation system due to problematic soils, improved bus flow, new rider shelters, and enhanced pedestrian areas.

Photos: Arthur Ross

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Longview
• Architect: TCF Architecture

AHBL provided civil, land survey, and landscape design for the new regional military confinement facility at JBLM under a design-build (DB) build joint venture between Walsh Federal and DLR Group. Sited on the original building footprint and executed by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the facility includes a main correction facility with 165 beds, a power plant, and integrated perimeter security fence.

The $77.3M  project consists of a new 66,000 SF facility. AHBL was responsible for site improvements around the facility, recreational area, fixtures, and equipment, as well as demolition of the existing JRCF, and a reconstructed frontage roadway with new storm drainage and water utilities.

Photos: Gray Media Productions

Teaming Partners

• Owner: 508th Military Police Detention Battalion, Joint Base Lewis-McChord
• Architect: DLR Group
• Contractor: Walsh Construction

AHBL provided structural engineering services for Tacoma Public Schools Downing Elementary School Replacement that included the design and construction of a new 28,000 SF two-story classroom addition, and renovation with seismic roof upgrades of the existing DA Gonyea Boys and Girls Club to house school administration, gymnasium, and cafeteria. The new addition is comprised of conventional wood framing, pre-engineered wood trusses, open web wood trusses, and a cross-laminated timber (CLT) canopy.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Tacoma Public Schools
• Architect: TCF Architecture
• Contractor: Tunista Construction

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s new 100,000 SF Community Center offers an inclusive gathering space that honors their heritage and supports ongoing traditions. Strategically located next to the Great Lawn and Plaza, it features a full commercial kitchen, gymnasium, and conference rooms. AHBL’s landscape architects designed pathways connecting the center to nearby facilities, ensuring safe navigation near Hwy 164. Native plants, identified with the help of Valerie Segrest, a Muckleshoot Tribe member and plant expert, were incorporated to support cultural cooking traditions. The center will host events like salmon bakes, drawing over 10,000 visitors annually.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• Architect: LSE Architects
• Contractor: Merit Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering services for Spokane Public Schools’ South Middle School project. The new school is located in Spokane’s South Hill neighborhood and is home to up to 875 students. The 150,000 SF building was designed to emphasize the surrounding Palouse landscape and encourage learning. The project was broken into two phases. During the Phase I, AHBL civil engineers prepared storm drainage, grading, and utility plans based on site plan and assisted on stormwater layout and sizing. During Phase II, AHBL’s civil engineers provided services for additional utilities, road improvements for site access, final site grading and surfacing, playfield construction, and demolition of the existing school. The new school was delivered via General Contractor/Construction Manager (GCCM) for a maximum allowable construction cost (MACC) of $48M and officially named Carla Peperzak Middle School, after the holocaust survivor and Dutch resistance fighter that now resides in Spokane.

Photos: Edison Creative Group

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Spokane Public Schools
• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Garco Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture for the replacement of Mt. Stuart Elementary. Built on the existing Mt. Stuart site, the $13M new 55,000 SF elementary school accommodates 500 students and faculty. The new building features new classrooms, special education rooms and autism center, library, kitchen, a shared gymnasium, commons, music room to accommodate band and choir program, administrative space, counseling and educational support spaces, and a special needs focused playground.

Civil engineering and landscape architecture services included value engineering review, preparation of schematic design documents, and record drawings. The existing Mt. Stuart Elementary School was subsequently demolished after completion of the new school’s construction, with final site, plaza, courtyard, and playground landscaping also completed in this phase.

Photos: Ed Sozinho

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Garco Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for a 278,000 SF concrete tilt-up distribution center in Spokane, WA. The facility includes 80 loading docks, 500 parking stalls, 360 truck stalls, EV infrastructure for future chargers, and incorporates Type 1L cement for sustainability. AHBL developed multiple site layout options, grading and utility plans, drainage design, and SEPA documentation, as well as roadway improvements for the widening of S Hayford Rd. Landscape architects prepared planting plans, cost estimates, and supported permitting and construction. Land surveyors completed boundary, topographic, and ALTA surveys. During construction, AHBL assisted in the resolution of subcontractor questions and adapted designs to unforeseen site conditions.

Photos: SkyTech Aerial

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Panattoni Development Company
• Architect: Ford and Associates Architects
• Contractor: Perlo Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the Muckleshoot Casino’s new 18-story resort hotel expansion which was designed to have views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountain Range, and the Seattle Skyline. The new glass tower features 400 guest rooms, expanded gaming space that includes 2,600 slot machines and 105 table games, an indoor pool and spa, and a rooftop steakhouse. A new parking garage was also constructed to enhance visitor experience and improve safety and accessibility. Early phases of work also included the addition of a 20,000 SF events center, three casual dining options, and Caesars Sportsbook.
 

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• Architect: Marnell Companies
• Contractor: Swinerton Construction

In support of Mahlum Architects, AHBL is providing civil engineering services that include grading, storm drainage, on-site stormwater management (OSM), and water, sewer, hardscaping, and street improvements for the replacement of Alki Elementary School. The current 45,400 SF school houses 19 teaching stations for roughly 309 K-5 students, and the new school will be over 79,000 SF with 35 teaching stations for 542 K-5 students, plus a modernization to the existing gym. Services also included improving the outdoor play area and decoupling water, sewer, and storm drainage of the existing Community Center from the school utilities. The new school is anticipated to open in Fall 2025.

Renderings: Mahlum Architects

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Seattle Public Schools
• Architect: Mahlum Architects
• Contractor: Cornerstone General Contractors

To accommodate increased enrollment in the Milgard School of Business, AHBL provided civil engineering, surveying, and land use planning on Milgard Hall. The 55,000 SF, three-story building provides additional labs, classrooms, and collaborative spaces. Clad with predominantly masonry materials, the building is constructed using cross-laminated timber, which is a wood panel product made by gluing together layers of lumber. The timber has a lighter carbon footprint and less embodied energy, making it a more sustainable and cost-effective product. Located adjacent to the Snoqualmie Library Building and the Prairie Line Trail on a portion of the Cragel Parking Lot, its design and location are a nod to modern urban design and Tacoma’s rich lumber and rail history.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: University of Washington Tacoma
• Architect: Architecture Research Office
• Contractor: Andersen Construction

In 2018, voters approved a $176M construction bond for new schools and facility upgrades, leading to the development of Fife Elementary School, which can accommodate approximately 800 students. AHBL provided landscape architecture, civil engineering, land use planning, and land survey services for the 115,000 SF building. The site design included a building, outdoor learning classroom, vegetable garden, playground, bus loop, parking areas, and athletic fields. A central courtyard inspired by the Puyallup River’s journey features classrooms around its edges and a water feature capturing rooftop rainwater. The project also involved replacing high school tennis courts with new turf fields and constructing various infrastructure elements, with AHBL preparing comprehensive plans and coordinating construction efforts.

Photos: Lara Swimmer

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Fife Public Schools
• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Cornerstone General Contractors

AHBL provided civil engineering services for the Pierce College Puyallup Johnson Science building, a three-story, 54,400 SF facility featuring teaching labs, classrooms, and a fabrication lab for STEM programs. The design included a 100-stall parking addition, stormwater systems, ADA-compliant walkways, and educational raingardens that promote sustainability. By integrating campus features, protecting nearby second-growth forests, and targeting LEED Gold Certification, the project aligns with the college’s commitment to sustainable education and growth.

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Absher Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services to restore Manito Park’s Mirror Pond, focusing on improving water quality. The team began by analyzing pond sediment and water samples from Mirror Pond and a nearby Qualchan Golf Course pond to establish a baseline. Partnering with Budinger and Associates for subsurface exploration, AHBL also researched national case studies in similar climates to identify effective water quality solutions.

The final design included dredging to remove biomass, deepening the pond, and installing a perpetual pump system. A new wetland feature filters phosphorus and nitrogen to reduce algae blooms. Water is circulated through two planted hillside areas and a waterfall before returning to the pond. Enhancements also include an artistic cast iron pedestrian bridge, interpretive signage, and a maintenance plan to sustain plant-based nutrient removal and control erosion.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Spokane Parks and Recreation
• Geotechnical Engineer: Budinger and Associates
• Contractor: Ditches Unlimited

Avamere Bel Air is a 40,190 SF single-story skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located on 2.28 acres in Tacoma. AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the 60-bed, short-term care center, which includes 51 parking spaces and a welcoming, light-filled design. Civil engineering work included grading, utility, and stormwater plans, along with frontage road improvements and retaining walls. The landscape design featured turf, shrubs, trees, and groundcover, with detailed plans prepared for review and permitting. AHBL’s integrated approach helped create a functional, accessible, and visually appealing healthcare environment.
 

Photography: Jeff Amram

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Avamere Transitional Care of Puget Sound
• Architect: CB Two Architects
• Contractor: Pence Construction

The Nisqually Elders Center includes the design of a new 24,500 SF two-story community gathering building that provides the tribe with spaces for fitness, dining, crafts, offices, and classrooms/conference rooms. The property includes a timber entry canopy, 3,700 SF second floor storage, and mechanical room space. AHBL provided structural engineering services for the project that is wood framed, incorporating Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) roof panels at the high-vaulted roof and entry porte cochere, with expressed heavy timber construction. The project was awarded LEED Gold in 2023.

Photos: Doug Walker

Drone Photo: Korsmo Construction

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Nisqually Indian Tribe
• Architect: KMB Architects
• Contractor: Korsmo Construction

AHBL provided structural engineering for an underground stormwater vault as part of a large 118-acre industrial development near I-5 and the Port of Tacoma in Milton. The vault measures approximately 115 feet wide by 950 feet long, with a storage depth of 16 feet and an overall height of 19 feet. Our engineers designed a pre-cast concrete plank system spanning between cast-in-place concrete walls, supported by interior concrete beams. Due to the sloping site, one end of the vault was above grade and visible. AHBL also coordinated with the MSE wall design and designed the Hylebos Culvert Foundation, specifying a pre-engineered culvert system and its foundation based on manufacturer-provided reactions.

Photos: Seven Maples Photography

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Bridge Industrial
• Architect: Nelson Worldwide
• Contractor: Sierra Construction

Working directly for the Spokane County Stormwater Utility, AHBL led the design team that restored the Country Homes Boulevard channel to a more natural state. This water-quality project involved the removal of an existing asphalt channel, replacing it with a subsurface pipe to carry flood flows, and a bioretention swale running the entire length of the drainage channel. The end result allows for local infiltration of stormwater, flood mitigation, removal of pollutant generating surface, and beautification of nearly 1.5 mile of road.

The channel was originally designed to rapidly carry stormwater runoff from the 2.3 square mile Five Mile Watershed; designed at a time when less was known about the need for treatment of stormwater that finds its way to our rivers, streams and/or the aquifer. The new facility contains a variety of plant material, including native grasses and trees with organic rich topsoil, that provide for natural treatment of stormwater runoff and reduce pollutants before water reaches these natural resources.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Spokane County 

Working with a variety of public agencies and design firms, AHBL provided civil engineering design services for the newly opened Eastside Community Center in Tacoma. The 55,000 sf facility houses a variety of public spaces including a swimming pool, sports and fitness areas, and meetings rooms among other programmed spaces. AHBL provided civil engineering services which included preparing the storm drainage plan and offsite frontage improvements.

To evaluate and implement the necessary traffic reconfiguration, civil engineers researched all roads surrounding the site, the bus loop, teacher parking, and student drop-off access, and the traffic from the National Guard office nearby. We also designed the future parking and site circulation for the new community center, making our team particularly familiar with the future traffic and pedestrian needs in the area. To accommodate these needs, we redesigned the driveway approach to the school parking lot on E 52nd Street, and processed a work order for a pedestrian crossing on the south side of the site. Prior to the project, AHBL’s survey team completed a comprehensive survey on the site, including an ALTA Survey and topographic survey totaling 30 acres. Utility locations were determined, along with Right-of-Way data.

Photos: Rick Keating/Korsmo

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Parks Tacoma
• Architect: ARC Architects
• Contractor: Korsmo Construction

AHBL landscape architects spent three years in design and construction and a dialog with Chihuly Studios to ensure the garden and art were conceived to excite visitors to the exhibition. The north of the garden nearest the monorail features art in red, yellow, black and magenta with plants like crimson camellias, scarlet daylilies and hardy fuschias. On the east side of the glass house the focal point is the reclaimed old-growth Western Cedar logs and lavender reeds surrounded with the purple leaved Aster Prince and an assortment of ferns that create a primordial effect. On the south end of the garden the largest planting of handkerchief trees in Seattle will mature to form a canopy that will be beautiful with time.

