The 2024 Senior Capstone course in civil and environmental engineering was taught by Sherif Elfass and Gokhan Pekcan. To learn more about the civil and environmental engineering projects, please email Sherif Elfass or Gokhan Pekcan.
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Explore student projects in civil engineering.
Advised by Casey Talbot (Adobe Associates, Inc.)
Students: Joshua Rhodes, Jack Kostecki, Jared Doolittle, Kolby Gooder
Reno has experienced significant population growth over the past several decades, and this trend is expected to continue through 2030. To meet the increasing demand for housing, this project aims to create a new single-story residential neighborhood located off Interstate 80 in Boomtown. After conducting thorough research, Nexgen Innovators have determined that this development is the preferred choice over alternatives such as an apartment complex or high-rise building. The Boomtown Housing Subdivision design integrates three key civil and environmental engineering disciplines: Transportation/Pavement, Geotechnical, and Hydrology/Water Resources. For the transportation/pavement discipline, tasks include a traffic impact study, roundabout design, roadway design plan, and pavement mix design. The geotechnical work covers a site-specific report and foundation design for the homes. Lastly, in the hydrology/water resources area, the project includes hydrology analysis, grading and drainage plans, and bioretention basin design. Nexgen Innovators are excited to bring this project to reality, ensuring that the growing Reno population will have access to the housing options needed to support its expansion.
Advised by Jeffrey Graham (NDOT), Ken Anderson (JKAE)
Students: Tyler Campbell, Peter Bertolino, Markus Petures, Robbie Schroder, Moin Ud Din Hassan
The rising suicide rates and homelessness among veterans in America has led to the engineers at Silver State Engineering (SSE) to develop a Veterans Rehabilitation Center in Nevada. SSE conducted a feasibility study on three potential locations to identify the optimal solution to address the problem based on site and design. The three potential locations determined by the team were a lot on Robb Drive, a lot in Douglas County, and a lot near Verdi and Boomtown. A triangle matrix was used to determine the best design for the building that will serve the veterans community. The lot near Verdi and Boomtown was chosen because of its proximity to I-80 and commercial developments beneficial for the veterans. The team will utilize 3 primary Civil sub-disciplines from Structural, Geotechnical, and Transportation Engineering alongside Land Development and Water Resources Engineering. The dimension for the center will be 80 x 100 ft with 2 stories, where the inside of the center will consist of two common rooms, one on each floor along with a gym and multiple rooms for the veterans to stay in. Lastly, the construction of the Veterans Rehabilitation Center will be a safe and nurturing environment for the American heroes.
Advised by Nelson Pearson/ JR Hildebrand
Students: Terrell Calinog, PJ Gilbert, Giovanny Herrera, Ian Palmer
Dirt Crew Engineering's (D.C.E.) Affordable Housing Development is a new affordable housing complex in downtown Reno. Located close to the Truckee River, this site was selected due to the proximity to local businesses, public transit, and cultural landmarks, such as the Greater Nevada Stadium. This development offers modern, comfortable living spaces at accessible rates with a focus on sustainability and affordability. This tackles Reno's growing issue of insufficient affordable housing. Reno also faces an issue of urban sprawl. The inefficient use of land, such as empty parking lots, increases commute times and reinforces the overreliance on personal vehicles. The D.C.E. Affordable Housing Development addresses this problem through three stories of parking beneath the affordable housing. Visitors and residents alike can now enjoy the amenities of downtown Reno without worrying about parking. D.C.E. also has plans to use a newly reverse engineered roman concrete mix which has "self-healing" capabilities. This innovative technology will be used for external paving along the patio area and the City of Reno Riverwalk. The D.C.E. Affordable Housing Development will foster a sense of community within downtown Reno while increasing the functionality and wellbeing of the present infrastructure.
