Armistead Point Golf Community
Belgard® Walls Provide Cost-Effective and Attractive Bridge Solution for Golf Community
Every Project Starts with a Purpose
The Armistead Point Golf Community is an exclusive, gated golf course community in historic Williamsburg, Virginia. The owner sought to develop the site, located along the James River, while maintaining the historic charm of Williamsburg. The property was divided by a large creek and underlain by a deep peat deposit.
Excavating the peat was deemed too costly. In order to adjoin the divided properties and access the property along the James River, a steel bridge was originally proposed to cross the creek. There were two problems with this proposed solution: The first was a steel shortage that resulted in higher than anticipated steel costs and a longer than anticipated delivery time.
Secondly, a steel bridge would not have offered an aesthetic appearance complementing the historic charm of Williamsburg.
The Challenge
As a research center, the Reserve has incorporated many green building materials and construction techniques over the last decade. Until June 2014, the parking lot area of the Reserve consisted of just over 16,000 SF of impervious asphalt and approximately 2,900 SF of pervious grass pave system. The grass pave system stopped functioning properly due to poor water infiltration likely caused by compaction of the underlying soil or gravel. Parking lot runoff contributed to slope erosion near one of the trails and excess sediment loading into the estuary.
The Solution
Solving for Style, Function, and Durability
Allied Concrete Products presented the owner with an option to build a land bridge constructed with back-to-back segmental retaining walls using Highland Stone® and Diamond Pro Stone Cut® retaining wall systems. This option provided a solution that was cost-effective, was structurally sound and met the aesthetic needs of the owner.
In order to provide foundation support for the land bridge and retaining walls, a load- transfer platform was incorporated into the project. The load-transfer platform consisted of auger-cast piles driven through the deep peat deposit and a platform consisting of geosynthetic-reinforced gravel to bridge the piles. The twin walls, each measuring 240 feet long and 15 feet high accommodated a storm water drainpipe running perpendicular to the wall at its base along with a 250-psf traffic live load at its crest.
Featured Products
The Result
A Lasting Impression:
The Final Transformation
The land bridge solution using Diamond Pro Stone Cut® and Highland Stone® wall blocks, combined with the load-transfer platform offered a 50-percent cost savings as compared to the proposed steel bridge. The blended, earth tone colors and unique, rustic appearance led to other applications on the project such as pillars and the entrance sign on the property.
These products provided proven structural performance while capturing the historic and natural beauty of Williamsburg.
PLAN + DESIGN
Smarter Planning. Better Design.
Belgard isn’t just here to provide the product—we’re your partner in planning and design. From first ideas to final layout, we make it easy to bring your outdoor vision to life.
Outdoor Living Awaits
Let’s build something beautiful together
Outdoor living solutions for homeowners, contractors, and designers.
We’ll listen to your needs, help identify the right products and design approach, and guide you toward a tailored solution that brings your outdoor vision to life.