The art is predominantly in blues and purple with Sea Hollies and ground covers in the same colors. A grove of dogwoods and stewartia provides flowers in spring and summer and give form to the garden. The sun sits atop a six foot mound planted with 4,500 black mondo grass for a stunning sight against the south end of the glass house.

Photos: Ben Benschneider

Artwork © Copyright, Chihuly Studio,2012, all rights reserved

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Owen Richards Architects
• Developer: Seneca Group

AHBL provided full-service civil engineering and permitting for Uplands Townhomes Phase I, an 86-unit multifamily community in Puyallup, WA. The scope included roadway design, site grading, sewer, and stormwater systems, as well as coordination with wetlands and buffer areas surrounding the site. This project was part of the larger Uplands 320 Master Planned Community by Tarragon, for which AHBL also delivered civil engineering and land surveying for approximately 1,100 homes, preserved wetlands, open spaces, and a primary park oriented for views of Mt. Rainier. A pedestrian trail at the southern corner connects the townhomes to the broader community.

Teaming Partners

• Owner and Developer: Tarragon

AHBL provided civil engineering, structural engineering, and landscape architecture design services on this 145-unit affordable housing mixed-use development property consisting of approximately 135,000 SF apartment over ground floor retail and structured parking. Community amenities include rooftop deck, community lounge with kitchen, EV charging stations, and a landscaped courtyard.

Teaming Partners:

• Developer: GMD Development
• Contractor: Sierra Construction

This multi-phase development will bring over 5,000 new homes, ranging from single-family to multi-family units, along with schools, over 400 acres of trails, parks, and gathering spaces. The development will also feature upscale retail and dining to serve the growing community. AHBL joined the project in 2013 to help make the 1,480-acre site more appealing to developers. They revised the Land Use Designation Regulations (LUDR) to streamline development—reducing unnecessary roads, removing alley requirements, and replacing large stormwater ponds with smaller, site-specific infiltration systems. These changes improved both cost-efficiency and sustainability.

The first phase, West Vineyard, saw a 50% increase in lot sales under the new LUDR. AHBL’s proactive engagement with city officials helped accelerate adoption of the revised regulations by six months. They continue to provide design and permitting support for future phases.

When completed, the project is planned to include:

• 142 acres of single-family large lots
• 553 acres of urban-sized single-family lots
• 155 acres of multi-family residential
• 205+ acres of greenway parks
• 48+ acres of small parks added to neighborhoods as subdivisions develop
• 36+ acres of future City of Richland Community and Neighborhood Parks
• 22+ acres of greenbelts
• 18+ miles of trails, including paved, gravel and equestrian links
• 4 neighborhood school sites
• Community storage site
• Playfields, picnic areas, dog parks, and other outdoor areas

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Badger Mountain South Development

This design-build project is located on 40 acres that was the former site of WWII-era housing on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). The housing was demolished, and the site is undergoing a complete redevelopment to accommodate the growing operations of JBLM. The project involved design and construction of three miles of new roadway, including storm drainage, sanitary sewer, water, gas, propane, and communication and data lines. 

The new roads and infrastructure are helping revitalize this underutilized section of the North Fort area by solving major roadblocks to development, including access to new construction, aging and inadequate infrastructure, and improved traffic flow. The roads were designed with pedestrian facilities like on-street parking, bike lanes, sidewalks, landscape strips, and street trees to improve connectivity and community livability. With extensive building development occurring in the area, the new roadways and infrastructure allow increased functionality for existing facilities, opportunities for future growth, and safe and healthy multimodal transit options for our soldiers and their families. 

Teaming Partners

• Owners:
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord
  • United States Army
• Architect: Tomkins Architects
• Contractor: Centennial Contractor Enterprises

AHBL provided civil engineering and land survey services for the beautiful waterfront 7 Seas Gig Harbor Taproom. The taproom was developed to maximize the panoramic views of the Gig Harbor Lighthouse, Puget Sound, and Mount Rainier. The property features a 1,100 SF patio off the upper-level taproom, with lower levels providing brewing space, an office, and storage space. The existing 4,300 SF dock was modified down to 3,700 SF, allowing visits by land or sea with access from the harbor for boats, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. Floor-to-ceiling windows maximize the pristine views, and the wood exterior emulates the fishing village-feel of Gig Harbor.
 
AHBL’s civil engineering team worked with the City of Gig Harbor and the design team to fit the desired features, minimized grading to retain existing trees, worked with neighboring driveway connection, and eliminated stormwater detention requirements for the project. The tight site and buffering requirements to the neighbors made the site very constrained. The project also included frontage improvements to Harborview Drive as required by the City.
 

Photography: Heywood Chan, Ye-H Photography

Teaming Partners

• Owner:  7 Seas Brewing
• Architect: Ferguson Architecture
• Contractor: Washington Patriot Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering and land surveying services for this 64,000 SF Medical Mile Health Science Center for Bates Technical College in downtown Tacoma. The complexities of the downtown project site included the documentation of vacated right of way (ROW) that intersected the project site as well as relocating displaced parking after the West Annex was demolished.

The Medical Mile/Allied Health Science Center houses 11 programs including the colleges community health clinics which serve as a hands-on learning experience for students while providing the community with low-cost health services. The outdated building did not function well for students with outdated equipment and training areas that were difficult to access. The new building allows students to easily transition between classroom and training areas and access to updated equipment. 

Photos: Francis Zera

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Bates Techincal College
• Architect: Starling Whitehead and Lux Architects, P.S.

AHBL served as the civil engineer and landscape architect for the Tacoma Housing Authority MLK Mercy House affordable housing development in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood. The 43,000 SF 6-story building offers 61 affordable apartments for seniors and includes a community room and outdoor courtyard. To meet the State’s Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard at this 0.22-acre development, AHBL’s landscape architect team designed a walled garden courtyard with engaging low maintenance plantings, offering residents a secure space to gather.  Design services provided by AHBL’s civil engineering team include a rain garden and storm drainage plan, surface grading, and onsite water and sewer calculations.

Photo: William Wright

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Tacoma Housing Authority
• Architect: SMR Architects
• Contractor: Walsh Construction
• Developer: Mercy Housing Northwest

Affinity at Broadmoor is a senior living community designed to support independent, active lifestyles for older adults in Pasco. The 170-unit development spans six acres and features amenities and site elements tailored to comfort, accessibility, and ease of maintenance. AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services, including site layout, grading, drainage, and planting and irrigation plans that meet City zoning standards. Our team also supported entitlement efforts through SEPA documentation and fee estimates and provided construction administration to guide the project through permitting. The result is a thoughtfully designed environment that enhances quality of life while meeting funding and regulatory requirements.

Teaming Partners

• Contractor: Inland Group

• Owner: Annie Wright Schools

AHBL provided civil engineering and land surveying services for this two-story, 36,000 SF Glacier Building, home to Pierce College Fort Steilacoom’s Dental Hygiene and Veterinary Technology programs. The Dental Hygiene program provides low-cost services to qualified community members, and the Veterinary Technology program hosts and cares for rescue animals that are available for adoption annually.

Due to high stormwater infiltration rates, AHBL designed an on-site conveyance and bioretention system to provide both water quality treatment and infiltration of stormwater, with sand and sediment separators along sewer service lines to capture animal hair and debris before discharge to the sanitary sewer mains.

AHBL also provided services for the reconfigured parking lot, which was redesigned to allow semitruck turnaround in a part of the campus where it was previously difficult to do so. Parking lot improvements included adding 49 parking stalls and 10 ADA parking stalls, along with pedestrian connections between Glacier Building and the existing Cascade Building adjacent to the pedestrian path to Waughop Lake.

Photography: Doug Walker

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Pierce College
  Architect: McGranahan Architects
  Contractor: Andy Johnson and Company

AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture, for Cosecha Court II Phase Two, and civil engineering and landscape architecture services for Phase Three of the Cosecha Court housing project. Owned and operated by the Yakima Housing Authority (YHA), Cosecha Court II is a seasonal family farmworker housing development. The housing project’s top priority was a desire that the new temporary housing units look and feel like permanent housing. 

The AHBL team worked closely with YHA staff to design meaningful outdoor spaces that serve the residents recreational needs and provide outdoor entertainment and gathering spaces for workers. Adjacent to Cosecha Court II, the new addition consists of four congregate units with 64 beds for farmworkers, a residential common building, and an office for tenant services. Together, the six units provide 96 beds of low-income housing for farmworkers from April through November and for homeless families during the winter months.

Photos: William Wright

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Yakima Housing Authority
• Architect: SMR Architects
• Contractor: Walker Construction

Located on a bluff on Auburn’s west hill, this single-family residential subdivision features prominent views of the Auburn valley and Mount Rainier. The Auburn portion of the project is a plat comprised of 107 lots and includes a site design oriented around the steep slopes. The slopes were cut as much as possible to maximize the view potential of all lots. Lock and Load™ walls were designed in certain areas with heights as much as 20 feet. The King County portion of the project is comprised of 24 lots located across the street from the Auburn plat. The property was platted in 1911 and was recognized by King County as existing legal lots. AHBL helped coordinate the permit approval process through two separate jurisdictions simultaneously.

Teaming Partner:

Developer: Dawson Land Company LLC

The GOAT at Broadmoor is a 250-unit multifamily residential community in Pasco, spread across nine buildings on a 12-acre site. AHBL provided full civil engineering and landscape architecture services, coordinating closely with the adjacent Affinity at Broadmoor project while developing a distinct plan set to meet separate funding and entitlement requirements. Our team designed site grading, stormwater systems, erosion control, and utilities to meet City of Pasco and Washington State Department of Ecology standards. Offsite improvements included 2,700 LF of roadway and 1,800 LF of utility extensions. AHBL also delivered planting and irrigation plans, supported permitting, and provided construction phase services to keep the project moving smoothly.

Teaming Partner

• Contractor: Inland Group

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Central Washington Hospital
• Architect: Design Alliance

Identified as a high priority watershed by the Washington State Department of Ecology, The Totem Lake basin, in the Kingsgate neighborhood of Kirkland, WA, was selected for a stormwater retrofit to improve wetland health and function. 132^nd Square Park, was selected as a perfect place to infiltrate upstream stormwater within the park, to alleviate pressure on Totem Lake, which presented new opportunities for additional park improvements. AHBL was selected to provide landscape architecture, civil and structural engineering, land use planning, and land survey for the stormwater retrofit, master planning, and park design process. 

As always, the AHBL team got creative, using an array of public engagement strategies like an online forum, pop-up park events, door-to-door leaflets, and connections with youth sports leagues to gather input from a wide cross-section of park users. The final park design and development provides the City of Kirkland’s first, lighted synthetic turf field, along with, inclusive playground and play hill, all-season restrooms, additional picnic shelters, new storage buildings, some cool and inspirational artwork, and the ever popular and much needed additional parking.

Photography: Doug Walker

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Kirkland
• Allied Construction Associates
• Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. (AESI)
• Highwire, Inc.
• Northwest Hydraulic Consultants
• O’Neill Service Group
• Schemata Workshop
• Tres West Engineers

AHBL has served as the prime consultant on multiple IDIQ Contracts for Civil/Environmental Design and Construction Support Services at Joint Base Lewis-McChord starting in 2004. Work under these contracts spanned Washington state at each of JBLM’s installations, including JBLM-Main, JBLM-North, JBLM-McChord Field, and JBLM-YTC. 

The contracts involved a wide variety of projects, including transportation projects such as traffic studies and roundabout design, infrastructure replacement of water mains; stormwater improvements and comprehensive plans; ADA improvements; parking improvements; pump stations; and building-related engineering projects.

Teaming Partners

• Owners:
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord
  • United States Army

AHBL is a proud team member for the first Progressive Design-Build (PDB) K-12 project in Washington State: Tacoma Public School’s Boze Elementary School. The $25 million (design and construction) replacement facility on the campus of Boze Elementary School features a number of amenities targeted toward a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum, and serve as a new model of education for Tacoma Public Schools.

AHBL was hired to provide structural engineering for the replacement school, which will house approximately 550 students from preschool through fifth grade. The new structure spans more than 57,000 square feet across two stories and was constructed on the campus of the existing school, which remained operational throughout construction (up until the COVID-19 pandemic). The structural scope comprised the design of the wood-frame school (complete with gymnasium, cafeteria, indoor mechanical room, and community spaces) and outdoor covered play structures. 

AHBL’s experience at Boze Elementary School resulted in remarkable schedule efficiency. As a direct result of the PDB approach, the school went from Notice to Proceed to groundbreaking in 11 months. This came about because of a true team effort, and took collaboration and commitment from all design-build partners, as well as from the City of Tacoma. This project utilized an early site and foundation package to allow construction to start while permitting for the superstructure was still under review.

