Case Study: Thibodaux Wellness Center

In late 2021, the Thibodaux Wellness Center broke ground on a sports complex, kicking off phase two of an expansion project for the facility. Situated on 12 acres of land adjacent to the existing wellness center, the new state-of-the-art complex was designed to include a track for walking and running, tennis and volleyball facilities, as well as a large recreational pond.

To limit run off and meet city guidelines for stormwater infiltration, the designer was looking for an alternative to traditional pavement for an 11,000 sq. ft. emergency vehicle access lane. This new fire lane needed to be able to support H-20 loading and heavy emergency vehicles. Reinforced grass pavers were quickly identified as the best choice because they are capable of handling the heavier loads while also reducing runoff.

NDS PAVERS MORE DURABLE, USER FRIENDLY

Despite another grass paver being specified by the designer, the installation contractor from The Forest Group submitted a request to use NDS grass pavers since he had positive past experiences with the product.

The contractor liked that NDS pavers are heavier duty, better constructed and don’t rely on sand for their strength. Even without infill, the pavers have an ultimate compression load rating of 53,683 psf. Another key differentiator is that traditional topsoil can be used with NDS pavers whereas the use of concrete sand was required as infill for the originally specified system. The contractor knew that topsoil is much better to grow grass in than sand, as it requires less watering, no special fertilizer and ultimately produces better long-term results.  

With NDS pavers, contractors aren’t limited when choosing infill. They have the freedom to use either the indigenous soil onsite as long as it’s well draining or a nutrient rich sandy loam mix for a lusher green outcome.

NO EXPERIENCE, NO PROBLEM

The NDS DesignWorx team, the local DSM and the Specification Manager worked closely to pull together a submittal packet with all relevant product and installation information, making it easy for the contractor to submit all documents necessary for approval. This approach helped ensure the specifier was comfortable with the recommended product, and quickly able to review and sign off on the plan.  

During installation, the construction team appreciated being able to drive on the pavers and deliver material before they were filled thanks to the compressive strength of the product’s hexagonal cells. Once ready, a nutrient-rich loam soil was placed, which quickly established rich, quality grass growth that could be driven on by heavy vehicles without soil compaction.

The permeable surface was a great alternative to competitive pavers but also to traditional concrete drives since it allowed for permeability and significant runoff of stormwater.