Advised by Austin Martin, P.E. with Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility
Students: William Lind, Esteban Carrillo, Kushagra Sharma, Joshua Baughman, Mike Roman
This project aims to improve the final solids quality and biosolids handling capacity at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) by designing a thermal hydrolysis system for implementation into the existing waste solids handling process. This system will expedite the first stage of the waste digestion process-hydrolysis. Thermal hydrolysis is a wastewater treatment process that uses heat and pressure to break down organic matter in waste sludge. The process typically involves heating the sludge to high temperatures under high pressure and then rapidly switching to low temperature, low pressure conditions. This series of steps ruptures the cell walls of organic matter, releasing nutrients and significantly enhancing solubilization for the subsequent stages of the waste digestion process. This results in improved dewaterability, reduced pathogens, and enhanced methane production during waste digestion. Improved methane production would not only continue to support the plants energy self-reliance, but possibly position them as an exporter of the biogas to local consumers. With EPA permitting, this project expects to enable TMWRF to send its waste solids to local agricultural farms. Overall, the process will reduce retention times in the waste digesters, increase volatile solids reduction, and reduce waste solids handling costs.
Advised by Bill Hoffman
Students: Fabian Castaneda, Samuel Elvick, Mitchell Gray, Jamison Kaboli
Evans Avenue has a major problem regarding the safety of its pedestrians and the traffic flow for its commuters. Currently, the street has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. This is due to the roadway lacking sufficient shoulders, while also having multiple sharp curves. Despite these conditions, drivers often reach speeds upward of 35 miles per hour. Additionally, during peak school hours, hundreds of students must cross Evans Avenue to reach class. These concurrent high speeds and high pedestrian volumes are a major concern regarding the safety of pedestrians, and they demonstrate an urgent need for increased user safety. To improve user safety and reduce traffic congestion, a pedestrian bridge will be constructed north of the intersection of Evans Avenue and Jodi Drive. In order to account for the added runoff of the bridge and its ramps, a drainage culvert will be installed along the length of the eastern ramp, parallel to the train tracks. For this project, fencing will be placed along the east side of Evans Avenue along the asphalt path in order to enforce pedestrians to use the bridge rather than walk across Evans illegally. This will also increase pedestrian safety and decrease vehicle congestion.
Students: Joshua Torrecampo, Ricky Rubins, Alex Jordan, Tyler Jordan
The Lake Tahoe Multimodal Accommodation Project is focused on creating safety within the Lake Tahoe region. Located on the southeast end of Lake Tahoe is Highway 88 and Highway 89. Within the proximity of the highways, there is a recreational area known as the Hope Valley Wildlife Area. With a wildlife and recreational area near two interstate roads, a sense of danger is created among drivers on the road, people partaking in recreational activities, and animals that need to access natural resources. This project will be designed to mitigate risks among all parties and create comfort within this area, allowing all purposes to be carried out safely. Unique Solutions Engineering focuses on sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions, which will be incorporated in the Lake Tahoe Multimodal Accommodation Project. With the addition of an animal underpass, designated (protected) bike lanes to connect to the recreational areas, and different roadway widenings, the Lake Tahoe Multimodal Project will ensure greater safety within this recreational area and the roads within it.
Advised by Hualiang Teng, UNLV Rail Commissioner and Professor
Students: Daryn Harper, Samuel Sturgeon, Sammy Lou Reyes, Benjamin Ferido
A project exploring the viability and impact of a light rail system spanning from Lemmon Valley to Carson City.
The Reno Light Rail project seeks to alleviate the North-South congestion in Reno's transit system due to the increase in industry and population of the greater Reno area. The proposed light rail would stretch nearly 40 miles North-South from Lemmon Valley to Carson City. The current design calls for 5 major stations (Lemmon Valley, North Reno, South Reno, Incline, and Carson City) with parking lots and train yards, as well as minor stops along the route. As part of this project, the North Reno station and the typical minor station will be designed, as well as the accompanying parking lot and foundation drawings for the structure of our building. The line will utilize a Hyundai Rotem Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tram, designed to hold up to 130 people per five car configuration. The major station itself will have its energy consumption offset by solar panels positioned over the parking lot, providing shade for the parked cars and electricity to the station. Additionally, traffic queuing reports, as well as a traffic analysis for expected ridership will be provided as part of our final report.