Photography: Jeff Caven

Teaming Partners:

• Owner: Tacoma Public Schools
• Architect: BCRA Designs

AHBL delivered civil and structural engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for an 8-story mixed-use development in downtown Tacoma. The project consists of two residential towers—156 units in the north building and 212 in the south—built over a shared two-level below-grade parking structure with 268 stalls. Surveying work included an updated ALTA/NSPS survey, new topographic mapping, and underground utility identification.

Civil engineering responsibilities covered site grading, storm drainage, utility connections, and frontage improvements along Fawcett Avenue and Court E. Structural engineering featured a hybrid system of post-tensioned and cast-in-place concrete topped with five stories of wood framing, supported by phased permit packages to accommodate fast-track construction. AHBL also provided periodic structural observation throughout construction. Lush courtyards and expansive rooftop decks designed by our landscape architects create inviting outdoor retreats high above the city. Together, these elements form a dynamic urban destination that blends technical excellence with places people truly want to live.

Photography: Image Marketing Studio

Teaming Partner

• Architect: Studio19

This 10,650 SF facility is located near Road 76 and Sandifur Parkway and serves the Broadmoor area that has been incorporated into the City. With a focus on sustainability, the landscape plan consists of low-water use native and adaptive plant material, along with a highly efficient sub-surface drip irrigation system. 

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Pasco
• Architect: TCA Architecture
• Contractor: G2 Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering services for the replacement of Viewlands Elementary School, a 95,000 SF facility serving up to 650 students in northwest Seattle. Sited on a steep slope adjacent to Carkeek Park, the design minimized regrading and creatively used the terrain to connect levels with ADA ramps and hillside slides. Civil engineering design included frontage improvements, demolition planning, and upgrades to the 5th Avenue Trail, enhancing access to natural learning spaces. The school celebrates its connection to the Piper’s Creek watershed with outdoor classrooms, stormwater education features, and bird strike mitigation strategies. AHBL’s work supported an inclusive, nature-integrated campus that reflects the school’s commitment to education justice and environmental stewardship.

Teaming Partners:

• Owner: Seattle Public Schools
• Architect: Mahlum Architects
• Contractor: Absher Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the new 31,000 SF STEAM Center of Innovation at Fife High School. The facility, located west of the existing school building along 20th Street East, features 11 new teaching stations to support the science, technology, engineering, art, and math curriculum. The project includes a new central utility plant designed to meet current and future campus needs. Civil engineering services encompass drainage and site grading plans, private sanitary side sewer connection, on-site water main extension, and paving modifications between the existing high school and the new STEAM Center. Landscape architecture services included planting, irrigation, site amenities, pedestrian paving, courtyards, and plazas, ensuring compliance with the City of Fife’s Green Factor landscaping requirements.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Fife Public Schools
• Architect: McGranahanPBK
• Contractor: Cornerstone Construction

AHBL is delivering civil engineering, landscape architecture, land use planning, and land surveying services for a new Issaquah School District high school designed for 1,800 students in grades 9–12. The 240,000 SF, three-story facility will include core learning spaces, science labs, athletic facilities, administrative areas, and community amenities such as a library, gym, commons, and performing arts center. The project also features an all-weather turf athletic field and is being executed as a Progressive Design-Build collaboration with Skanska and Bassetti Architects. 

AHBL’s team managed rezoning and master site planning for the 40-acre campus, which will include the high school, sports facilities, and an elementary school, along with road improvements in Sammamish. They addressed stakeholder concerns from a nearby retirement community and designed tree protection, planting and irrigation systems, turf fields, competition track, fencing, and entry plazas. Additionally, AHBL conducted SEPA environmental review, preparing technical studies on wetlands, traffic, noise, lighting, and stormwater impacts to Laughing Jacobs Creek. They supported the district’s Lead Agency role by issuing the SEPA checklist, MDNS, and coordinating filings with state and tribal agencies.

Renderings: Bassetti Architects

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Issaquah School District
• Architect: Bassetti Architects
• Contractor: Skanska

AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services for the Shaw Middle School Replacement and Campus Master Plan, developed in collaboration with Spokane Public Schools and On Track Academy—a non-traditional high school focused on personalized, project-based learning for students seeking an alternative path to graduation. The 150,000 SF campus includes modern classrooms, a shared library with Spokane Public Library, a gym, fitness center, and a community outreach center. A key design priority was enhancing connectivity across Cook Street, achieved through a 12-foot-wide path and a central spine that links the school, library, and community center. The site design emphasizes barrier-free access to essential services in a historically underserved area, while also introducing much-needed green space and community amenities. The inclusion of a New Tech Facility and On Track Academy expands educational opportunities for both students and the surrounding neighborhood.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Spokane Public Schools
• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Lydig Construction

Balfour Park serves as the “living room” of Spokane Valley, acting as the essential connective tissue within the city’s evolving civic center. Rather than a standalone green space, AHBL designed the eight-acre park as a functional bridge that seamlessly integrates the Spokane Valley Library and City Hall into a unified, walkable campus. By incorporating a strategic extension of the Appleway Trail, the project establishes a premier trailhead that links regional transit with local recreation, transforming the site into a dynamic hub where civic life and outdoor activity intersect. 

​​​​​​​The project’s success is rooted in a robust public engagement process that moved beyond simple feedback to ensure the design was a direct reflection of the community’s highest priorities. This community-led vision provided the roadmap for our landscape architecture and civil engineering teams as they navigated the economic complexities of rising construction costs. Through a dedicated partnership with City staff, we maintained the project’s momentum, delivering a resilient and vibrant destination that stands as a testament to the power of collaborative, people-first planning.

Renderings: AHBL

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Spokane Valley

School Replacement

AHBL provided civil engineering, land use planning, and land surveying services for the renovation and replacement of Fairview Middle School. The scope includes construction of a new 70,600 SF building with 19 classrooms, kitchen, administration offices, and community spaces, as well as 36,500 SF of renovations to the existing gym, band, and choir facilities. Civil engineering work encompassed site demolition and grading, drainage design, and traffic improvements through new paving, parking, and signage. Stormwater management incorporates on-site infiltration, bioretention, and mechanical treatment, with separate flow control systems for two drainage basins. Additional infrastructure includes a 4,000 LF water main extension and rerouted sanitary sewer lines.

Land use planning services included applications and approval process for the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review, including coordination of environmental studies and public hearing presentations. Land surveying services include construction staking and layout for horizontal and vertical controls, curbs, gutters, concrete hardscape, and retaining walls.

Athletic Fields

As part of the school replacement project, AHBL provided civil engineering services for new athletic facilities, including a synthetic turf football field, track surfacing, a synthetic softball field, ADA-accessible pathways, and support structures such as dugouts and a storage building. To streamline permitting, this work is incorporated as a revision to the existing school replacement permit. Additional site improvements include curbing and fencing to complete the athletic complex.

AHBL’s engineering scope addressed drainage, grading, and ADA compliance. Plans included site clearing and demolition, site grading, and storm drainage design in accordance with the 2021 Kitsap County Stormwater Design Manual. The stormwater system features a conveyance network to capture runoff from fields and hardscaped areas, directing it to a new flow control system and downstream infrastructure. A below-grade chamber system stores diverted stormwater before infiltration into native soils, while runoff from turf fields is treated to prevent pollutants from entering downstream systems.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Central Kitsap School District
• Architect: Bassetti Architects
• Contractor: Skanska

AHBL provided civil engineering and land surveying services for Whitney Lane Apartments (formerly A Street Apartments), a 104-unit multifamily development on a 3.4-acre site in unincorporated Pierce County. The project was completed in two phases and includes two apartment buildings. Phase I design anticipated a pending rezone to increase allowable density, so the site layout was strategically planned to maximize density for Phase II. Civil engineering services included a feasibility study to review zoning and regulations, soil evaluation, and assessment of water availability, as well as design for road and utility improvements. Optional minor frontage improvements were addressed through a road plan that incorporated sidewalks, ADA-compliant ramps, and signage.

Following the feasibility study, AHBL prepared site development plans for storm drainage and retention, grading, and water and sewer systems in compliance with the Pierce County Stormwater Manual. The team also managed SEPA checklist preparation and coordinated land-use permitting through final design. AHBL’s land survey team performed and submitted a Boundary Line Adjustment (BLA) to resolve an encroaching driveway at the property border, managed the permitting process, and provided additional surveying for the adjustment. These integrated services ensured regulatory compliance and efficient project delivery across both phases.

Teaming Partners:

• Contractor: Schuur Brothers Construction

The development at Brewery Blocks revitalized over 42,000 SF of dining and retail space in the historic area of downtown Tacoma. Bordering the University of Washington Tacoma campus on the north Brewery Blocks is located off the Foss Waterway Bridge on South 21st Street. AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying for the design and construction of frontage street improvements associated with a two-block section. The project required road and utility improvements to Commerce Street from South 23rd Street to South 21st Street including new sidewalks and intersection features the improved accessibility, pedestrian safety while meeting current ADA requirements. Other frontage improvements included development of new curb and gutters, ramps, driveway entrances, and doorways. The AHBL design team worked coordinated with the City of Tacoma to meet site drainage requirements and address comments throughout plan review, in addition to Tacoma Water Department to coordinate new utility services on site.

AHBL was brought into this mixed-use facility by the project owner to help facilitate permitting of this project that involved five floors of CLT over an existing concrete building. The City of Tacoma and project owner asked that AHBL help the structural engineer of record resolve a handful of technical concerns before a permit could be issued. AHBL was able to work with the structural EOR (an out of state engineer) to develop solutions that addressed the City’s concerns related to the lateral force resisting system of the CLT addition.

Renderings: Horizon Partners Northwest

Teaming Partner

• Developer: Horizon Partners Northwest

AHBL provided civil engineering and land surveying services for the new Chinook Elementary School in Auburn School District. Phase I included civil engineering services for a new 74,000 SF facility serving approximately 650 students from preschool through fifth grade. Site improvements feature a playground, playfield, neighborhood connection via Scenic Drive SE, and upgraded parking areas to improve traffic flow and accessibility. The project was delivered under the GC/CM method.

Phase II involved civil engineering and land survey support for a roundabout at the school’s main entrance on Auburn Way South, requiring coordination with the City of Auburn and WSDOT. AHBL prepared easement acquisition and dedications, designed and permitted the roundabout on a separate schedule, and provided half-street improvements along Auburn Way 164. Land surveying services included a 19-acre topographic and boundary survey across ten tax parcels, plus right-of-way surveys for adjacent roads and pedestrian pathways to accommodate future improvements.

Photos: Doug Walker

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Auburn School District
• Architect: NAC Architecture
• Contractor: Skanska

AHBL provided civil engineering, land use planning, and land survey services for Yelm School District’s Southworth Elementary School. The project includes designing a new school building and site improvements. Civil engineering services included preparing the site plan, site grading, storm drainage, utility, and demolition plans. Grade elevations for buildings, pavement, sidewalks, and other site improvements are also provided. The design meets Thurston County Drainage Design and Erosion Control Manual (DDECM), 2016 edition. Additionally, a Temporary Erosion and Sedimentation Control (TESC) plan and Stormwater Pollution Prevention (SWPPP) plan are created for the site.
 

AHBL land use planners coordinated with the design team and subconsultants to identify all environmental information needed for the SEPA checklist and participate in the review process. Land survey services included a boundary and topographic survey of the site and adjacent roadways. The project meets Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol standards and uses the GC/CM delivery method. 

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Yelm School District
• Architect: BCRA
• Contractor: FORMA Construction

The City of Spokane Valley (COSV) partnered with AHBL to transform Sprague Avenue from University Road to Herald Road, enhancing both roadway infrastructure and stormwater management. This forward-thinking project reclaims travel lanes, integrating stormwater treatment for 106K SF of Pollution Generating Impervious Surface (PGIS) while introducing sustainable landscape features. Key improvements include the reduction of travel lanes from five to three, optimizing space for efficiency and safety. A pedestrian hybrid beacon now provides a safe crossing between City Hall and Balfour Park, enriching community connectivity. The revitalized 2,000 LF of roadway features updated curb lines, beautifully landscaped stormwater management swales, overflow conveyance systems, and enhanced transit facilities.

AHBL collaborated closely with City Stormwater staff, leveraging the UIC Well Assessment and Retrofit Plan to evaluate water quality BMPs. This plan incorporates a financial criteria system to prioritize stormwater management improvements, ensuring cost-effective solutions that maximize environmental benefits. The team strategically addressed stormwater runoff before entering an existing UIC. This transformation not only upgrades essential infrastructure but also prioritizes environmental responsibility, pedestrian safety, and overall urban vitality.

