Forest Refuge - Buddhist Retreat

The Forest Refuge was constructed on a hilltop in Barre, Massachusetts to serve as a Buddhist retreat for the Insight Meditation Society. GEI was retained to provide topographic survey, design, permitting and construction administration services for development of the site including a nearly two mile long water main and municipal booster station to service the project. The project included the following:

• Site design services including layout and grading to complement the natural settings of the hilltop site.

• Design site utilities including drainage, sewer force main, and water.

• Design a booster pump station to feed from the existing Town water storage tank to service the site and abutting properties nearly two miles away. The pump station became property of the Town of Barre.

• Extensive permitting of the project through local Boards and Commissions including Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Sewer Commisison, Public Works as well as MassDEP.

• Perform construction administration services including startup of the booster pump station and construction stakeout.