Birchway Development - Stone Mountain, GA

From Concept to Construction: A Global Collaboration Delivers an 88,000+ ft³ AquaCell Detention System

The story of the Birchway Development stormwater system began in late 2024, when Wavin first engaged with Haines Gipson & Associates (HGA) during evaluation of underground detention alternatives for the Mountain Marketplace development in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

At the time, the project's stormwater strategy called for approximately 600 linear feet of 144-inch perforated corrugated metal pipe (CMP). Through collaboration among Wavin, SRG Stormwater, the engineering team, and Wavin's Building Design Services (BDS) team in El Salvador, the concept evolved into a high-capacity AquaCell underground detention system that provided greater storage efficiency, improved maintenance access, and enhanced design flexibility.

Following design development throughout 2025, the final AquaCell proposal was approved by Haines Gipson & Associates (HGA) in November 2025. Construction of the detention system began in February 2026, culminating in the installation of an 88,131 cubic foot underground stormwater management system consisting of 8,260 AquaCell modules.

A Global Engineering Collaboration

A unique aspect of the project was the collaboration between multiple teams across North America and Latin America.

Working alongside the local project stakeholders, Wavin coordinated with its Building Design Services (BDS) team in El Salvador, which provided design support and developed detailed AquaCell layouts for the proposed detention system. These layouts allowed the project team to accurately compare the AquaCell alternative against the original CMP concept and optimize the system geometry to fit within the site's constraints.

The collaboration between all parties (Wavin Technical Support, Wavin Building Design Services (BDS), SRG Stormwater, and HGA) helped transform an early detention concept into a fully engineered underground storage solution that exceeded project requirements.

Most importantly, this project demonstrates the value of bringing Wavin's technical expertise into the design process early, allowing owners and engineers to evaluate innovative stormwater solutions before plans become finalized.

Key Takeaways

• Converted the original detention concept of approximately 600 LF of 144-inch perforated CMP into a more efficient modular underground detention system.
• Delivered 88,131 ft³ of underground stormwater storage utilizing 8,260 AquaCell modules in a compact footprint.
• Leveraged global engineering collaboration between Wavin Technical Support, Wavin Building Design Services (BDS), SRG Stormwater, and HGA to optimize system performance and constructability.
• Preserved valuable developable land while providing a maintainable underground stormwater management solution.
• Progressed from initial concept evaluation in late 2024 through design approval in November 2025 and construction beginning in February 2026.