Photos and Renderings: City of Spokane Valley

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Spokane Valley

AHBL partnered with WJA Design Collective and Absher Construction to improve access at Kent Station for drivers, pedestrians, transit riders, and bicyclists. AHBL provided civil engineering design and land surveying services for a new parking garage at East James Street and Railroad Avenue North, additional surface parking, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements. The garage, expected to open in 2027, will add 464 parking spaces. AHBL and the Absher/WJA team were also awarded a contract for a King County Metro bus layover facility across from the garage, featuring a staff comfort station, two staff and maintenance parking stalls, and twelve bus parking stalls.

The project is being delivered in five phases: early site preparation including demolition, utility relocation, and drainage vault installation; site utilities and below-ground garage construction; above-ground garage work; construction of the KCM layover facility; and offsite improvements such as utility upgrades, drainage control, modified intersections, signage, striping, and a new surface parking lot at E Smith Street and Railroad Avenue North. Design of the southern parking area will be coordinated with King County Metro’s I-Line improvements under a separate project.

Renderings: WJA Design Collaborative

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Sound Transit
• Architect: WJA Design Collaborative
• Contractor: Absher Construction

AHBL provided integrated civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the STCU Othello Branch, delivered in two phases. Phase I included an 800 SF “Shoebox Branch” with drive-through teller and ATM stalls, designed for future expansion. Our team supported the project with topographic and boundary surveys, efficient stormwater design using biofiltration, and coordinated alley frontage improvements. Phase II, currently in design, will add 4,000 SF, new parking, and expanded site access. The landscape plan features low-water-use, drought-tolerant plantings that enhance sustainability and reduce long-term maintenance.

Photography: Kim Fetrow

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU)
• Architect: ALSC Architects
• Contractor: Cliff Thorn Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the Progressive Design-Build replacement of the 72-year-old Fawcett Elementary School. The project involved demolishing the existing facility and constructing a new 55,000-SF school designed to serve approximately 400 students on a compact, sloped 5.6-acre site.

To accelerate construction by three months, AHBL divided the work into three permit packages: demolition, on-site improvements, and off-site roadway upgrades. Civil engineers coordinated with utility providers to confirm existing systems were sufficient, avoiding costly upgrades. Stormwater was managed sustainably using bioretention and storm filters, eliminating the need for underground detention.

Landscape architects led site planning, including pedestrian access, traffic flow, and playground design. Mid-project, the team adapted plans to incorporate a synthetic turf playfield. Surveyors provided a comprehensive topographic and boundary survey to guide development. Together, these efforts delivered a modern, accessible learning environment tailored to the site’s unique constraints.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Tacoma Public Schools
• Architect: BLRB Architects
• Contractor: Hensel Phelps

AHBL partnered with Eastern Oregon University (EOU) as part of a design–build team, delivering civil and structural engineering and landscape architecture to remove, reconstruct, and bring the historic Grand Staircase up to current code. The team implemented a long-life infrastructure with a targeted service life of ~75 years, sequencing construction to minimize impacts to students, faculty, and staff through closely coordinated phasing with the Owner. Recognizing the stair’s historic significance, AHBL’s landscape architects collaborated with the D/B contractor to study and propose alternatives that preserve character while enabling phased reconstruction. Planting and irrigation around the rebuilt stairs are designed for low maintenance and to maintain the established campus aesthetic.

AHBL’s civil engineers prepared grading, drainage, and paving documents, matching finished grades to the public right-of-way at the downhill edge and to existing college buildings uphill. Structural engineers worked with the D/B contractor to value-engineer solutions that meet the Owner’s budget while retaining the staircase’s historic character, ensuring full code compliance and compatibility with existing architectural style. Retaining wall systems and footing layouts were optimized—stepping footings up the existing hillside—to reduce excavation and concrete quantities, thereby controlling cost and construction impacts.

Photos: Procore Construction

Teaming Parnters

• Owner: University of Oregon
• Architect: BCRA Design
• Contractor: Garco Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering and land surveying services for Benton Rural Electric Association’s new administrative and operations campus in West Richland, delivered through a Design-Build partnership. The project spans 18.2 acres and includes a 40,625 SF facility with offices, warehouse space, fleet parking, and site infrastructure. Our team expedited permitting with early site packages, completed topographic surveys within two weeks, and supported SEPA documentation to keep the project on schedule. We coordinated closely with the City of West Richland to streamline approvals and incorporated agency feedback efficiently into design revisions. The result is a well-planned, phased development that meets Benton REA’s operational needs while minimizing delays and costs.

Rendering: Integrus Architecture 

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Leon and Keeble

AHBL partnered with TCF Architecture, PLLC to provide structural engineering and land use planning for the Port of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Schools’ (TPS) Maritime|253 Skills Center progressive design-build project located on the Thea Foss waterway. Structural design services included gravity and lateral force resisting system design for the PBC and site-related utility structures, and drawing/detailing preparation of construction documents. AHBL land use planners compiled and reviewed plans and reports for consistency and accuracy, and facilitated submittal and approval of the land use and SEPA requirements. The facilities include a new Port of Tacoma business office building supporting 150 Port and Northwest Alliance employees. The Maritime 253 Skills Center will serve 300 Tacoma Public School high school students with CTE classrooms, lab spaces, and shoreline access along Foss Waterway.
 

Renderings: TCF Architecture

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Port of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Schools
• Architect: TCF Architecture
• Contractor: BNBuilders

AHBL provided civil engineering, land use planning, and land surveying services for the replacement of Bryant Montessori Elementary School, a K–8 facility originally built in the 1960s. Our team managed demolition of remaining building slabs and portables, along with extensive site improvements including utilities, stormwater upgrades, and street enhancements. We guided the SEPA environmental review process, prepared permitting documentation, and supported community outreach throughout planning. AHBL collaborated with Tacoma Public Schools, TCF Architecture, and Skanska Construction to deliver a modern, sustainable learning environment. The project also included new playgrounds, playfields, and improved parking to serve the Bryant Montessori community.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Tacoma Public Schools
• Architect: TCF Architecture
• Contractor: Skanska

Franke Tobey Jones Senior Living Community expanded its historic Tacoma campus with new independent living and skilled nursing facilities. AHBL provided civil and structural engineering and landscape architecture services for the multi-phase project, including a 40,000 SF apartment building over a concrete podium and a 60,000 SF memory care facility. The site design prioritized ADA accessibility, stormwater management, and seamless integration with existing infrastructure and topography. Eight therapeutic courtyards were created to support resident wellness, featuring occupational therapy elements, raised garden beds, and preserved historic features like limestone steps and wisteria. AHBL’s thoughtful design honored the legacy of the campus while enhancing care offerings for a diverse senior population.

Photos: DG Studio

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Frank Tobey Jones

AHBL provided civil engineering and land surveying services for Ovation at South Hill, a residential subdivision in Puyallup. Our team supported the project from early planning through design and permitting, including topographic surveys, stormwater management, and SEPA documentation. We expedited survey delivery to meet tight timelines and coordinated closely with local agencies to streamline approvals. Utility design was integrated with site grading and stormwater systems to optimize infrastructure and reduce costs. The result is a thoughtfully engineered community that supports phased growth and future residential development.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: South Hill Development

Logistics Property Building 5 in Frederickson is an 861,137 SF concrete tilt-up warehouse set on 77 acres, featuring 42-foot clear heights, 130 dock doors, four drive-in doors, and parking for 432 cars and 322 trailers. AHBL provided structural engineering services for the building shell, addressing challenges such as 55-foot-high wall panels by incorporating insulation to reduce their height and weight. The team worked closely with the architect and contractor to value engineer the structural systems for cost efficiency. Deliverables included foundation and roof framing plans, quality assurance, and support with permit submittals.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Logistics Property Company
• Developer: Nelson Worldwide
• Contractor: Poe Construction

AHBL provided structural design services for CenterPoint’s new 414,400 SF single-story warehouse with a 40-foot clear height on a 24-acre site. The building features tilt-up concrete walls, a hybrid Berkley roof system, and conventional concrete foundations. AHBL prepared foundation and roof framing plans, tilt-up wall elevations, and mezzanine foundation plans for permitting, while coordinating closely with the contractor to value engineer structural systems. The site, located on a superfund cleanup area, required integration of under-slab ventilation and water treatment systems with structural design, in collaboration with environmental engineers. AHBL also managed permitting and provided construction-phase services.

Additional work included structural modifications to an existing pre-engineered metal building housing the filtration system. The team reduced the building size from 200 feet to 40 feet, repaired frames, and installed new siding—all while maintaining continuous operation of the pump and filtration system. AHBL also delivered calculations and drawings for HVAC installation on the new warehouse. The site’s complexity, including contaminated soil and off-gassing mitigation under half the building, required specialized coordination to ensure structural integrity and environmental compliance.

Photos: Skytech Aerial

• Owner: CenterPoint
• Developer: Nelson Worldwide
• Contractor: Sierra Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for a 278,000 SF distribution center in Spokane, WA. This single-story concrete tilt-up building features 80 loading docks, 500 parking stalls, 360 truck stalls, EV infrastructure for future chargers, and Type 1L cement for sustainability. AHBL’s team developed designs for multiple site options, including grading, drainage, utility plans, and SEPA documentation. AHBL also prepared roadway plans to support the widening of S Hayford Rd along the project frontage. Landscape architects prepared planting plans, cost estimates, and supported permitting and construction. Land surveyors completed boundary, topographic, and ALTA surveys for the 45-acre site. During construction, AHBL worked closely with Perlo and the Developer to address sub-contractor questions and multiple design modifications that arose due to constraints from unknown existing conditions.

Photography: Skytech Aerial

Teaming Partners:

• Developer: Panattoni and Nelson Worldwide
• Contractor: Perlo Construction

AHBL is providing structural engineering and landscape architectural design for the Nooksack Indian Tribe’s 65,000 SF, two-story medical office. The building features three independent wing structures connected by high-volume circulation areas with translucent panels and a large, covered entrance and rear patio. Structural design includes tall walls with mid-height Hollow Structural Section (HSS) girts, structural steel framing, and a reinforced concrete foundation. The landscape design includes planting and irrigation plans for the parking lot and building perimeter, preserving adjacent wetlands, and creating healing spaces with a plaza and lawn.

Renderings: KMB Architects

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Nooksack Indian Tribe
• Architect: KMB Architects

In 2020, the Confederated Tribe of the Chehalis Reservation utilized a CDC grant to design and construct a 3,500 SF healthcare isolation wing integrated into its existing clinic to meet COVID-19 response requirements. AHBL provided structural engineering services, delivering a resourceful approach that optimized constructability and material availability, including concrete masonry unit walls and steel wide-flange roof beams. The project progressed on an accelerated schedule, with design starting in August 2020, construction documents completed by mid-September, and final completion in February 2021.

Rendering: KMB Architects

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis
• Architect: KMB Architects
• Contractor: Schwiesow Construction

Photos: Lara Swimmer

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Central Kitsap School District 
• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Skanska

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for a 516,746 SF Robotic Sortation Center in Fife. Built on over 41 acres leased from the Puyallup Tribe, the facility features advanced robotics, 36-foot clear heights, a 184,352 SF mezzanine, and a separate office space. AHBL’s team tackled everything from site grading and stormwater design to utility extensions and frontage improvements, working closely with multiple jurisdictions to streamline permitting. Our surveyors supported design and entitlement with detailed boundary and topographic surveys. The landscape architecture team brought the site to life with planting and irrigation plans, construction documents, and final conformance services.
 

Photos: SkyTech Aerial

Teaming Partners

• Developer: Panattoni Development Company
• Contractor: Alston Construction

AHBL provided structural engineering services for a new Class A industrial warehouse in Pierce County. The 478,235 SF concrete tilt-up building sits on over 28 acres and is part of a 2.5 million SF master-planned industrial park. Leased by a global home furnishings retailer, the facility features 36-foot clear heights, 46 dock doors, two drive-in doors, and 123 trailer parking spots. AHBL’s scope included structural shell design, roof framing plans, tilt-up wall elevations, and mezzanine foundation design. The design also anticipates future building modifications, ensuring long-term flexibility for the tenant.

Photos: Matt Kosterman

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Logistics Property Company
• Developer: Nelson Worldwide
• Contractor: Poe Construction

AHBL provided civil and structural engineering and landscape architecture design services for the 6,000 SF Leschi Spirit House at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Chief Leschi Cemetery. The project included improved parking, pedestrian access, and stormwater management while minimizing impacts on adjacent housing and the tribal cemetery. Civil engineering services addressed utilities, site grading, drainage, and off-site improvements, incorporating bioretention systems and an infiltration trench. Structural design emphasized expressed timber elements consistent with tribal aesthetics. Landscape architecture focused on preserving existing trees, enhancing site circulation, and creating a forest edge with native plantings, complemented by an irrigation design for the entire site. Expressed timber structure elements were used for consistency with other Nisqually Indian Tribe projects, foundation plan, roof framing plan, foundation and roof framing details, and bidding and construction phase support for the contractor.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Nisqually Indian Tribe
• Architect: KMB Architects
• Contractor: Construct Inc.

