KTUA assisted the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and UC San Diego in the planning, design, and construction of the Biological Grade segment of the University’s Coastal Meander. The public access trail is a segment of the California Coastal Trail and was partially funded by the California Coastal Conservancy.

KTUA developed site assessments and preliminary design concepts in support of environmental permits, including a Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission. KTUA then lead a multi-disciplinary team in the development of construction documents for approval by the University and the Commission. Once approved, KTUA assisted in the BID and contractor selection process. With a contractor selected, KTUA then led the construction administration process from groundbreaking through grand opening.

Due to steep terrain and adjacent sensitive species and vegetation, the project used a combination of above grade stairs and boardwalk sections to change elevation before transitioning to an on-grade decomposed granite trail built to federal outdoor recreational access guidelines. Minimizing environmental impacts, meeting construction budget constraints, and complying with access guidelines proved the most challenging aspect of the project. The original project was designed to be ADA accessible for the on-grade portion and fully CBC compliant for the stairs and boardwalks. Implementing both sets of guidelines caused the original project to have a larger environmental footprint and exceed the University’s budget. Redesigning the project to comply with federal outdoor recreational guidelines benefited the project’s footprint and budget.