Key Takeaways:
- Northeastern Junior College enhanced flood resilience by installing 12 AquaTrigger® Automatic Flip-up Barriers and 10 Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Doors as part of a major campus expansion.
- Norwood Contracting successfully managed the installation of large-scale flood protection systems, including a 30-foot automatic flood barrier requiring specialized handling and precision placement.
- When unforeseen site conditions threatened installation timelines, PS Flood Barriers® provided rapid engineering support and custom solutions to keep the project moving forward.
- The completed flood mitigation system now protects critical educational facilities, equipment, and workforce training programs from potential flood damage.
Sterling, Colorado
When a major college expansion project at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, required specialized flood protection systems, the project team partnered with general contractor, Building By Design, which then sought out Norwood Contracting for the installation. Headquartered in Salina, Kansas, and serving customers nationwide, Norwood Contracting specializes in millwright services and complex problem-solving, and the company’s expertise made it ideal for installing a large-scale flood mitigation project featuring multiple flood barriers and flood doors designed to protect the college’s newest educational facilities.
From the beginning, the project presented unique logistical and technical challenges. It involved installing 12 AquaTrigger® Automatic Flip-up Barriers, varying in length from 16 feet to a massive 30-foot barrier, along with 10 Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Doors – all manufactured by PS Flood Barriers®.
Throughout the project, the Norwood team worked closely with PS Flood Barriers engineers, sales staff and support personnel. That relationship became especially important when the crew discovered one of the project’s biggest challenges: Concrete pits prepared by a different contractor had not been built to exact specifications.
Rather than leaving Norwood Contracting to solve the issue alone, PS Flood Barriers immediately stepped up to help troubleshoot and develop a solution. Working together, the teams determined that longer anchor bolts would be needed to achieve proper embedment depth while maintaining correct barrier operation. PS Flood Barriers overnighted replacement anchors to the site and assisted with additional adjustments, including shimming modifications required to keep the barriers level and functioning properly.
For Norwood Contracting, that responsiveness and willingness to help made a lasting impression. “We had several questions throughout the installation process, and they were always there to help us out,” Norwood explained. “What could have been a major adjustment to every single barrier ended up being a fairly quick and inexpensive fix, thanks to PS Flood Barriers.”
The team also praised the organization and preparation that went into each product shipment. “Every unit arrived clearly labeled and packaged with the necessary installation components, helping streamline inventory and save valuable time onsite,” says Norwood. “Detailed installation manuals provided step-by-step instructions that allowed us to verify every component was installed exactly to their specifications.”
Once completed, the project had an immediate impact on the college and surrounding community. The new expansion created modern learning environments for students pursuing careers in diesel mechanics, wind energy and agriculture, while providing peace of mind that the building and expensive equipment inside would now be protected from flooding.
To learn more about AquaTrigger Automatic Flip-up Barriers, go to www.psfloodbarriers.com/aquatrigger-automatic-flip-up-flood-barrier. To learn more about Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Doors go to www.psfloodbarriers.com/hydro1-pedestrian-flood-doors. Or, use our contact form.