A New Approach to Man-Made Lagoon Beach Construction
Every project brings its own set of challenges. Sometimes, the best solution is not to start over, but to find ways to improve what is already there.
COMANCO originally installed the geosynthetic containment system for this man-made lagoon. When the project team later identified an opportunity to enhance the existing beach areas, COMANCO returned to the site to complete a specialized retrofit using reinforced geomembrane.
Rather than rebuilding the beach areas, the retrofit allowed the team to work within the existing amenity. The goal was to reinforce and protect the client’s asset while providing a durable surface built for the demands of daily beach use.
The challenge was adapting the new material to beach areas that were not originally designed for this type of application.
A Different Material for the Beach Areas
The beach areas of a man-made lagoon face different conditions than the primary containment system. These areas are exposed, highly visible, and form part of the finished recreational environment. As a result, the material must meet both functional and project-specific requirements.
For this retrofit, the owner selected a tan, 60-mil reinforced geomembrane for the existing beach areas. The material provided a new approach for enhancing and protecting the exposed surface while working within the existing amenity.
However, selecting the material was only part of the solution. COMANCO still needed to determine how to install it effectively under conditions it was never intended for.
Adapting the Installation to Existing Conditions
Retrofit construction presents a different challenge from building a system from the ground up. Crews must work around existing conditions while determining how the new material can be incorporated into the structure already in place.
That was the challenge facing COMANCO’s field team. The existing beaches were not originally constructed with the reinforced application in mind. Rather than approaching the work as a typical new installation, the crew adapted its methods to accommodate the existing conditions.
Seams, transitions, terminations, and connection points all required careful consideration. The team relied on its geosynthetic installation knowledge while developing an approach that worked within the existing beach configuration.
COMANCO worked closely with Solmax and CGT, a specialty installer, throughout this portion of the project. Each team brought different knowledge to the installation, allowing them to share best practices and address field conditions as work progressed.
Foreman Martin Calderon Jr. led COMANCO’s work on the beach retrofit. The crew installed more than 8,500 SF of reinforced geomembrane and over 600 LF of termination strips.
The completed retrofit also gave COMANCO firsthand knowledge that can support future water amenity projects with similar existing conditions.
What Was Underneath the Beach?
While the beach retrofit introduced a new element to the project, it represented only one portion of a much larger geosynthetic system.
COMANCO crews originally installed more than 125,000 SF of 80-mil smooth LLDPE geomembrane. Another 46,000 SF of 80-mil textured LLDPE geomembrane supported the overall containment system. Crews also installed more than 122,000 SF of 16 oz. geotextile.
Drainage was another major component of COMANCO’s work. The team installed over 8,500 LF of multi-flow drainage, stretching more than 1.5 miles. Crews also completed more than 4,500 LF of tie-in welding and placed sand across more than 130,000 SF of the project.
Superintendent Martin Calderon Sr. led the multi-flow, sand, and primary liner portions of COMANCO’s scope. Together, these components formed the extensive geosynthetic system beneath the completed water amenity.
More Than 300,000 Square Feet of Work
Across the overall project, COMANCO installed or placed materials across more than 300,000 SF—an area equivalent to more than five football fields. The work combined several systems, materials, and installation methods within one large recreational water amenity.
The beach retrofit added another layer to that scope. Instead of starting with conditions designed specifically for the reinforced system, COMANCO had to integrate the new material into the existing beach configuration.
Rather than rebuilding the beach areas to accommodate the new material, the crew adapted the installation to the structure already in place. This approach allowed the project team to enhance the existing amenity while preserving the work surrounding it.
Geosynthetic construction continues to evolve as manufacturers develop products for specialized applications. At the same time, existing facilities can require solutions that work within established site conditions.
For COMANCO, that means combining decades of geosynthetic installation knowledge with the ability to adapt when a project does not fit a standard approach.
On this project, that adaptability helped give an existing beach amenity a new path forward.
SAFETY ★ QUALITY ★ SERVICE
COMANCO is an environmental, commercial, and civil construction company specializing in constructing containment facilities.
COMANCO provides geosynthetic installation services for large-scale water amenities and specialized containment applications. Our crews bring field experience, technical installation capabilities, and a collaborative approach to each project. Contact COMANCO to discuss your next geosynthetic installation.
📍 4301 Sterling Commerce Dr, Plant City, FL 33566
📞 (813) 988-8829
🌐www.comanco.com