Advised by Nick O'Connor (Shaw Engineering)
Students: Kyle Larragueta, Jake Brandvold, Cole Weible, Wyatt Prather
The Silver Grouse Water Treatment Plant is designed to reduce high arsenic concentrations in the drinking water of Stagecoach, NV. The project will incorporate Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DPASV) technology for real-time monitoring of contaminant levels. By utilizing standardized treatment units, the plant offers a cost-effective solution for water treatment. These modular units provide the flexibility to scale treatment capacity up or down as Stagecoach's population changes. The integration of DPASV technology enables operators to continuously monitor contaminant levels and take appropriate actions to ensure the water meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety standards.
Advised by Jason Powers (ZFA), Colton Schaefer (JKAE)
Students: Otto Kellner, Conner Gage, Hannah Loeffler, Amar Akhtar, Attiqa Fida
Silver State Solutions presents the Silver Star Medical Center, a transformative project aimed at addressing Atlanta's urgent healthcare challenges. The optimal solution identified to alleviate hospital overcrowding and improve emergency response times is to demolish the non-operational WellStar Atlanta Medical Center and construct a state-of-the-art, sustainable hospital in its place. Strategically located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the new 460-bed facility will serve Atlanta's growing population, particularly the underserved Old Fourth Ward community. The design includes advanced sustainability features such as rooftop solar panels, a rainwater collection system, and emergency water storage. These elements enhance resilience during power and water disruptions. The hospital layout prioritizes efficiency, patient accessibility, and modernized healthcare delivery. Our engineering scope covers structural, hydrological, and geotechnical tasks, with a comprehensive design schedule ensuring projects are completed by Spring 2025. While the initial costs of demolition and reconstruction are significant, the long-term benefits in sustainability, operational efficiency, and healthcare capacity make this project the most viable solution. This project represents a critical investment in Atlanta's future, offering enhanced medical services, reducing emergency response times, and providing a sustainable, long-lasting healthcare infrastructure.
Advised by Juan Madrigal, Professional Engineer
Students: Travis Tomlinson, Travis Tompkins, Andrew Madrigal, Drew Scolari
The Winnemucca Municipal Airport is a rural airport in Winnemucca, Nevada that currently manages two mid-length runways capable of landing small freighter planes and private aircraft. The Winnemucca Municipal Airport Expansion Project will allow the airport to facilitate the landing of up to and including Boeing 767-300 Freighter planes to greatly expand the transportation of freight into Winnemucca. The primary aim of this project is to improve the desirability of the community for potential industrial employers, specifically for nearby mining operations. The project will consist of the addition of a 9,000-foot runway to the east of the existing airport facilities, expanded taxiways, a large docking area for plane unloading, and two 100,000 square-foot cargo handling facilities. The project has been planned to be minimally invasive to existing airport operations and will have continued use of the existing runways as a primary goal. The newly constructed runway and all associated taxiways will be built according to FAA specifications for the chosen freight aircraft. Asphalt sections will be capable of handling fully loaded freight aircraft, and cargo facilities will be designed to best facilitate the movement of goods through the airport to support forecasted growth.
Students: Devynn Dunn-High, Paige Bowers, Kaylah House, Jasmyne Crissey
In 2023, Greater Nevada Field drew over 300,000 fans, its highest attendance since 2015. To alleviate game-day congestion, we propose a two-way bridge over the Truckee River, linking Ballpark Lane and Museum Drive. This will improve traffic flow, enhance pedestrian access, and boost connectivity in downtown Reno.