AHBL provided civil engineering, structural engineering, and landscape architecture services for this new 200,642 SF Class A industrial warehouse: a concrete tilt-up building located on over 9.6 acres in Everett, WA, and part of the Port of Everett’s Riverside Business Park. AHBL coordinated with the Port of Everett for the connection and extension of their roads and utilities to support this project and others within the Port’s Riverside Industrial Park.

With 32-foot clear heights, the distribution center features 38 dock high doors, and four drive-in doors. AHBL’s structural engineers provided structural shell design including roof framing plans, tilt-up wall elevations, and mezzanine foundation design that anticipates future building modifications.

Photos: Sierra Construction and Panattoni Development Company

Teaming Partners

• Owner: JSH Properties
• Developer: Panattoni Development Company
• Contractor: Sierra Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, land use planning, and land surveying services for this park and trails project in Tacoma. Oak Tree Park contains 25-acres of historic Garry Oak habitat.

The recently completed first phase of this project included the design and construction restored a one-acre former gravel quarry into a camas meadow. AHBL worked to simplify the trail system throughout the 25-acre site, all the while providing accessible routes. The project applied the United States Access Board’s Accessibility Standards for Federal Outdoor Developed Areas to determine appropriate path widths, running and cross slopes, and material selection to achieve functional surfaces for all abilities.

AHBL found that referencing the United States Access Board’s standards was beneficial during the permitting process with the City of Tacoma. AHBL was able to reference specific design criteria among the accessibility standards that clarified questions posed by City staff, helping keep the project on schedule.

Photos: Parks Tacoma

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Metro Parks Tacoma
• Geotechnical: Earthwork Services

AHBL provided civil engineering services for this 120-townhome subdivision in unincorporated Pierce County. The 7.6-acres parcel was designed to support 20 single-family detached lots and 100 zero lot-line single-family lots accessed from both public and private roads. AHBL provided civil engineering design services through construction documents including preparation of an early start grading permit, TESC and SWPPP, offsite sewer line extension and latecomer agreement, onsite grading and storm drainage plans, public and private road plans, public stormwater facility expansion and maintenance agreement, as well as Tacoma Water and PSE coordination. 

Renderings: Copper Ridge

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Soundbuilt Homes
• Developer: Copper Ridge

AHBL provided civil engineering and land surveying services for the new ambulance facility at Othello Community Hospital. The new 6,000 SF facility on two-acres was designed to have four bays for emergency service staff dormitory and office space. AHBL land surveyors provided topographic survey and mapping services with a survey map to include paper boundary of topography, buildings, curbing, walkways, hardscape, visible utilities, striping, ground features, and other pertinent details. AHBL civil engineers provided drainage, utilities, storm drainage plan, on-site gravity sanitary sewer conveyance, on-site domestic water and fire protection system, and frontage improvements.

Photos: Johnny McGuire

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Othello Community Hospital
• Architect: Architects West
• Contractor: Leone and Keeble

AHBL delivered civil engineering, structural engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying services for a $151M distribution facility spanning 70 acres in Spokane Valley. Surveying included ALTA/ACSM surveys to identify easements, boundary and topographic surveys for design, and approximately two miles of full-road right-of-way surveying. The project was highly complex due to an aggressive schedule, requiring completion by Spring 2022.

A critical component was the realignment of 3,800 LF of Garland Avenue to support the Barker Road Overpass and adjacent industrial development. AHBL began design in August 2020, leaving only nine months for design, permitting, and construction. The corridor required relocation of major water, sewer, and communication infrastructure. Success relied on fast-track collaboration with the City and agencies, expedited reviews, and incremental design approvals, which continued through stormwater improvements and BMP selections to meet deadlines while reducing cost and design time.

Photos: Skytech Aerial

Teaming Partners

• Developer: Panattoni
• Contractor: Perlo Construction

Nestled among a trail system and with views of Mount Rainier, the 400,000 SF Wesley at Tehaleh senior living campus provides an elevated living experience. The campus’s amenities include 136 independent living units, 42 catered living units, 18 memory care units, and a 24,000 SF town center. The site’s design celebrates an on-site creek and nearby ponds, with views and vantage points throughout campus’s grounds. Designed in partnership with owners Presbyterian Homes and Wesley Homes, Wesley at Tehaleh Senior Living, a shared ministry with Presbyterian Homes.
 
AHBL provided civil and structural engineering, land use planning, and land surveying services for the senior living community project. 
 
AHBL led the permitting efforts for building, site development, and sanitary sewer permitting. As part of a larger master-planned community with a governing Environmental Impact Statement, AHBL’s land use planning team processed the land use application including Pierce County’s Design Review and Parking Analysis for a code deviation. The land survey team performed a topographic survey, as well as a survey in accordance with 2016 ALTA/NSPS requirements. 
 
The Wesley at Tehaleh senior living campus is a component of the larger master-planned community of Tehaleh by Newland.

Teaming Partners:

• Owner: Wesley Homes
• Contractor: Ryan Companies US Inc.

AHBL is providing civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the new Fircrest Nursing Adult Training Program. AHBL prepared preliminary design through the Design Development (DD) phase for Fircrest School’s Adult Training Program frontage improvements, which were triggered by the City of Shoreline’s municipal code for construction of new campus buildings. The project consisted of new sidewalk, new curb gutter and sidewalk, landscape strip, and retaining walls. 

To reduce tree replacement required by the City of Shoreline, multiple options for sidewalk, wall, and grading sections were prepared. In addition, to the frontage improvements at intersections of 15th Street NE with NE 150th and NE 155th, AHBL provided ADA compliant curb ramps and bike lane channelization. Preliminary water plans were prepared to meet North City Water District requirements. In addition, AHBL designed new storm drainage conveyance and detention systems. AHBL’s landscape architects prepared plans for new plantings, trees, and vegetation within the landscape strip and AHBL’s land survey team performed a topographic survey for this project. DD documents were submitted to the City of Shoreline for review before the construction documents were created for the Adult Training Program.

Renderings: DLR Group

Teaming Partners

• Owners:
  • Washington State Department of Enterprise Services
  • Department of Social and
  • Health Services (DSHS)
• Architect: DLR Group
• Contractor: Kiewit

AHBL delivered civil engineering and land surveying services for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s new pharmacy, featuring a convenient drive-through lane and upgraded parking lot. Our team prepared Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control (TESC) and demolition plans, including curb removal and relocation concepts, paving, and grading. We also developed a comprehensive grading and utility plan to integrate the drive-through canopy’s stormwater system with existing drainage infrastructure. Throughout the project, AHBL collaborated closely with the architect and the Tribe, providing support from initial concept through construction.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• Architect: Helix Design Group
• Contractor: Swinerton

AHBL provided structural engineering services for Bridge Development’s Kent two warehouses. The project consists of two tilt-up concrete buildings, a 250,836 SF warehouse and a secondary 48,703 SF warehouse. Our structural engineers worked closely with the contractor to value engineer the structural systems to ensure they were as economical as possible. Our structural engineers also prepared a quality assurance plan detailing material code and construction inspection requirements, roof framing plans, structural tilt-up wall elevations for panel reinforcement, and permitting assistance.

Photos: Sierra Construction

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Bridge Development
• Architect: KSS Architects
• Contractor: Sierra Construction
• Developer: Nelson Worldwide

Constructed on a previously wooded site adjacent to a large wetland, tree retention plans were important to retain a natural vegetated buffer and to preserve the function of the nearby wetland. The new 74,000 SF two-story Swift Water Elementary School now consists of 34 classrooms, a separate bus drop-off area, staff and visitor parking areas, and parent drop-off areas. Design of plazas and learning areas adjacent to the building include grass play areas, softscape play areas, and a paved play area with a covered play shed.

For this $38M project, AHBL provided civil and structural engineering, land use planning, and landscape architecture services. Involved in each major design phase, the AHBL team was integral to this fast-track project. The AHBL team effort includes stakeholder engagement, value engineering study, site access, land use and environmental reviews, development of storm drainage and surfacing plans, final plans, specifications, and estimates; exterior element design for cast-in-place concrete retaining walls, a secure wetland perimeter, recreation and field design including a sand-based playfield with underdrain, and site wide planting and irrigation.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Peninsula School District No. 401
• Architect: Integrus Architecture, P.S.

AHBL provided the land use planning, civil engineering, and land surveying required for the due diligence study of an existing Boys and Girls Club facility to determine the feasibility of using the facility for an elementary school. Based on the findings the Peninsula School District moved forward with the purchase. Required tenant improvements added 39,000SF to the building and exterior space, and the existing facility is now Pioneer Elementary School, the first new elementary school added to the district in 34 years. 

The AHBL project team’s evaluations included boundary confirmation, land use and building zoning and permitting requirements, design and development regulations, critical areas, and utilities identification.

Photos: Gerry Pless

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Peninsula School District (PSD) No. 401

AHBL provided on-call planning services to the City of Richland, supporting key code revisions and staff augmentation efforts. Tasks included updates to the Subdivision Code, Comprehensive Plan, and Critical Areas Code to align with local and state requirements. Our team prepared text amendments and rezoning ordinances for the waterfront district to allow public park use. We also assisted with the Shoreline Master Program update, working with Ecology, staff, and local officials to complete the submission.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Richland

This five-story building was originally constructed in 1974 as the central hub of campus. Numerous remodels and additions over the years made the building hard to navigate. To improve circulation and re-establish the Cascade Building as a gateway to campus, AHBL designed a new main pedestrian entrance to the third floor building core along the west side of the building. The renovation also included pedestrian ramps and structures associated with a new north entry. The new west entry to the third level of the building provides ADA accessibility to the western portion of the building. New ramps to the north entry provide ADA accessibility to the north building addition. Site improvements included grading and drainage, landscaping, and surfacing.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Pierce College
• Architect: McGranahan PBK

AHBL’s civil and structural engineers, land use planners, landscape architects, and land surveyors contributed to the design of the new headquarters facility for Lakehaven Water and Sewer District. Included in the project are a new three-story, 37,000 SF administration building, 127 parking stalls, new shop building, new electrical building, new covered storage, and covered parking structures. Additional updates included a complete remodel of an existing water shop, existing materials storage areas, and site improvements/redevelopment to accommodate the new structures.

The planting design included appropriate levels of plantings across the campus, including entry area experience, bioretention, and maintenance areas. The site design studied different entry experiences to create a functional and experiential entry sequence, with educational wetland signage designed to inform the community. Likewise, AHBL’s landscape architecture team gave careful consideration of the existing trees and their integration into the perimeter planting buffer.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Lakehaven Water and Utility District
• Architect: Helix Design Group
• Contractor: Lydig Construction

Formerly situated between Interstate 5 and American Lake, this project relocated the main gate access to Camp Murray to the intersection of Portland Avenue and Boundary Road. The Washington Military Department entrusted a team, including AHBL, to design approximately 4,000 LF of new roadway, a guard shack, a security station, and a gate canopy.

AHBL’s roadway design complies with Pierce County Emergency Vehicle Access requirements. Roads are sloped to one side to allow stormwater runoff to sheet flow from the paved surface into adjacent bioretention swales. Asphalt wedge curbs were also designed in sensitive areas to convey runoff from pollution-generating surfaces outside of critical area buffers for treatment.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Washington State Military Department
• Architect: KMB Architects

AHBL provided civil engineering and land use planning services to produce a prioritization list and conceptual design solutions for five priority sites to reduce the impacts of stormwater discharging to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The goal was to reduce stormwater runoff, reduce erosion, restore habitat for salmon and other wildlife, and open shellfish beds for recreation and commercial harvest by treating stormwater for pollutants and decreasing flashiness of stormwater discharge by implementing Low Impact Development (LID) and Best Management Practices (BMPs). Our prioritization process identified potential stormwater retrofit projects that will improve water quality to shellfish and salmon habitats as well as reduce known stormwater impacts to public and private property. This report documents the process of developing the prioritization list as well as the conceptual design for five selected sites.

