WBCM Celebrates Success of Baltimore Grand Prix

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Baltimore Grand Prix in downtown Baltimore.  Over the past year, this Indy Car racing event has been debated, criticized and lauded in the local and national media.  After seeing for myself firsthand over the Labor Day holiday, one thing is clear – Baltimore has never looked better.   The race brought excitement, thrills, and thousands of race fans to the Inner Harbor. 

WBCM was fortunate enough to be part of the race.  We may not have taken any hairpin turns at 90 mph, but we did complete a fast-track design of the pit row area and turns 7 and 8 of the race course.  Everyone who works in downtown Baltimore knows that the city needed to return to business as usual immediately following the race.  This included Oriole Park at Camden Yards which hosts the New York Yankees today – three days after the checkered flag dropped.  WBCM provided innovative site solutions to allow for the pit row area to be completely constructed and deconstructed within a week.  This included the design of demountable light poles, parking gates, fencing, guard houses, and even trees and shrubs. 

WBCM generated a design that was not only functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also sustainable.  To satisfy the stormwater management requirements for the project, WBCM designed a rainwater harvesting system which simultaneously reduces water consumption for Oriole Park and reduces harmful stormwater runoff which pollutes the Chesapeake Bay. 

Finally, WBCM’s structural and transportation groups were involved in the roadway widening, retaining walls, and maintenance of traffic designs that were required to accommodate the Indy Racing League standards and to maintain the functionality of the stadium complex during construction.

This project showcases how good civil design can accomplish great things for the cities we live in.  WBCM is proud to be a part of it.

Blaine Linkous, P.E., P.H., LEED AP

Chief Civil Engineer, Site Department

Blaine has participated in numerous design projects for stormwater, wastewater water supply, and drainage facilities at WBCM and has played an integral part in the design of the rainwater harvesting system for this project.