East Sumner Apartment Complex (Windmill & Apex), Sumner, WA
The East Sumner Apartment Complex project, located less than a mile from Sumner High School, involved constructing two multi-family housing developments—Windmill and Apex—on adjacent parcels. Each complex required significant underground infrastructure, including detention vaults, sewer pump manholes, and stormwater pump systems. With construction activities planned near the groundwater table, a targeted groundwater control strategy was essential to ensure safe and stable excavation conditions during utility and vault installation.
RAM GeoServices, Inc. partnered with Designed Groundwater Services to develop and support the engineering behind the dewatering systems. RAM conducted detailed calculations to establish the basis of design and provided technical recommendations for each site. For the Windmill parcel, a more complex two-stage groundwater control system was proposed, while the Apex site required a streamlined, single-stage approach. RAM’s engineering input included identifying potential sources of settlement and recommending mitigation strategies to minimize construction risk.
Ultimately, the project design team adopted a vacuum well system to manage groundwater throughout construction. RAM’s contribution ensured that both sites could be excavated and developed efficiently while maintaining soil stability and protecting structural elements—supporting the successful delivery of two new residential communities in East Sumner.