Teaming Parnters

• Owner: Clallam County

In 2020, Lakewood began developing proactive climate change policies, incentives, and potential regulations ahead of state and regional mandates. Over 12 months, City staff prepared a comprehensive document using data on local greenhouse gas sources and anticipated climate change effects, planning for thousands of new residents by 2050. In 2021, AHBL assisted in preparing the first Climate Change Chapter of Lakewood’s Comprehensive Plan, detailing the science of climate change, its impacts, GHG emissions, emission reduction standards, and energy and climate goals. This effort earned the City the 2022 Governor’s Smart Communities Award for Smart Climate Strategies from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Teaming Partners:

• Economic Analysis: ECONorthwest
• Transportation: Transpo Group
• Facilitation/Public Outreach, Quality of Life: The Schreifer Group
• Public Safety, Healthcare, Utilities and Infrastructure: Michael Baker International

AHBL is providing civil engineering, land use planning, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the replacement of Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma. The new seven-story hospital building is approximately 320,000 SF and located within the MultiCare campus, replacing the existing Outpatient Center and other structures, and proposes to occupy City of Tacoma right-of-way. The new building fronts Division Avenue and MLK Jr. Way and includes two new parking structures totaling over 1,000 stalls, which AHBL provided structural engineering services for. AHBL’s structural engineering scope focused on the design of these parking garages, ensuring durability, cost-efficiency, and compliance with seismic and code requirements. Our civil team managed site planning for the hospital footprint, street frontage, utility coordination, and right-of-way design in collaboration with the City of Tacoma. Land surveyors conducted parcel research, field surveying, and topographic mapping, while land use planners prepared applications for right-of-way vacation, CUP, and design variances. The landscape team developed year-round planting designs that complement the hospital architecture and provide restorative outdoor spaces for patients, families, and staff.

Renderings: ESa Architects

Teaming Partners:

• Owner: MultiCare Health System
• Architect: Earl Swennson Associates (ESa)
• Contractors:
  • Abbott Construction
  • Layton Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering and landscape architecture for Spokane Public Schools’ Wilson Elementary School Classroom Addition project, in connection with the design and construction of new classrooms and site improvements. The $2.8M project included a 9,300 SF addition on the existing Wilson Elementary School property. 

AHBL provided civil design development and construction documents for required permitting including SEPA, SMSM, onsite water and fire calculations, sanitary sewer main extension, horizontal control and paving plans, and CSI specification, along with GC/CM coordination, value engineering, early site package construction documentation, conformed construction documents, construction phase services, and record drawings. AHBL’s landscape architecture services included site development research, site planning assistance, design elements narrative, concept grading, and stormwater discharge planning.

Teaming Partner:

• Architecture: Integrus Architecture, P.S.

In 2019 voters approved a $198.55 M bond measure to build new schools and to upgrade Key Peninsula Middle School (KPMS) to increase capacity and improve access to school. The multi-phased modernization and reconfiguration of KPMS transformed the 1981 building into a like-new facility, with students remaining on-site for the duration. AHBL provided land use planning, civil engineering, and landscape architecture services for KPMS.

Land use planning services were provided to include facilitation of the land use approval process, and completion of the SEPA environmental review requirements. Civil engineering services provided include demolition and erosion control, paving, site grading, and stormwater plans. Landscape architecture services included schematic design and development for planting and irrigation, and hardscape such as benches, bike racks, and concrete seat walls.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Peninsula School District
• Architect: TCF Architecture
• Contractor: Kassel

This $5.4M project provides classroom space for the Northwest Region’s Aviation Fire Fighting School. The program was previously taught in two modular classroom buildings at NAS Whidbey Island. This design-build project included construction of a new one-story, 4,682-SF building and demolition of the modular classrooms. The new building was constructed on the same site, with a design and construction schedule that ensured the modular classrooms remained operational during construction.

The new Fire Instruction Building serves as an administration and training facility for up to 60 students, supporting outdoor training exercises—including a mock aircraft that is periodically set on fire for live firefighting practice. AHBL helped the project achieve LEED Gold certification through the use of storm filters for infiltration, meeting Sustainable Sites Credits 6.1 (Stormwater Quantity) and 6.2 (Stormwater Quality). Additional civil engineering services included grading, paving, drainage, water, and sewer.

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Belay Architecture

The Alta University Place Apartments project transformed an underutilized commercial site into a sustainable, pedestrian-friendly residential community in University Place. Spanning 277,000 SF, the development includes 272 market-rate homes across nine residential buildings. AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, land use planning, and land surveying services. Our team designed sewer, stormwater, grading, and water systems, while landscape architects crafted courtyards, playgrounds, and community parks. Land use planners managed the SEPA Environmental Review, and land surveyors conducted boundary, topographic, and ALTA/NSPS surveys to support development.
 

Drone Photography: Lincoln Barbour

Teaming Partners:

• Architect: LRS Architects
• Developer: Wood Partners

AHBL provided landscape architecture, civil engineering, and planning services for the Peninsula Gardens Master Plan, transforming a 10.59-acre former garden nursery into a vibrant community space. Working closely with PenMet Parks and the community, we led public engagement, site analysis, and conceptual planning to align the vision with community needs and environmental priorities.

The master plan emphasizes sustainability, accessibility, and recreation, integrating ecological restoration with multi-use gathering spaces. Our civil engineering team addressed stormwater management and frontage improvements, while our landscape architects enhanced the site’s natural features for long-term stewardship. The resulting preferred conceptual plan provides a framework for future design and construction, ensuring Peninsula Gardens becomes a valued public asset for generations.

This project was funded by the Peninsula Metropolitan Park District.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Peninsula Metropolitan Parks

In 2019 voters approved a $198.55M bond measure to build new schools and to upgrade Kopachuck Middle School to increase capacity and improve access. AHBL provided land use planning, civil engineering, and landscape architecture services to support building modernization improvements.

Civil services provided plans for, and permitted, site improvements to support the building modernization. The site improvements included, grading and paving improvements and updates to the site storm drainage.  Land use planning services were provided to include completion of a feasibility study, facilitation of the land use approval process, and completion of the SEPA environmental review requirements. Landscape architecture services included site analysis with review of deficiencies and preventative maintenance costs; evaluation of accessibility; pedestrian, staff, visitor, and bus site circulation; and right-of-way improvements.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Peninsula School District
• Architect: TCF Architecture
• Contractor: Schwiesow Construction
• Civil Contractor: Northwest Cascade
• Landscape Contractor: Controlled Rain Landscaping

AHBL provided civil engineering, land use planning, landscape architecture, and survey services for the $149M, 210,000 SF Thomas Jefferson High School replacement project, which houses 1,600 students. The new design emphasizes a learner-centered environment featuring learning communities with shared spaces for interdisciplinary education and hands-on learning. Classrooms are organized around open stairs and study areas, creating a collegiate atmosphere that fosters camaraderie and community among students. The project also features a courtyard focused on career and technical education (CTE). The CTE courtyard offers a flexible space for hands-on outdoor learning. Civil engineering plans included site and utility demolition, grading, and storm drainage, while landscape architecture services covered planting, irrigation, and pedestrian paving, with survey work supporting new parking lot improvements.

• Owner: Federal Way Public Schools
• Architect: Bassetti Architects
• Contractor: Cornerstone General Contractors

Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) Memorial field serves all FWPS high school and middle school athletics, elementary school track, and is an open space for community members to walk the track or reserve the facility for organized events. The aging 50-year-old field did not have seating capacity for future growth, and there were security concerns from undefined boundaries between home and away spectators. Security concerns were resolved by creating two new separate covered grandstands to host up to 4,000 spectators and adding security fencing to the field itself and within each of the grandstands.

AHBL land use planners provided SEPA services for the Federal Way School District as the lead agency and completed all of the public notice requirements on behalf of the District. AHBL provided landscape architecture services for the stadium including pedestrian access and circulation route improvements, hardscape, plantings, irrigation, entry plazas, site and security fencing, expanded stormwater facilities, field and track resurfacing, and parking. The new field features Astroturf, which has innate injury-preventing layers that also extends the life of the field surface.
 

Photos: McGranahan Architects/BNBuilders

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Federal Way Public Schools
• Architect: McGranahan Architects
• Contractor: BNBuilders

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Pierce College
• Architect: CARVE Architects

AHBL supported the City of Federal Way in developing a master plan for Brooklake Park, focusing on future improvements that respect the site’s historic character and environmental constraints. Through a collaborative and iterative design process, AHBL engaged the public to gather input on preferred amenities and park features. The final master plan reflects both community feedback and City priorities. AHBL also helped integrate the plan into the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan to ensure alignment with long-term policy goals. This effort created a clear, community-driven vision for the park’s future development.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Federal Way

The Athletics and Aquatics Center at the University of Puget Sound is a $19.4M design-build project that expands and modernizes the athletic facilities within Memorial Fieldhouse. The project also introduced a completely new aquatics center, adding a total of 39,000 SF to the campus recreation complex.

AHBL’s civil engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects worked with the City of Liberty Lake to design a new roundabout at the intersection of Mission Avenue and Molter Road. This new roundabout replaces a four-way stop, and will ease congestion when a new employer opens their facility to accommodate 600 employees. The roundabout is partially funded by a Washington Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) grant.

The project was designed to WSDOT standards and includes a roundabout with four “legs”, landscape splitter islands, curbs, irrigation and lighting within the ROW. To save cost, improvements updated and renovated the existing stormwater facilities. New bio-infiltration facilities treat stormwater in areas where pavement was reduced, and where the roundabout expanded paved areas, stormwater will be re-directed to new and updated bio-infiltration ponds. Sustainable plantings provide seasonal interest and require low maintenance.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Liberty Lake

The $6.35M Navy Cargo Handling Battalion FIVE, delivered via design/build, was designed to LEED Silver standards and is comprised of two structures: a new 8,905 SF administrative building and 5,691 SF vehicle maintenance facility.

Both new buildings are pre-engineered, steel-building-frame construction with conventional shallow foundations. Windows, including the glazing, frames, and supporting structural elements and their connections, were structurally designed to meet mandatory DOD new building security requirements. The new buildings and associated improvements were laid out with great consideration to tree preservation. AHBL’s land surveyors provided a topographic survey and identified the size and type of trees on the site. AHBL then located the buildings and infrastructure on the 3.85-acre site with the goal of saving and protecting as many trees as possible.

The stormwater runoff for the site is infiltrated on-site due to the pervious, sandy, and gravel soils. The stormwater design achieves LEED Sustainable Sites credits with a bioswale treating runoff from the parking lot and service yard prior to entering the infiltration pond. Utilities included a water main extension from the adjacent site and a sanitary sewer extension to the site from I Street. The design for the landscape satisfies all needs for circulation, including pedestrian connection and vehicle access, as well as SDD. Lawn is minimized and the use of Western Washington native prairie grasses that require no watering or mowing is utilized outside the building envelope to the greatest extent possible.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Contractor: Alutiiq General Contractors

We’re proud to have played a role in the construction of these two essential fire stations, which will serve Richland and its surrounding communities for years to come.

Richland Fire Station 73

Fire Station 73, a 10,300 SF station, was built to improve emergency response times in the Northeast area of Richland. The project was a collaboration with Bonneville Power, Richland Energy Services, Richland Public Works, and WSDOT to design a site that would efficiently accommodate the station’s needs. Our civil engineering team tackled the surfacing, grading, and utility design.

Richland Fire Station 75

Meanwhile, Fire Station 75, 10,350 SF, was constructed in partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). This station houses four live-in firefighters and services North Richland, PNNL, and the Port of Benton. Once again, our civil engineering and land surveying teams were on the case, providing design services to ensure the station’s success.

Photos: Firefly

Teaming Partners

• Owner: City of Richland
• Architect: Architects West, Inc.

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for Washington’s largest distribution center located in the Cascade Industrial Center in Arlington. This five-story, 100-foot-tall industrial building and related auxiliary structures, which comprise approximately 2.82 million SF on about 72 acres, with site improvements that include 1,245 parking stalls, 314 trailer parking stalls, 52 truck loading docks, and landscaping work. Utility improvements include new stormwater drainage systems, a sanitary sewer system, domestic and fire systems, as well as extensive off-site road and utility improvements. The fulfillment center created 1,000 jobs in the Arlington area.

Photos: Panattoni Development Company

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Mackenzie, Inc.
• Developer: Panattoni Development Company
• Contractor: Clark Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the remodel of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s Smoke Shop in Auburn. The project involved modernizing the building with new interior and exterior finishes, enhancing the customer experience, and improving the safety and efficiency of drive-through operations. Our responsibilities included developing civil site plans, realigning a paved access road, and designing planting and irrigation solutions. Despite challenges such as limited maintenance resources and high customer traffic, the team ensured safe pedestrian access and increased parking. The landscape team implemented low-maintenance landscaping and natural stone materials.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• Architect: Helix Design Group

AHBL provided comprehensive civil and structural engineering, landscape architecture, and land survey services for the 192,306 SF Green Acres Distribution Center in Spokane, Washington. Completed in 2023, this industrial facility enhances Spokane’s warehousing and distribution capabilities with its strategic location featuring rail access and proximity to I-90. AHBL’s involvement included site engineering, roadway planning, and value engineering of structural systems, ensuring economical construction while meeting all code requirements. Their landscape architecture team designed detailed planting and irrigation plans, and surveyors conducted boundary, topographic, ALTA, and mapping services for the 12-acre site.

