A Avenue Pump Station

After the devastating floods of 2008, the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, embarked on an ambitious plan to protect its riverfront and urban core with permanent flood protection.

The A Avenue Pump Station project is a critical part of that effort, adding improved stormwater management and increased flood resilience in the heart of downtown. 

Wendler was selected to deliver this high-visibility project that includes installing a new pump station, reinforced flood wall, and sliding gate systems along the Cedar River. Because of the downtown location, construction is taking place in full public view and under tight spatial constraints. 

Major construction activities include the installation of sheeting, H-piles, and deep foundation systems—many of which required adaptive design in response to unexpected site conditions. When crews encountered buried fuel tanks during early excavation, work was paused for environmental testing and safe removal. Later, unsuitable soils required the addition of geopiers beneath the retaining wall, necessitating a new design and Corps approval before resuming. 

Another signature challenge was the relocation of Cedar Rapids’ iconic Tree of Five Seasons sculpture. The original plan called for the tree to be cut into individual leaf sections, transported separately, and then re-welded at the new site—a process that posed a significant risk of damage to the sculpture. 

Instead, Wendler’s team developed an alternative strategy to move the entire sculpture in one piece. They began by carefully studying the existing foundation and designing a new base plate system that mirrored the original mounting configuration. Custom anchor bolts were fabricated and installed precisely in the new concrete foundation to ensure exact alignment. 

Once the new foundation was ready, Wendler’s crew executed the move in a single, tightly choreographed lift—transporting the 60-foot-tall sculpture and setting it into place 80 feet away in less than half a day. 

Despite numerous unforeseen challenges, Wendler’s ability to pivot, redesign, and communicate proactively has kept the project on track. Once complete, the pump station and flood wall will enhance flood protection for a large portion of Cedar Rapids—delivering a resilient infrastructure solution that honors the city’s past while safeguarding its future.