Iowa’s new Outlets of Des Moines – the only outlet mall of its kind within 80 miles – is slated to open fall 2017 with such retailers as Asics, Bath & Body Works, Famous Footwear Levi’s Outlet Stores, LOFT Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Under Armour, Vera Bradley and many more. Baker Group provided:

• building information modeling (BIM)/preconstruction services
• prefabrication
• architectural metal work
• plumbing, including design and installation of concourse storm draining, water mains, sewer lines, grease interceptors, sanitary waste, vents, roof drainage, potable water and fixtures

Site design pushes grease interceptors an unusual distance from food services.
In the center of the site are two food court and restaurant buildings, each surrounded by pedestrian walkways and seating. Ensuring easy access to grease interceptors serving those facilities required that they be installed as much as 120 feet away from those buildings – far beyond the typical 5-foot distance.

“For every additional foot from the building, interceptors must be buried another quarter-inch deep. Getting the necessary ground cover required us to bury the bottom of the tanks at 19 feet,” explains Dave Regenold, Baker Group Project Manager. “We also had new units with structural reinforcements specially designed to withstand the unusual depth and high water table,” Regenold says.

Placing interceptors into deep holes presented significant safety concerns. “It would not have been safe to put people into those holes to level out the ground and set the tanks,” Regenold says.

The solution was to level and grade the ground using special equipment with laser-guided transit and beam. The units were lowered into place and backfilled with dirt, which then allowed the crew to safely work in the hole to complete installation. Regenold adds, “Baker Group is fortunate to have talent like Gary Dale, who oversaw our excavation operations, to help orchestrate such a complex and challenging project.”

Drainage grates are installed on “obstacle course.”
Site design called for drainage grates to be installed throughout the concourse walkways between buildings, planters, light poles and canopies.

Working collaboratively with Ryan Companies, KJWW, Baker Electric and Advanced Drainage Systems (a Baker Group supplier), Baker Group helped value engineer the system to significantly reduce the size and cost of individual drain inlets while still accommodating light poles, planters and outer seating areas located throughout the pedestrian mall.

Better, more economical, faster
The new storm system design resulted in savings to the owner. Additionally, carefully orchestrated work schedules enabled work crews to meet an extremely aggressive timeline, despite rain delays, flood areas, winter weather and congested work areas.

“Ryan Companies’ strength in scheduling was a huge asset for this project, as was having a great relationship with all of our construction partners,” Regenold says. “All trades worked as efficiently as possible and, in the end, Baker Group is ahead of our May deadline.”