Advised by Mark Gookin (TerraPhase Engineering)
Students: Ryan Burt, Jordyn Dashiell, Zachary Hooker, Diego Castellano
In the summers of 2022 and 2023, the San Francisco Bay experienced red tide harmful algal blooms (HABs) by excessive growth of Heterosigma akashiwo algae. This caused mass die-offs of fish species, turned the bay a red-brown color, endangered at-risk species, and impacted the fishing and tourism industries in San Francisco. The city has passed legislation requiring a reduction in excess nutrients being released into the bay. Since this is an expensive long-term solution that will take years to implement, this project offers an immediate short-term solution to treating and minimizing HAB impact. AquaPhase plans on preventing HABs in their early stages by using clay as a coagulant to kill algae on contact or sink the algae to a depth at which it will not be able to receive enough sunlight and nutrients to survive. The clay will be pretreated with environmentally safe chemicals and mixed with bay water to be distributed into the algae-affected water. This process will occur on a boat that will use a hose and pump system to spray the mixture onto the algae, preventing it from growing into a large-scale algal bloom.
Advised by Fred Hatcher
Students: Alyse Schultz, Emilee Bryan, Zephyn Sellars, Frank Czechan
The purpose of this project is to reduce animal-vehicle collisions along the Glenn Highway between Wasilla and Anchorage, Alaska, by constructing a wildlife crossing. Moose-vehicle accidents are a significant concern in the region. The scope of the wildlife overpass includes a geotechnical design, hydrology design, and a structural concrete design. The hydrological design of the crossing will be designed to manage water flow efficiently. The design will incorporate culverts and perforated pipe to prevent flooding and erosion. The geotechnical design will address the unique challenges of the Alaskan soil. Soil reinforcements will be used to improve soil stability and minimize the risk of erosion and settlement to ensure long-term structural integrity. The structural concrete design will focus on durability and safety, utilizing reinforced concrete arches to span the divided highway. The crossing will have natural surfaces to simulate Alaska's natural terrain and encourage wildlife use. Fencing will be incorporated to prevent animals from straying, and signage will be utilized to warn drivers of wildlife activity. The FAZE Engineering team is extremely qualified for this job due to our extensive background in the included designs, and we will provide excellent and professional designs.
Advised by Jon Browning (Tectonics Design Group)
Students: Santy Carrillo Zaragoza, Alyssa Reichert, Kalia Johnson, Aiden Hechavarria
To improve food accessibility and community connectivity in the Downtown Reno and UNR campus area, KASA Consulting designed a grocery store for the open lot located on 6th Street and Lake Street. This location is central to both areas and would allow for multiple modes of transportation such as car, public transit, and walking. Furthermore, the grocery store would be able to accept food assistance payments to accommodate people with low income and provide a variety of food alternatives to fit different budgets. To consider community connection, a covered patio and a ready-to-eat meal service will provide a place for locals to congregate. The scope of this project includes geotechnical, site planning, structural, and transportation engineering. A geotechnical investigation and subsurface exploration provided information about the soils and the bearing capacity of the site. The structural design for the grocery store included the roof, walls and foundation of the building. Proper drainage, parking, and utility adjustments for the lot were considered in the site design. Lastly, a traffic impact study was conducted in the surrounding area to determine the effects of the new development.
Advised by Blake D Carter (Westex Consulting Engineers), Cecylia Janes (Lumos and Associates)
Students: Elany Capacia, Filadelfo Hernandez Angel, Kyla Lowery, Cody Prentiss
The City of Reno Master Plan notes that Reno lacks options for affordable housing, retail and entertainment amenities, as well as community spaces. ReEngineering is proposing a mixed-use community northwest of the Clear Acre Lane and North McCarran Boulevard intersection. This plan incorporates an innovative look at infrastructure designs while focusing on minimizing environmental impacts to ensure higher quality of life and energy efficiency. As a mixed-use development, the Clearviews Community maximizes land use in order to feature walkable amenities with sustainable features. Solar carports generating electricity and energy-saving building elements, in addition to the incorporation of green roofs and lined sidewalks, add sustainable aspects to mitigate environmental issues found in urban developments. Residential units will share a building with ground-floor storefronts, and parking will be placed in convenient locations for residents and visitors. Furthermore, a combination of residential, commercial, and public spaces will foster a vibrant community. The incorporation of a multifunctional park with recreational areas, walking paths, and natural landscaping will promote outdoor activities and biodiversity at a low cost. In addition, economic growth through increased foot traffic and diverse housing options will benefit the City of Reno by encouraging future innovative developments.
