A Winning Return: Redi-Rock Gravity Wall Replaces Failing Structure at Atlanta Country Club Tennis Court
Project Details
Project Name: Old Atlanta Country Club Owner: Atlanta HOA Manufacturer: Piedmont Precast Contractor: Dogwood Property Services Engineer: Engineered Earth Solutions Location: Suwanee, Georgia 30024 Wall Type: Gravity Texture: Cobblestone Year Built: 2024 Wall Area: 7,000 sq ft (650 sq m)
The Challenge: Limited Space, High Stakes
In the heart of Suwanee, Georgia—just northeast of Atlanta—engineers faced a tight construction footprint and a critical load-bearing scenario. The original three-tier timber wall at the Old Atlanta Country Club tennis facility needed replacement beneath an active parking lot and adjacent tennis courts. Excavation limits were severely limited, and structural reliability was non-negotiable.
The risk wasn’t just structural for the property owner—it was reputational. Catch up with Redi-Rock expert Casey Meadows and producer Piedmont Precast’s Andrew Smith as they explore what made Redi-Rock the top-tier (and only-tier) choice to maintain function, preserve aesthetics, and avoid costly disruptions for this challenging Atlanta-area project.
Why Redi-Rock? Gravity Wall Technology Meets Aesthetic Ambitions
With the selection of Redi-Rock’s precast gravity retaining wall system, the failing wall was replaced with a 7,000 sq ft (650 sq m) wall that hugged the existing infrastructure without disturbing it.
Here’s how the project team overcame every challenge with Redi-Rock:
- Minimal Site Disturbance—Due to limited excavation space, the team selected Redi-Rock’s Gravity Wall system to avoid damaging the adjacent parking lot and tennis courts.
- XL Block Versatility—The wall used Redi-Rock’s 96 in (2438 mm), 72 in (1828 mm), and 52 in (1320 mm ) XL blocks to reach 18 ft (5.5 m) of height while conforming to site limitations without using tiebacks.
- Cost-Efficient Installation—Avoiding demolition of the existing parking lot and tennis courts significantly reduced excavation and labor costs. Redi-Rock’s large block retaining wall system presented an ideal, machine-set alternative to segmental retaining walls.
- Custom Aesthetic Match—Piedmont Precast produced a custom-fabricated color palette for the project, which complements the deeply textured natural stone look of the Redi-Rock Cobblestone texture and blends seamlessly with existing upscale site features.
- Long-Term Durability—The completed gravity wall is designed to support tight-radius curves and features an impressive wall height. With the added strength of weather-hardy wet cast technology, the Country Club’s new tennis facility has met its match - and will be a functional space for club members to enjoy for decades.
“Redi-Rock seemed to be the perfect fit…there's a parking lot on top that they didn't want to tear out and excavate to do a segmental wall. And then they would have to deal with the tennis courts as well.”
Andrew Smith, Piedmont Precast, Sales Representative
Redi-Rock has helped engineers and property owners across the globe solve complex site challenges like this one—without compromise and with a versatile block library for customizing retaining wall solutions. Engineers can explore Redi-Rock design resources and find helpful answers to challenging site situations with two helpful guides:
- Wall Wise: Can I use Redi-Rock to Repair a Failing Retaining Wall?
- Wall Wise: Will Redi-Rock Work for Parking Lot and Driveway Projects?
Explore Redi-Rock’s Engineering Resources for yourself, or contact the Redi-Rock team to take the next step in bringing Redi-Rock to your project.
