Owner: City of Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks
Civil Engineer/ Structural Engineer: Carroll Engineering, Inc.
Architect: Hord Coplan Macht
General Contractor: TECH Contracting
The Morrell Park Community Center in Baltimore is a 1-story 17,000-square-foot hub for community engagement. The $4.1 million facility features a high-bay gymnasium, fitness room, multi-purpose room, large patio, and outdoor green space and was built with sustainable features such as a green roof.
D.W. Kozera, Inc. was integral to the success of this project, providing comprehensive construction testing and observation services for earthwork, the installation of compacted aggregate piers, and concrete placement. An economic solution using ground improvement techniques, specifically compacted aggregate piers, was implemented to address the challenges of building a new recreation facility on a site underlain by up to 14 feet of variable Man-placed Fill. This approach saved significant costs compared to deep foundation systems or undercut and replacement methods. This innovative solution underscores DWK’s commitment to delivering practical, cost-effective geotechnical engineering solutions.