Photos: Panattoni Development Company

Teaming Partners

• Developer: Panattoni Development Company
• Architect: Nelson Worldwide
• Contractor: Perlo Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land survey services for a 3.4-acre subdivision with 17 single-family lots, one existing home, and associated infrastructure, including roadways, stormwater management, utilities, and the widening of Park Road. The civil engineering team developed plans for on-site roads, lot grading, sanitary sewer, stormwater drainage, erosion control, and off-site roadway improvements, ensuring compliance with the Spokane Regional Stormwater Manual. They also assisted the client and coordinated with contractors during construction, produced record drawings, and liaised with agencies. Landscape architects created planting plans and landscape construction documents per Spokane County zoning code. Our land surveyors provided a legal description of the existing home lot to define an easement location.

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the new 74,000 SF, three-story addition to “Mish ee twie” (aka: Wells Hall) at Wenatchee Valley College. The facility includes 25 classrooms, offices, flexible spaces, and event areas, replacing four original wings. The building was renamed to “Mish ee twie” in honor of Gloria L. Atkins, a respected tribal elder and education advocate.

Land surveyors conducted utility locates, boundary research, and topographic mapping, while the civil team managed site planning and utility coordination. AHBL’s landscape design celebrates the region’s natural diversity, featuring native plantings from the Columbia Basin to the Cascades, creating a vibrant, educational outdoor environment that complements the building’s academic and community-focused programs. AHBL’s landscape design takes the campus’ arboretum background a step further and developed a landscape design showcasing native plants of the Wenatchee region from Columbia Basin shrub-steppe to sub-alpine environments in the nearby Cascades.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Wenatchee Valley College
• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: Lydig Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for this delivery station building of approximately 117,341 SF on 29 acres at the Port of Bremerton. AHBL lead the land use permitting process for the owner and spearheaded the accelerated permitting process to meet the project’s aggressive schedule. 

Due to the proximity to the runway, we coordinated with the airport manager and FAA for permitting of temporary and permanent airspace impacts. Stormwater facilities were located underground to comply with airport stormwater requirements. To increase the developable area on the site we proposed the use of pervious pavements on select areas of the site, which were not subject to impervious surface limitations. The project also included the accelerated design of a new WSDOT roundabout at SR3.

Photos: Sierra Construction

Teaming Partners

• Developer: Panattoni Development Company
• Contractor: Sierra Construction

AHBL provided civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land survey as part of the design and construction of the new 76,559 SF two-story Linwood Elementary School. AHBL’s civil engineers designed the stormwater management system and sanitary sewer main to accommodate 700 students and faculty on the seven-acre site. The $19.5M project included removing portable classrooms and upgrading playgrounds, landscaping, bus access, and traffic flow and parking facilities.

Photos: Integrus Architecture

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Spokane Public Schools
• Architect: Integrus Architecture
• Contractor: T.W. Clark Construction

The John W. Walstrum Center for Advanced Manufacturing Technology (CAMT) represents a regional vision and years of planning between Washington State agencies and Clover Park Technical College. This state-of-the-art facility aims to educate and train South Sound residents in advanced manufacturing careers, including mechatronics, CNC, manual manufacturing, non-destructive testing, and composites.

The design-build team faced an aggressive project schedule and high expectations as the first major design-build project for the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. Despite a $1.3M budget reduction, the team preserved the design concept through efficient collaboration and value engineering. The 63,000 SF, LEED Silver-certified CAMT was completed three weeks ahead of schedule, featuring extensive site enhancements and over 12,000 LF of pedestrian sidewalks to support the campus community.
 

Photos: Lara Swimmer

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Clover Park Technical College
• Architect: Mithun Architects
• Contractor: Mortenson Construction

AHBL delivered comprehensive civil engineering, structural engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for a design-build project comprising four three-story buildings totaling approximately 109,000 square feet. The facilities, built to support 324 soldiers, were designed for a 50-year lifespan and targeted LEED Silver certification. The structures featured structural steel floors and insulated concrete form shear walls to enhance energy efficiency. Civil engineering site development included utilities and connections for lighting, paving, walkways, curbs, storm drainage, signage, and information systems. Utility connections included domestic water, fire protection water, sanitary sewer, gas, power, and communication lines. Structural engineers incorporated progressive collapse design and used Building Information Modeling software for clash detection and improved 3D design coordination. Landscape design emphasized low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plantings integrated into parking areas, courtyards, and the broader base campus.

Photography: Garco Construction

Teaming Partners

• Owner
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord
  • United States Army
• Joint Venture Contractors
  • Garco Construction
  • Total Site Services

AHBL served as the civil engineer and land surveyor on this 688,000 SF light industrial logistics center project located in Vancouver, WA, which is adjacent to a significant Oak Tree stand. We collaborated with an arborist, biologist, and landscape architect to propose a site plan that best utilized the site, preserving the mature oaks to the satisfaction of local and state reviewers. We designed and constructed a wetland stormwater pond adjacent to the oak tree preservation area that features large woody debris from the tree removal on the site as a habitat feature.

The project met the client’s goals of creating a market-leading industrial warehouse facility while protecting and preserving critical areas. Site development plans were designed to meet the requirements of the Department of Ecology (DOE) 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SMMWW) and the current City of Vancouver General Requirements and Details.
 

Photos: Perlo Construction

Teaming Partners

• Developer: Panattoni Development
• Contractor: Perlo Construction

AHBL provided civil and structural engineering, and land survey services for Centralia Truss Company. This project involved designing an 80,000 SF production plant and a 3,500 SF office on a 9.66-acre site. Civil engineers handled water, sewer, stormwater, and off-site improvements, while structural engineers optimized the building slab and foundations to minimize construction time and concrete pours. Despite building placement challenges like the odd-shaped parcel and the location of existing rail access, AHBL found creative solutions for efficient outdoor storage and effective site utilization.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Centralia Truss Company
• Developer: Tarragon

The JBLM Unity Bridge, also known as the Joint Base Access Corridor, was a design-build project that provided the first phase of linkage between the Lewis and McChord sites of Joint Base Lewis-McChord after becoming a joint base in October 2010. The project involved both horizontal and vertical construction, including roadways, a roundabout, and a bridge over the BNSF Railroad and the publicly accessible 150th Street/Perimeter Road to connect Lewis Main and McChord Field.

As Design Manager, AHBL worked with the design-build team to break the project into three design packages to meet the critical path schedule. Design Package 1 (DP-1) involved clearing activities so that tree cutting could be completed outside the migratory bird nesting period (mid-May through August), in compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The 100% DP-1 and Corrected Final DP-1 packages were prepared, submitted, and approved by the government within two months.

Design Package 2 (DP-2) included the vertical and horizontal construction of the roadways and bridges, as well as the originally proposed “T” intersection (which was later modified to a roundabout). DP-2 was completed in less than eight months. Due to the change from a “T” intersection to a roundabout, Design Package 3 was created. AHBL prepared a schematic design of the roundabout for government approval in just 10 days. Once approved, AHBL accelerated the final design, completing it in just two weeks.

The project celebrated its grand opening in May 2015, ahead of the scheduled completion date. In October 2015, AHBL and the construction team were recognized with a 2015 Small Business Silver Award for Design Excellence from the Society of American Military Engineers, Seattle/Mt. Tacoma Post.

AHBL provided extensive landscape architecture services for the renovation of Highline High School. Landscape site development included site access, parking, internal vehicular circulation, plazas, pathways, lawn and planting areas, landscape-based stormwater treatment areas, and street frontage improvements. Key goals were creating accessible pathways, dynamic entry and gathering spaces, informal recreation and dining areas, three outdoor learning areas, aesthetic appeal with diverse materials, ample parking, strong community connections, and sustainable stormwater solutions.

Notable features include a central entry plaza with bike parking and seating, an ornamental raingarden, and a demonstration garden showcasing ecological succession stages. These elements aim to enhance the educational environment and provide additional teaching opportunities.

Photos: Benjamin Benschneider

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Highline Public Schools
• Architect: Bassetti Architects
• Contractor: Skanska

This project involved the construction of an Alternative Fueling Facility with all the necessary site improvements, controls, lighting, storage, stormwater conveyance, and dispensing equipment for a fully functional facility. The Alternate Fuel Facility includes a refueling island with a canopy covering six fuel pumps with Ethanol and Bio-Diesel. Two Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) pumps, one pump for cars and one to accommodate buses, were also included. The project also includes Underground Fuel Storage Tank Vaults, 17,000 SF of paving, and a 900 SF landscape island.

AHBL’s landscape design services comprised of a planting and irrigation design for the entire 4.6-acre site, which included a rain garden, bio-infiltration pond, and landscape islands while utilizing drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plant material selected from the JBLM-approved plant species list.

The civil design included a catch basin and conveyance pipe to collect onsite runoff from the refueling island and paving. The conveyance pipe connects to a stub which discharges to an oil and water separator prior to discharge to a Bio-Infiltration Pond. The proposed paving east of the refueling island will sheet flow to offsite paving and storm system that discharges to a rain garden. Structural services consisted of reviewing the 4,450-SF pre-engineered metal refueling island canopy design.

Photos: Sabyr Construction

Teaming Partners

• Owners:
  • United States Army
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord
• Contractor: Sabyr Construction

AHBL provided civil and structural engineering for the renovation of the French and Evergreen Theaters. Originally constructed in the 1920s, the 6,359-SF French Theater was remodeled around 1940 to increase its size to 10,439 SF. The Evergreen Theater was constructed around 1960 and totals 14,681 SF.

Initially, the client believed both buildings required roof repairs and refinished stage floors. However, after a field investigation, it was determined that only the Evergreen Theater required a refinished stage floor, and only the French Theater required roof repairs. AHBL also performed life-safety evaluations to assess each building’s vulnerability to seismic events. The evaluations found the Evergreen Theater to be in good condition. However, the lateral force-resisting system in the French Theater provided little, if any, lateral resistance, requiring AHBL to develop a seismic upgrade design.

In addition to the seismic upgrades, AHBL collaborated with the architect to restore the historic character of the French Theater’s façade to its 1940s condition, including the restoration of three wide glazed openings at the front of the building. Windows, doors, and associated framing were upgraded to meet mandatory Department of Defense security requirements for all building renovations and major modifications and were replaced with units that maintained the general appearance of the originals.

Teaming Partners

• Owners:
  
  • United States Army
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord
• Architect: BCRA Design

AHBL provided structural and civil engineering services for the Hub Mixed-Use project, located in Seattle’s University District. The building includes 111 units of student housing over one level of parking and one level of retail. The project totals 132,000 SF, with 15,000 SF allotted to retail, and parking for 40 vehicles.

AHBL was first hired as the structural engineer on the project, a process that moved very quickly, going from design to complete permit set in less than three months. The building site is significantly sloped, resulting in concrete foundation walls adjacent to the alley that are over 20-feet tall. Although the apartment unit layout generally stacks between floors, the amenity space is located at the first level of wood framing, and required the addition of multiple steel beams and columns in lieu of the bearing walls used at the levels above.

Shortly after hiring our structural team, the architect hired AHBL to take over the civil engineering from another consultant that was struggling with permitting. AHBL worked closely with the architect and the City, and was able to submit to City of Seattle on the developer’s original timeline. 

Rendering: Studio19 Architects

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Studio19 Architects

AHBL provided structural engineering services for the new Nisqually Tribe Health and Wellness Center in Nisqually, WA. Structural services included the creation of schematic design and design development, engineered construction drawings, reviewing and editing structural specifications in coordination with KMB architects. Structural design and detailing incorporated elements of expressed timber structure at waiting room lobby and Healing room consistent with Native themed construction. 

The modern facility houses comprehensive medical services such as a contemporary medical clinic, an alternative medical clinic including traditional native healing practices, a dental clinic, and a behavioral health counseling clinic among other spaces. The building is comprised of 47,700 SF medical office space on two floors and 2,500 SF of future tenant space. The building’s design subtly instills healing and calmness among patients and staff using biophilic principles throughout the building. Natural light streams in through generous skylights along long interior corridors. Additionally, the deeply rooted “Healing Circle” indigenous practice and its guiding principles of spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional health are showcased through the building’s architecture and intentional programming. 

Photos: Benjamin Benschneider

Drone Photo: Korsmo Construction

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Nisqually Indian Tribe
• Architect: KMB Architects

AHBL provided structural engineering and landscape architectural services for a 200,000 SF warehouse facility in Puyallup, which now serves as the headquarters for HVAC manufacturer Red Dot. Developed by Panattoni Development and later acquired by IDI Logistics, the facility consolidates production and headquarters operations. Structural engineering services included foundation and roof framing design, tilt-up wall elevations, permit submittals, and interior tenant improvements such as mezzanines and equipment supports. Landscape architecture focused on municipal code compliance, including a planting and irrigation plan and heritage tree preservation. Recognized as one of the Tacoma–Pierce County Economic Development Board’s Excellent 10 projects in 2022, this facility highlights regional economic growth.
 