Advised by Andrew Poustie (Stantec), Karlie DelSanto (CME), Krupps Bethancourt (Linchpin SE)
Students: Emily Milliken, Isaac Cooley, Maya Abraham, Emily Hohman
CHAM Engineering's goal is to enhance the physical and social well-being of the community by contributing to the already rich recreational activities that are available to Reno. Most aquatic facilities in the area are dependent on the weather as to their availability of services, leaving them to be open about four months out of the year. CHAM Engineering is designing the McCarran Aquatic Center to address the lack of accessible aquatic facilities in the Reno/Sparks area. The McCarran Aquatic Center will provide an Olympic-size swimming pool, water slides and other recreational services such as a splash pad and a lazy river. The scope of the design criteria for CHAM Engineering includes geotechnical engineering, structural, water resources, and water treatment. The water resources and water treatment design incorporate innovative practices such as UV disinfection, using a closed loop system, and using energy efficient pumps and motors.
Advised by Chris Waechter (Kimley-Horn)
Students: Leticia Ledezma Rubio, Chalyce Forshey, Zander Simone, Garett Bouillon, Aidan Barnes
The Scrugham Engineering and Mines (SEM) building at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), has been a key facility for the College of Engineering since its construction in 1963. The SEM building has undergone minimal renovations, necessitating modernization to meet current sustainability, accessibility, and seismic safety standards. With engineering enrollment exceeding 2,500 students as of 2023, an updated facility is critical to supporting the growing academic community. This project will revitalize the SEM building with sustainable design, improved accessibility, and enhanced seismic resilience. In line with Reno's 2025 green initiatives, it will feature a green roof and energy-efficient systems for heating, cooling, and water use, aiming for LEED certification. Accessibility for the building will exceed the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards with elevators, staircases, and ramps for an inclusive environment. A base-isolated system will be added to improve seismic safety and extend the building's lifespan. Additionally, the redesign of SEM will introduce a more logical layout, increase collaborative learning spaces, and improve accessibility. These improvements will ensure the SEM building remains a leading center for engineering education, reflecting UNR's commitment to innovation, safety, and excellence.
Advised by Keith Dennett, PhD, PE, Camille Buehler, PE, PLS, Brian Moon, PE)
Students: Austin Long, Blake Hardin, Hilario Sanchez, Pat Phelps, Logan Miceli
The University Village Pedestrian Connectivity Project (UVPCP) is a multiphase infrastructure project aimed at enhancing pedestrian and micro-modal transportation between the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and Downtown Reno. As UNR expands southward, Interstate-80 (I-80) presents a physical barrier that limits safe and efficient access to the University Village, a proposed mixed-use, pedestrian development. This multi-phase project seeks to foster connectivity, safety, and economic growth. Phase One focuses on designing a pedestrian and cyclist only cable-stay bridge spanning I-80. This chosen design is beneficial due to its visual appeal, cost-effectiveness, constructability, and accessibility. Phase Two addresses site development for University-owned and surrounding parcels south of I-80, with considerations for grading, utility infrastructure, and traffic impacts that come with increased commercial development. Design efforts span multiple civil disciplines, including Structural, Environmental, and Transportation Engineering. The project integrates advanced design methodologies learned at UNR, industry-standard guidelines, and a new solution to create a safe, efficient, and vibrant campus extension. The UVPCP aligns with UNR's long-term vision and the City of Reno's master plan, reinforcing the university's role in regional development while improving mobility and urban connectivity.
