Case Study: Turnkey Sport Court Project

Project Overview

CK Services LLC won a bid to complete a local turnkey sport court project. While the project began with an established engineering plan and scope of work, demolition uncovered site conditions that required the team to adapt quickly and make decisions that would protect the long-term performance of the finished courts.

The Challenge

Once demolition began, our crew discovered a 20-by-20-foot area of unsuitable gray clay approximately three feet deep. Leaving that material in place would not have provided the stable base the project required.

At the same time, our team identified a second concern: the engineering plans did not provide sufficient drainage for the courts. One side of the four-court area required a French drain, but that work was not included in the original plans or bid.

These were not cosmetic changes. Both the underlying soil conditions and proper drainage had to be addressed to give the completed court a sound foundation.

Our Response

CK Services LLC took immediate action.

Our crew excavated and removed the unsuitable gray clay, then rebuilt the affected area using structural fabric and large stone to establish a suitable base.

We also excavated along the side of the court where additional drainage was needed and installed a French drain to provide adequate drainage for the site.

Neither of these additional items was included in the original scope. CK Services LLC ultimately donated both portions of the additional work to the client.

The Industry Insight

Plans and specifications are essential, but they do not always tell the entire story of a site.

For contractors, developers, municipalities, and project owners, the people performing the work can bring an important field perspective to the preconstruction process. When an experienced contractor sees a potential issue with site conditions, drainage, constructability, or the proposed scope, there is value in discussing it before crews mobilize.

That early conversation can help the contractor and engineering team determine whether the bid or scope should be questioned, revised, or negotiated before construction begins—rather than discovering the full impact once work is underway.

What We Learned

This project reinforced the importance of bringing practical field experience into the bidding and preconstruction process.

At times, it is okay for a contractor to question the proposed bid work and work with the engineering firm to revise or negotiate the scope before the project begins. In this case, identifying and discussing the potential soil and drainage requirements earlier could have allowed those items to be incorporated into both the project scope and cost from the start.

It is a lesson we can carry into future projects: good construction is not only about following a set of plans. It is also about recognizing potential problems, asking the right questions, and working with project partners to arrive at the right solution.