2009-11-11 18:36:02 -

WK Dickson & Co., Inc. was presented with the Engineering Excellence Award by ACEC/NC for their work on the new Deep Point Marina Ferry Terminal in Southport, North Carolina. The project features a number of innovative ‘green’ design techniques intended to protect the area’s fragile maritime ecosystem. The design team’s dedication to the existing environment and to sustainable design principals has produced a modern facility that greatly exceeds local, state and federal requirements while emphasizing the natural beauty of the Cape Fear Region.

This privately-owned and operated 76-acre facility is adjacent to the North Carolina State Ferry Terminal on the lower Cape Fear River. The newly completed facility serves the transportation needs of visitors and residents going to and from Bald

Head Island. On their busiest days as many as 3,500 vehicles will pass through the facility.

WK Dickson was hired by Bald Head Island Limited for the task of developing the overall site and infrastructure plan of the project. The team had to develop this large tract from NC Highway 211 all the way to the banks of the Cape Fear River with the lowest possible impact to the existing natural habitat. WK Dickson used an advanced ecologically friendly approach that mitigates development impacts to the surrounding land and water. Not only does the overall site design enhance the natural characteristics of the coastal environment but it also protects site and regional water quality by reducing sediment, nutrient, and toxic loads to water bodies, as well as reduces impacts to local terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals.

WK Dickson’s approach looked at the entire site as one large ecosystem enhancement project rather than a simple “scorched earth” land clearing method. For example, the design team took extreme measures to ensure that stormwater could be safely and efficiently conveyed from the site at a staggering rate of 20 inches per hour -- which exceeds the design requirements for a ‘25-year storm event.’

By utilizing the existing topography and designing the infiltration basins at the existing grade rather than backfilling the site with dirt from another site and then digging a conventional basin or trench, a unique benefit resulted in that native vegetation was able to be retained and preserved. In instances where parking or roadways infringed on a large natural vegetative area or specimen tree, the design team simply altered the plans to work around the area rather than destroy it.

This priority towards preserving natural vegetation further enhances the sustainability of the site, as it is well suited to the climate and requires no additional maintenance or irrigation from outside sources.

WK Dickson is an ENR Top 500, multi-disciplined consulting firm specializing in total community infrastructure solutions including.
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering; Transportation Planning & Design; Community Planning and Development; and Geospatial Technology.

Their goal is to help communities improve the lives of its citizens through sound, ecologically responsible design principals. The firm has been headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina since its founding in 1929. It has grown to operate nine regional offices strategically located throughout the Southeastern United States. The company maintains offices in Charlotte, Hickory, Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; Augusta, Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; and Louisville, Kentucky.

WK Dickson & Co., Inc.Kraig C. Kern, CPSM, 704-334-5348Email:
info@wkdickson.com : mailto:info@wkdickson.com On the

Web: www.wkdickson.com : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww ..