Rendezvous Hotel Beach, St. Lucia (2015)

SWI conducted coastal investigations in 2010 and designs aimed at stabilizing the shoreline and enhancing the beach in the vicinity of the Terrace Restaurant at the Rendezvous Resort. The proposal was approved by the management of the resort and the investigations were conducted, including the preparation of design options, which were presented in a preliminary design report.
For whatever reason, the shoreline stabilization and beach enhancement works were not executed, and shoreline erosion continued. In 2014 the push for shoreline stabilization works was re-ignited and the preliminary designs developed in 2010 were modified so that a more holistic approach was employed and implemented.
CoastalMDB was contracted to execute the construction phase of the project. The construction was carried out over a limited time period to reduce the closing period for the resort.

Glenconner Beach, St. Lucia (2015)

Glenconner Beach is located on the south-west coast of St. Lucia, nestled between the Petit Piton and the Gros Piton. The shoreline at Glenconner Beach does not have a sandy beach; it is characterised by a rocky foreshore with crystal clear water. This section of shoreline slopes steeply offshore, making the creation of a stable and sustainable beach somewhat of a challenge.
SWI was contracted to prepare engineering designs for a beach consistent with the resort’s goals, as far as aesthetics and sustainability are concerned. This contract was then merged into a design-build arrangement with CoastalMDB. The three main components of the Glenconner Beach development included: groynes north and south of the main beach and sand nourishment. For the natural beach, two groynes retaining the sand from moving north or south were constructed for the north beach. The southern groyne is important to allow the existing drain running under the jetty to operate without becoming blocked and to reduce the amount of sand carried into deep water during runoff events. At the northern end, a smaller groyne was constructed adjacent to the revetment that currently protects the helipad.
The construction was carried out over a period of several months. The existing pier was repaired and extended from a barge and crane operation. The groyne is a composite structure built of concrete units and boulders which was primary built from land. Sand was brought in from Guyana and unloaded and spread on to the beach.