Downtown Redevelopment Project - Town of Highland, IN

The Town of Highland, Indiana wanted to maintain their downtown area as a viable business district.

NIES Engineering, Inc. was delighted to play a role in the Town Redevelopment Commission's progressive plans. Under the direction of the Redevelopment Commission, NIES Engineering, Inc. designed infrastructure improvements and performed construction services for this unique project.

As prime design consultant, NIES Engineering, Inc. also coordinated the landscape architects from Claire Bennett Associates, ensuring a smooth integration of aesthetic appearance and functionality. Streetscape additions included decorative lighting, trees, bushes, planters and irrigation. Infrastructure enhancements included new water main, storm sewer improvements, curbing, pavement and decorative sidewalks.

The combination has made the area more appealing to residents and visitors. Business owners, and their customers appreciate the improved access, and the community as a whole should benefit from the efforts of the Redevelopment Commission.

Key Points

• Project Coordination
• Attractive to Commerce
• Practical for the Town

Gymnasium, Highland Parks Department - Town of Highland, IN

The Highland Parks and Recreation Department was interested in constructing a new facility to benefit Highland residents. Their vision was to create a space for indoor athletic tournaments, community theater and musical productions, and recreational use.

NIES Engineering, Inc. worked closely with the Highland Parks and Recreation Board to turn this idea into a reality. The project involved coordinating design of architectural, mechanical, electrical, and structural systems. During design and construction, NIES engineers were in continual contact with Highland Parks and Recreation staff to ensure that each significant design decision was in keeping with the intent of the Board. Financed by the Town of Highland Park and Recreation Building Corporation, the Multipurpose Facility was completed in 1998.

The pre-engineered structure is approximately 40,000 square feet, and is widely used by the residents of Highland. The building houses four full-length basketball courts which are capable of converting to use as volleyball courts. Each court has retractable basketball backstops and a scoreboard for use in tournament play. Encircling the courts is a four-lane, one-eighth-mile track, which is used extensively for walking, jogging, and rollerblading during inclement weather. On the west end of the building is a stage, complete with sound system, and lighting. This enables the Town to use the facility for theater productions, concerts, and social events.

Use of the facility is free for Highland residents, but the Town charges usage fees for nonresidents. These usage fees, along with rental fees for use of the facility as an exposition space, have brought new cash flow into the Town - this helps to fund programs that further benefit the residents of Highland.

Key Points

• Versatility
• Long-Term Planning
• Community Focus

Hammond, Highland and Munster Mapping Project/GIS - Town of Highland, IN

The Town of Highland, IN, in partnership with the neighboring communities of Hammond and Munster, sought to create a comprehensive Geographic Information System database. This type of GIS database is of great use to each municipal division. It represents a single source for locating all utilities and structures, and in addition, can provide detailed information regarding each structure. The information is stored in one location, but can be accessed from multiple computers, or printed for use in the field.

Throughout this endeavor, NIES Engineering, Inc. served as Highland's liaison for the Hammond, Highland and Munster Mapping Project (HHAMMP). The project was one of the first of its kind in Northwest Indiana to create a base map from a Global Positioning System (GPS) and aerial photography, giving the communities very accurate maps for GIS applications.

On behalf of the Town of Highland, NIES Engineering aided with the database design and pilot program. Additionally, we reviewed the final product and provided technical assistance throughout the HHAMMP.

The Town of Highland now enjoys the benefit of a fast and accurate method of locating utilities and structures within their community.

Infiltration/Inflow Control - Town of Highland, IN

The Town of Highland and its Sanitary District have a long history of dealing with infiltration and inflow to the sanitary sewer system. During the 1970s and early 1980s, another firm designed a series of projects to separate the old combined sewers into separate storm and sanitary sewers. Those projects resulted in a huge number of sewage backups into basements.

NIES' initial assignment was to stop the backups. The basement flooding problem was addressed with a series of smaller projects which removed excess storm flow from undersized sanitary lines. Underground storage basins were created to store excess flow during pump station outages or during exceptional rainfall events. By this time, complaints due to basement sewer backups had been reduced to a handful per year and the cause was usually traced to roots or some other blockage in the sewer.

The next challenge came when the utility providing sewage treatment raised its rates. Basement backups were under control but the cost for sewage treatment became the issue. NIES in cooperation with the District staff designed a program to address infiltration and inflow on private property in a cost effective manner.

The District realized that approximately 50 percent of the total sewer length was on private property and that while considerable work had been performed on the public portion of the sewer system, no work had been done on the private portion. The current program is ongoing, but cost for sewage treatment by another utility has decreased four years in a row!

Public officials agree that the effort has been a big success. The program is continuing and is expected to result in even greater future savings.