Sprint Transport

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

This project encompassed the design and construction of a cutting-edge, 30-acre liquid logistics and transportation hub, developed to meet the expanding needs of a leading petrochemical hauler. Delivered through a fully integrated design-build approach, the facility was master-planned to support the client’s current operations while enabling scalable growth, service line diversification, and long-term innovation.

At the heart of the facility stands a four-story tilt-wall office building featuring 30 private offices. The top floor includes a hospitality and conference suite with an outdoor terrace that overlooks the iconic Fred Hartman Bridge—an architectural nod to the facility’s place within the Gulf Coast’s industrial ecosystem.

The office structure is constructed entirely from tilt-wall panels, including two extraordinary panels—E2 and E3—each rising to an impressive height of 68'-11". Panel E3 weighs 180.7 kips and required careful engineering to address the challenges of its design and erection. All tilt-wall panels were conventionally constructed, but an atypical bracing solution was needed due to sequencing; the structural slab was poured after the panels were erected. As a result, temporary lateral support during erection was achieved using helical anchors to provide the necessary stability without reliance on the yet-to-be-poured slab.

The 12-bay maintenance building, which houses a 3,000-square-foot administrative wing, is fully outfitted for servicing and repair of heavy-duty vehicles. Adjacent to this building, large paved areas—constructed using 13-inch-thick reinforced concrete—support the use of heavy reach stacker forklifts and ISO container storage. The site also includes an 8-bay tank wash facility for thorough cleaning and compliance testing of tank trailers and containers, along with a 2-lane fueling station that features a 20,000-gallon diesel tank, DEF capability, and an overhead canopy for safe refueling operations.

The new hub launched two strategic business divisions: one offering full-service logistics and another focused on specialized tank cleaning services. These initiatives position the client to provide comprehensive, end-to-end liquid transportation solutions, from cleaning and maintenance to intermodal and over-the-road logistics. Located near Morgan’s Point, the facility offers prime multimodal access: immediate proximity to I-10, existing rail infrastructure, and anticipated barge service by 2026. Once complete, this will make the site one of the few truly intermodal petrochemical logistics operations in the region—enhancing supply chain efficiency and strengthening the Gulf Coast’s competitive edge as a global logistics powerhouse.

Since completion, the facility has already had a measurable economic impact. The client doubled its fleet to 120 trucks and added over 60 new drivers in the first year alone. The project has also attracted key chemical industry partners who rely on the site’s secure, high-throughput infrastructure for the transportation of bulk liquids. By integrating advanced tilt-wall engineering, high-capacity infrastructure, and a prime logistical location, this development sets a new industry benchmark for innovation, scale, and versatility in the petrochemical logistics sector.

What obstacles were overcome related to the schedule, budget, program, specification, site, etc. on this project?

The project team navigated several key challenges related to site planning, stormwater management, and space optimization—each critical to meeting the facility’s operational requirements. One of the most complex issues involved stormwater detention. Initial plans called for a large detention pond to manage runoff across the 30-acre site, which would have consumed 3 to 5 acres of valuable space needed for essential infrastructure, including the truck yard, ISO container storage, maintenance building, fuel station, and tank wash facility.

To address this, the team analyzed the site’s topography and drainage patterns in detail. Collaborating with local flood control authorities, they leveraged the site’s proximity to lower San Jacinto Bay to reroute runoff to an existing drainage ditch at the northeast corner of the property. This solution eliminated the need for a detention pond, preserved buildable area, and reduced long-term maintenance.

Tilt-wall construction presented its own coordination challenges. Because the structural slab was poured after the panels were erected, all panels were braced using helical ground anchors instead of the slab. This sequencing required additional engineering and field adjustments. Panel W5 also includes a concealed 2" PVC drain to route water from the exterior stairwell into the stormwater system, reflecting close integration between architectural and civil elements. These coordinated solutions enabled the team to maintain program requirements without sacrificing site functionality, budget, or schedule. The early design-build approach helped streamline decisions and address technical constraints with a comprehensive, integrated strategy.

Please communicate any engineering complexities or unique features of the panel design for this project?

The panel design for this project featured some unique engineering challenges. Panel W5, for example, includes a 2” PVC drain embedded within the panel, requiring precise coordination to maintain both structural integrity and plumbing functionality. It also contains additional steel embeds to support a “floating staircase” that connects level 3 to the level 4 patio. Another major complexity was the size of the panels—some reaching heights of 68’-11”. Lifting and erecting panels of this scale required strategic planning, including specialized rigging and careful coordination with the crane team to ensure safe and accurate placement.