Avocet Tower

About

GTA provided geotechnical and environmental consulting services for the redevelopment of the former Bethesda Police Station and two adjoining properties to accommodate the new 22-story, 520,000-GSF mixed-use building with 220-key AC Hotel by Marriott, 370,000-SF office tower, and 2-story underground parking garage.

GTA prepared Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments of the properties, and regulatory consultation for the site under the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP). In preparation for site redevelopment, GTA prepared a Response Action Plan (RAP) as part of VCP oversight, establishing the environmental remedies planned in conjunction with development activities.

Prior to building demolition, GTA performed hazardous material surveys to identify asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-containing equipment, mercury-containing equipment, and other materials requiring removal from the 3-story police station, 5-story office building, and 2-story commercial building.

During construction, GTA provided the development team with a Health and Safety Plan (HASP), and environmental consulting for the implementation of the RAP. GTA’s environmental field services included field screening, sampling, and laboratory analysis of soils; assisting with the segregation of excavated soils; identifying appropriate disposal facilities for excavated soils; profiling excavated soils with the designated disposal facilities; and tracking the soils transported to the disposal facilities. GTA staff also observed and documented the vapor mitigation system installation, installed sub-slab vapor probes during construction of the lowest level floor slab, performed post-construction vapor-related sampling and analysis, and prepared quarterly RAP Progress Reports for MDE. Once the required MDE tasks were completed, GTA prepared a final RAP Completion Report. The project received a VCP Certificate of Completion from MDE in September 2021.