University of Pittsburgh, ENGR 0715

The Team

Members, left to right: Thomas Simpkins, Michael Grusch, Patrick Zarnas, Robert Campbell

---

Community Partner: Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC)

Project Description

The team will analyze a housing facility in Oakland owned by the above corporation and determine what the most profitable option is for our client. Analysis will include compiling the costs of repairing or rebuilding various parts of the facility and recommending a course of action. Options currently include repairing the facility, demolishing and rebuilding a new facility, selling the facility to an outside developer, and selling the site to the University of Pittsburgh or UPMC.

Problem Statement

The state of the housing facility as it was acquired by the OPDC is fairly dilapidated. The condition of outdoor features, which are the focus of this team's efforts, must be analyzed in order to determine whether replacement or repair is the best course of action. These features include sidewalks, fencing, and retaining walls. In addition, the facility does not currently meet ADA standards in order for the OPDC to receive government grants to improve the condition of the facility. The site will need to be improved with access features such as handicap access ramps on a certain number of buildings in order to meet these standards.

Deliverables

CAD Drawing of the Site (AutoCAD file format)
CAD Drawing of the Site (Adobe PDF format)

---

Relevant Links

Oakland Planning and Development Corporation - An non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing Oakland and providing low-income housing to its residents.
Peoples Oakland - Another non-profit organization. Peoples Oakland helps those with serious mental illness and substance disorders recover by assisting them in building healthy and productive lifestyles.
COPC: Community Outreach Partnership Center - The Community Outreach Partnership Center program was developed by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in order to help colleges and universities assist in the rebuilding of communities.
ADA Accessibility Guidelines - A comprehensive outline of all accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
A Guide to Retaining Walls - A guide to making retaining walls for houses, including the common problems associated with their construction and maintenance.
More Retaining Wall Information - More information on retaining walls and the different types to choose from.
A Similar Housing Study - A similar site analysis conducted on buildings in the city of St. Louis. Though this study is done on a much larger scale than our analysis, many of the buildings are in similar conditions as the ones in our project.
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh - This agency is responsible for much housing construction, rehabilitation, home purchases, and improvements in Pittsburgh. It has completed many projects with similarities to our own.
American Society of Civil Engineers - This is the largest professional body of civil engineers in the United States. Most of our work on this project falls under the realm of civil engineering.
General Physics Information - A large collection of general information about physics, which can exlain the forces acting on the retaining walls over time. Physics plays a very broad role in engineering in general.