As Florida experiences booming population growth driven by an influx of new residents, the demand for multi-family housing is increasing. VHB recently helped address the need with an integrated services approach at Prospect Apartments, a pivotal component of the new Lake Wire mixed-use development in downtown Lakeland, Florida.
VHB teamed with client Carter Acquisitions and a diverse range of stakeholders to transform a once-vacant site into a thriving urban hub with a sustainable landscape. A technology-enabled approach through model-based design proved invaluable in the development of a stormwater management system that integrated an existing concrete detention pond.
Prospect Apartments is part of the larger Lake Wire community in development that spans approximately 21 acres, strategically located north of Main Street, west of Lake Wire Drive, and south of George Jenkins Boulevard. This area, once a brownfield site, is being transformed into a vibrant live-work-play space in a fast-growing city between Orlando and Tampa, featuring multi-family housing, townhomes, retail spaces, and an open-air plaza.
VHB's involvement from the inception of the Lake Wire development has been instrumental in expediting decision-making processes. Our comprehensive understanding of the project's entitlements, scope, and requirements allowed us to navigate the complexities of zoning, environmental regulations, and infrastructure planning for the multi-family project that included numerous stakeholders, including the City of Lakeland, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), and the Polk County School District, among others.
"VHB enhanced the site in many ways, from stormwater management, improving traffic accessibility, maximizing density, and creating a landscape design with native vegetation,” said Jaime Igua, PE, Project Manager, Land Development. “Prospect Apartment’s new amenities include a courtyard shaded by a beautiful, preserved live oak tree, pool and game area at the clubhouse, and a hammock/palm grove for relaxing, which are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also well-suited to Florida's unique environmental conditions."
VHB utilized model-based design to elevate stormwater management on the project. By simulating the drainage network and an existing pond’s capacity within a virtual environment, engineers could assess the system's behavior under various weather conditions and help determine the pond’s adaptation to peak flows. By utilizing the existing concrete detention pond, the project effectively avoided the need to allocate additional space for stormwater treatment, thereby facilitating a higher development density.
Virtual modeling also demonstrated how inlet and outlet structures could enhance overall efficiency, and it significantly reduced the necessity for expensive physical prototypes, while offering a robust platform for verification and validation so the final design met environmental compliance standards and operational objectives.
Learn more about how VHB is enhancing residential development and utilizing model-based design to improve project delivery.
