- June 30, 2020
- Kimley-Horn Corner, Perspectives
Thinking Big: Macro Site Development
Maria Martin, PE
Telecom Project Manager
Christopher Strange, AICP
Telecom Project Manager
In this increasingly connected world, poor or lacking cell signal can be frustrating—especially since our cell phones aren’t just phones anymore. From using them as our own portable GPS devices to hosting our work or personal email inboxes, our cell phones require strong and consistent service from cell towers and antennas. Below, Maria Martin, PE, and Christopher Strange, AICP, discuss their work providing service to cities and communities through Macro Site Development.
What is Macro Site Development?
Macro Site Development is similar to a small land development project—except instead of building a retail space, we’re building a cell tower. Based on the nature of their size, these cell towers provide service for a large area. The locations and sizes of these towers can vary, but you’re likely to see them on rooftops, the side of the highway, or on water towers.
Our Macro Site Development services cover three main categories:
- Zoning: includes drawings, hearings, public notices, photosims, and balloon studies
- Planning and Permitting: includes feasibility studies, site audits, permit applications, and construction document preparation
- Engineering: includes construction drawings, tower design, foundation design, surveying, site grading, and more
Project types for our Telecom team include rawland/greenfield sites; new carrier colocations; carrier equipment modifications; utility structure colocations; rooftop sites; and concealment design.
Form and Function
Kimley-Horn partners with the nation’s major carriers and municipalities to integrate the design of cell towers and antennas with the aesthetics of their surroundings. We’re passionate about providing connectivity to cities and communities, and about making these developments visually appealing. By incorporating visual elements into the original design, projects are easier and more cost effective for clients and developers—especially if we’re brought into a project early. Early involvement also helps maintain architectural integrity while providing broad, efficient cell service for cities and communities.
At one point our team worked with a major carrier to install rooftop antennas to a refurbished bank, located in the middle of a beautiful and historic downtown. Our early involvement in the project provided the opportunity to participate in site walks and develop construction drawings from the preliminary plans. The details from our drawings—like using mounting pipes for antennas—were incorporated into the final design. Passersby wouldn’t notice the antennas because of the design and angle of the roof, keeping the integrity of the downtown design. This provided significant time and cost savings for the client and developer, and it provided service to the community in a more architecturally pleasing way.
Our Telecom team knows how to get the job done right. We have a deep bench of in-house services, the bandwidth, and the technical expertise that allow us to go above and beyond for all clients. From the construction drawings to the zone analysis, we can do it all. We’re always available to help you and answer your questions—so give us a call!
About the Authors
Maria Martin, PE
Maria has more than 13 years of experience in the telecom industry. She works closely with some of the nation’s largest carriers, tower developers, and municipalities to provide planning, design, permitting, and zoning services for several sites across the state of Florida.
Christopher Strange, AICP
Chris has more than seven years of telecom/macro design experience working on hundreds of telecom projects throughout the Southeast. He works primarily with the carriers and tower developers to provide planning, design, permitting, and zoning services for new macro sites.