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Despite the expanding geographic reach of Holland Engineering’s project locations, HEI continues to assist with various projects throughout our local, West Michigan community. Two of our more recent projects involve an expansion at the John Ball Zoological Gardens and the construction of a new facility for West Michigan Eye and Laser Medical. 

With signs of spring in the air, the John Ball Zoological Gardens, located in Grand Rapids, MI is preparing for the busy upcoming spring and summer seasons with several renovation projects. The John Ball Zoo has over 1100 animals representing the wilds of Africa, Asia, South America, Australia and the United States. Two of the new additions to the zoo in 2012 will be the IDEMA Funicular and BISSEL Tree House.  The BISSELL Tree House is situated on one of Grand Rapids highest points and will serve as John Ball Zoo’s newest indoor event space offering extensive views of downtown Grand Rapids. The IDEMA Funicular is a 3 car trolley offering guests the option of a four minute scenic ride to the top of the hill.

Holland Engineering is pleased to be working with Landscape Design Services on the construction of upper and lower depots for the Funicular system, a new gift shop building, along with the tree house.  Holland Engineering is providing engineering design and shop drawings for several different styles of retaining walls that will be incorporated into these projects. In an effort to enhance the aesthetic nature of the project, and cause the walls to blend into their surroundings, many of the walls will be vegetative geogrid walls or include integral planting areas that will be filled with native plants.  Holland Engineering is pleased for the opportunity to be involved with this project and
wishes the John Ball Zoo continued success as they move forward with this exciting expansion. 

Located in the City of Norton Shores, the West Michigan Eye and Laser Medical Facility will serve the eye care needs of the Greater Muskegon and North Ottawa communities.  Holland Engineering is proud to be a partner with Redstone Commercial Investments and Eckert Wordell in the development of plans for a new ophthalmology office along the lakeshore.  HEI will be providing professional services for site plan development, landscaping and planting plans, boundary and site topographic surveys, grading, drainage, and soil erosion sedimentation control plans, public utility extensions, and permitting.   HEI is pleased for the opportunity to be involved in this commercial lakeshore project.

For more information on Holland Engineering’s civil and structural engineering services, please contact Ryan Ysseldyke at 616.392.5938 or via email at rysseldyke@hollandengineering.com.

Holland Engineering has a long history of assisting the City of Grand Rapids with our land surveying services for a variety of street reconstruction projects. Since 1984, Holland Engineering has been assisting the City of Grand Rapids with topographic surveys and to date, we have performed over 25 topographic surveys for the City. As Michigan's second largest city, it is home to over 188,000 inhabitants and despite much of Michigan's significant economic downturn; Grand Rapids has seen steady growth throughout the last several decades. Many of the reconstruction projects that HEI has assisted with have been in inner city locations creating significant improvements to the community and surrounding areas.

In addition to typical surveying services, projects have required significant amounts of research involving old survey records with underground combined sewers. The projects have also required researching old utility records to assist in determining the location of connectivity of underground utilities, particularly combined sewers. HEI has often worked alongside with Kent County Archives to locate and research these needed records.

HEI is currently assisting the City with a topographic survey of Jefferson Avenue between Fulton and Cherry. Earlier this year, HEI provided a topographic survey of Burton Street between Eastern and Plymouth. HEI has been pleased for the opportunity to assist Grand Rapids with growth and maintenance of their roadway infrastructure and continues to look forward to future opportunities.