Teaming Partners

• Developer: Panattoni Development Company
• Contractor: Nelson Worldwide

Chambers Creek is unique among projects. This 950-acre site occupies 2 miles of Puget Sound shoreline and 3 miles of wooded canyon. AHBL provided civil engineering for an 18-hole world-class championship golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II. Environmental features include use of “reclaimed” treated wastewater for golf course irrigation, Audubon International “Silver Rating” (Environmental Rating), and a “Scottish links” design which minimizes irrigated areas and leaves much of the course in meadow and grassland, similar to original prairie conditions. AHBL also provided civil and structural engineering services for the clubhouse, starter hut, restrooms, satellite maintenance building, and maintenance building.

Photos: Aidan Bradley

AHBL provided structural engineering services for the Class A industrial warehouse complex comprised of two concrete-tilt up buildings that total more than a million square feet.  Building A is 280,525 square feet with 32 foot clear heights.  It includes a 3,000 square foot mezzanine over 3,000 square feet of finished ground floor for office space. Building B totals 828,620 square feet with a 36 foot clear height, and includes a 6,000 square foot mezzanine over 6,000 square feet of finished ground floor for a total of 12,000 square feet of office space. The mezzanines are steel-framed with a composite concrete-topped metal deck.

The existing 58-acre site was formerly the Simpson Lumbermill, and is identified by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources as a site with high liquefaction susceptibility, and portions of the site have a potential for up to 3 to 5 inches of liquefaction settlement during a seismic event. To accommodate these higher differential settlements, while also meeting life-safety provisions of the code, AHBL increased the wall panel roof/foundation connection capacities, and designed more ductility into the conventional building foundations. The result was a building better able to withstand these settlements, without the high cost of a pile or geopier foundation system.

Another challenge with the site soils was the emittance of methane gas. Early testing of site soils revealed a significant amount was being emitted, and a below slab mitigation system would be required. AHBL worked closely with the environmental engineers to coordinate the methane collection system. The collection system, which consists of a below slab network of pipes, was coordinated to ensure it did not interfere with column foundations, dock levelers, and other floor depressions. The collection pipes exit the building below the slab level and above the footings at the dock areas. The exterior panels were sleeved for the pipes. 

Finally, at 828,620 square feet, over eight-tenths of a mile perimeter, the larger of the two buildings has significant seismic mass, resulting in substantial seismic forces in the high seismic region of the Pacific Northwest. Despite the large forces, AHBL was able to design the facility without any internal braced frames, shearwalls, or seismic joints. This maximized the usability and leasability of this large space. 

Photos: Sierra Construction

Teaming Partners

• Contractor: Sierra Construction

AHBL provided structural engineering services for Track 6 Warehouse, a four-story, 212,516 SF industrial shell building rising 85 feet in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. The structure features tilt-up concrete walls at the ground level and metal panel siding on the upper floors, each spanning approximately 54,000 SF. AHBL collaborated closely with the architect and contractor to value engineer the design, delivering detailed plans for foundations, framing, and reinforced wall panels. The team addressed complex challenges including 24-foot clear heights, heavy floor loading for racking and forklift traffic, and two industrial elevators designed to transport 12,000 lb forklifts. AHBL also supported the permitting process and construction phase to ensure efficient delivery of this high-performance industrial facility.

Photography: Seven Maples Photography

Teaming Partners

• Architect and Developer: Nelson Worldwide
• Contractor: Sierra Construction

AHBL provided structural engineering design services for the Nisqually Tribe’s new 5,300 SF Nisqually Market Convenience Store and gas station in Frederickson, Washington. This single-story, wood-framed market includes customer seating, four cashier stations, and a drive-through window for tobacco sales. Despite the site’s size limitations, the store has been extremely popular since its opening. The site features a fuel island with six double-sided gas pumps and a 4,800 SF heavy timber canopy supported by concealed steel columns and pole footings, prominently displaying the Nisqually Tribe logo.
 

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Nisqually Indian Tribe
• Architect: KMB Architects
• Contractor: Nisqually Construction Services

The McChord Field Fire Station at JBLM, which is an essential facility originally built in 1951, was evaluated and comprehensive modernization redesign was completed to address roof leaks, space utilization, life safety concerns, and seismic deficiencies. AHBL provided structural and civil engineering services. Structural services included seismic upgrades to meet immediate occupancy standards, and a roof overbuild to improve drainage and house new mechanical systems.  Civil services included various site improvements. The design retained the building’s historical character while enhancing safety and functionality, ensuring compliance with modern codes and historic preservation requirements.

Renderings: Helix Design Group

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Helix Design Group
• Engineers: BCE Engineers

Jefferson County Public Utilities developed a consolidated campus bringing administrative, customer services, and operations functions to a centralized one site to improve space, productivity, and long-term cost efficiency. AHBL provided structural engineering design of the addition to the existing Operations Center site. The facility consisted of a one-story office building, framed with conventional wood framed construction on a conventional foundation. In addition to the structural building design, AHBL also evaluated the existing office building and vehicle storage canopy as part of an International Existing Building Code (IEBC) Level 2 alteration. The IEBC provides requirements for repair and alternation approaches to existing buildings. The new structure includes materials palette of metal roofing, fiber cement siding, and clear sealed cedar to introduce a dynamic entrance element.

Photos: AR Creative

Teaming Partners

• Architect: TCF Architecture

After being involved with the pre-design study for South Puget Sound Community College’s (SPSCC) Health and Wellness Center, AHBL was retained to provide structural engineering services for the College’s renovation and addition project. The student-funded Health and Wellness Center project renovated 20,000 SF of existing building programming and added 20,000 SF. AHBL’s structural engineers worked alongside a highly collaborative design team for the renovation and addition project which included a renovated gym with locker rooms and a new auxiliary gym, expanded weight room and cardio room options, a wellness café, study spaces, programming to support an enhanced variety of physical education courses, recreational sports programs, intramurals, and future club sports programs. The design team collaborated with a student team to integrate inclusive programming elements such as gender-inclusive restrooms and locker rooms and a laundry facility that could be used by local community members with low incomes. Facility longevity, connection to the campus community, and effectively using the project’s funding were key principles of the project’s design and construction.  The existing building renovated space included team meeting rooms, locker rooms with showers, and restrooms. 

The building is designed to LEED silver standard and includes natural ventilation using large overhead doors and ceiling fans, re-use of the existing structure in lieu of demolition, and daylighting in the auxiliary gym and open community spaces. 

Photos: Doug Walker

Teaming Partners

• Owner: South Puget Sound Community College
• Architect: KMB Architects

AHBL provided structural engineering for this 53,000 SF renovation and seismic upgrade to South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC)’s Row Six building into classroom and supporting office space. The new Center for Business and Innovation provides advising, coaching, training and full education programming for people starting a business. Additionally, the Thurston Economic Development Council’s offices are housed in the Center for Business and Innovation. 

AHBL’s structural engineers worked collaboratively with the architect and contractor to deliver design-build project to the Owner in just under a year. In order to achieve this tight timeline, demolition permits were acquired prior to the completion of design and construction documents, allowing the team to investigate existing conditions. This allowed us to identify unforeseen conditions, and produce clearer construction documents, thus avoiding costly change orders. Additionally, construction was phased, which reduced the schedule by approximately six months. 

Photos: Doug Walker

Teaming Partners

• Owner: South Puget Sound Community College
• Architect: KMB Architects

Harbor Heights is a vibrant 55+ senior living community located just off the marina in downtown Olympia. The seven-story mixed-use building includes 116 apartment units, retail and office space, and over 20,000 SF of amenity areas, including a rooftop patio overlooking Budd Inlet. AHBL provided structural engineering for the four-story wood-framed residential levels above a three-story concrete and steel podium. To address liquefaction-prone soils, our team designed deep pile foundations and collaborated closely with the design team to value-engineer the structure. Additional services included stairway and balcony design, as well as structural support for commercial tenant improvements.

Photos: Lincoln Barbour

Teaming Partners:

• Owner: Vine Street Group
• Architect: Glenn Wells Architect

AHBL provided structural engineering, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying services for the 14,000 SF VA Vancouver Imaging and Radiology Clinic, which complements the existing medical campus. The steel-framed building replaces a demolished structure and connects to Building 11 via a two-story lobby and covered breezeway, facilitating patient movement between facilities. The project also included a 2,500 SF renovation of Building 11 to expand office and patient care areas. Structural design incorporated VA Physical Security Design Manual requirements for Mission Critical facilities, including addressing blast analysis of exterior walls and secured entry vestibules. Large mat foundations were installed to minimize vibrations from imaging equipment, and structural steel was strategically placed outside the equipment sensitivity line to avoid interference with MRI magnets. AHBL used Revit for BIM coordination with the design team.

Civil engineering services covered site demolition, grading, drainage, paving, new sidewalks, erosion control, and utility upgrades, including water, sewer, fire protection, and communication systems. Stormwater was managed through bioretention facilities as part of a Low Impact Development strategy. Landscape architecture integrated the new clinic into the campus with low maintenance, drought-tolerant plantings and a high-efficiency irrigation system. AHBL’s land survey team conducted a detailed boundary and topographic survey of 5.5 acres of the VA campus, identifying extensive underground utilities with support from Mountain View Locating, Inc., ensuring accurate mapping for design coordination.

Teaming Partners

• Owner: Department of Veteran Affairs
• Architect: Planate Management Group
• Contractor: D Square Construction

As part of the Corps of Engineers Repair and Renewal Program, AHBL provided structural engineering services on a contractor’s MATOC for the structural evaluation and renovation of nine operational, but deteriorating, medical clinic facilities located on the Old Madigan Army Medical Center (OMAMC) campus. Following the successful completion of this work, AHBL was retained under a new MATOC to provide structural and civil engineering services for the evaluation and renovation of nine additional OMAMC campus facilities.

The goals of these renovation projects were to visually assess each existing building to determine its condition, to identify specific structural upgrades required, to evaluate and upgrade all existing mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and to make overall improvements to improve the client’s operation, safety, and wayfinding throughout the campus. In addition, site upgrades were made to satisfy current requirements for ADA accessibility and mandatory DOD security requirements. All work was completed in accordance with current international building codes and military design standards and was under strict review of a historic preservation board. All work was completed with minimal impact to the original building footprint or its historic character defining features.

AHBL’s structural engineering scope of work included the structural assessment and documentation of each building and its components (in accordance with ASCE/SEI 31-03 Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings, a complete structural analysis of the existing building structure and upgrade of selected building components to meet current code requirements (in accordance with ASCE 41-03 Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings). Buildings were upgraded to meet the applicable mandatory DOD security requirements for building renovations. As a result of this comprehensive upgrade, the completed buildings now have code-compliant roof sheathing and roof truss attachments, seismic connections at the roof, walls and foundation, seismic-force-resisting steel stud shear walls (sheathed with sheet steel) and upgrades to the existing concrete foundations.

AHBL’s civil engineering scope of work included overall site erosion control performance measures, the assessment of existing building entry ramps and doors for conformance to federal and state accessibility standards, and, where needed, the demolition of existing and design of new stairs and accessible ramps for each building.

Teaming Partners

• Owners:
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord
  • Madigan Army Medical Center

The Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital is a collaborative initiative between Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and MultiCare Health Services that delivers high-quality behavioral healthcare to the Puget Sound region from its 66,000 SF, two-story facility on the Allenmore Campus. Featuring 120 inpatient beds across six nursing stations, the hospital includes a short stay unit and a crisis stabilization unit. AHBL provided civil engineering and land surveying services for the 88,000 SF project area, including site demolition, grading, drainage, utilities, and erosion control, along with technical documentation such as drainage reports and a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. The team also supported the contractor with permitting for stormwater discharge and ensured seamless utility integration with the existing campus infrastructure. The project required connecting into the existing sites water, sewer, and stormwater utilities without impacting the existing hospital.

Teaming Partners:

• Architect: NBBJ
• Contractor: Skanska

AHBL provided full design services for Vancouver Logistics II, a two-building industrial warehouse totaling approximately 399,000 SF. Civil engineering included stormwater design, utility extensions, and frontage improvements, with careful coordination to protect nearby wetlands. Structural engineering featured tilt-up concrete walls, hybrid Berkley roof systems, and conventional foundations. Landscape architecture focused on code-compliant plantings and irrigation plans for parking areas, buffers, and streetscape plantings, along with ecological coordination for an Oregon White Oak replacement area. Land surveying included boundary, topographic and ALTA surveys; easement prep, right-of-way documents, and boundary line adjustment to support final site layout.

Teaming Partners

• Architect: Nelson 
• Developer: Panattoni 
• Contractor: Perlo Construction