Bison Solar
Solar Sitework Achieved on Complex University Campus
Despite the challenges of an aggressive schedule, the height of COVID-19, and the complexities of working in tight constraints on campus (between an existing building and a golf course), our team delivered Insight. On Site. and successful sitework for Meadow Valley Electric’s (MVE) solar power project on Bucknell University’s campus in Lewisburg, PA. This project included design-build assist, site development, and risk management services for their four-acre solar energy site that now generates 1/3 of the school’s power, contributing to their environmental goals and overall energy cost savings.
The demands of this aggressive project timeline were significant, as the site needed to be completed prior to the onset of winter weather. Many efforts behind the scenes and consistent, open lines of communication were executed to minimize disruptions on the active campus environment, while keeping work moving seamlessly and on track. Because access was limited, given the space between a residential and classroom area, deliveries were carefully planned and coordinated to be mindful of students and faculty. Once clearing and grubbing of the site was completed, crews set to work on leveling and grading the site in preparation for solar panel installation. During excavation, our team members came across a stockpile from a previously dredged sediment pond and carefully blended it with other onsite material to provide a stable surface. This work was followed by trenching and backfilling for conduits, installing the transformer pad, and providing final seeding and restoration.
In order to stay on pace with the panel installation, we worked hand-in-hand with MVE to carefully sequence installation of the conduits. The tight constraints of this site did not allow flexibility to be even one row ahead or behind at any given time. Our team leaned on decades of experience in earthwork, paving, and utilities infrastructure and coordinated the cadence of multiple crews on site, helping manage the project from start to finish and completing all preparation services on budget and ahead of schedule. The solar panel installer also finished the necessary work on time, contributing to our client’s complete satisfaction and continued trust in our team to support additional developing phases of this multi-phase project.