Orchard Farm High School & Two Rivers Elementary

From Soybean Field to State-of-the-Art Campus

Bax Engineering Delivers for Orchard Farm School District

Blending specialty surveying, advanced drone technology, and civil engineering expertise, Bax Engineering helped bring the first new high school in the district in more than 50 years from concept to completion.

the challenge

The project began with two adjacent, long and narrow 100-acre parcels – one owned by the school district, the other by the St. Charles Parks Department. To optimize development potential, Bax assisted the two entities with a land swap that reshaped each parcel into a more functional footprint.

The high school site presented a unique engineering challenge: it was almost completely flat, with no natural stormwater discharge point. Without fall to create gravity flow, conventional drainage was insufficient.

Adding complexity, this was one of Bax’s first major projects to integrate UAS/drone technology for topographic work. The team needed to validate the drone data with conventional field checks to ensure precision – an early but important lesson in merging new technology with proven methods.

“Listening to friends and neighbors compliment the new campus at the open house and inaugural sporting events was especially satisfying. As both an alumnus and a parent, it’s rewarding to know Bax played a role in something this community is so proud of.”

Cliff Heitmann, Former CEO, Bax Engineering Company

the solution

BAX’s team of surveyors and engineers took the project from open farmland to fully functional school campus:

Innovative stormwater solution: Designed and excavated a 10+ acre lake, 15–20 feet deep, to both generate fill for elevating buildings and create capacity for stormwater management. The lake was engineered to manage required storm volumes through evaporation and infiltration rather than discharge.
Advanced surveying: Utilized drone-based topographic mapping supplemented by field verification to maximize accuracy.
Civil engineering design: Developed site plans for both the high school and elementary school, as well as road improvements to State Highway B to handle increased traffic flow.
Precision documentation: Produced record plats, legal descriptions, and monumentation, ensuring clear title lines using Bax’s unmatched private survey archives.
Stakeholder support: Provided detailed survey and engineering information to school district leaders, MoDOT, and City of St. Charles officials to assist in their planning and regulatory approvals.

the results

The new Orchard Farm High School opened in January 2024 – on schedule – allowing the Class of 2024 to graduate from the new facility as promised. The completed campus features:

A state-of-the-art learning environment with modern classrooms
A first-class athletic complex
Improved traffic access and circulation
A sustainable stormwater management system

Construction is now underway for the new Two Rivers Elementary School, continuing the transformation of the campus.

Community Impact & Feedback

This was the first new high school built in the district in more than 50 years, generating significant community pride. Residents, alumni, and families followed the progress closely, celebrating the grand opening and new facilities.

why it matters

The Orchard Farm project highlights Bax’s breadth of experience in delivering both surveying and civil engineering solutions for complex educational facilities. Bax has successfully completed site design, surveying, and infrastructure projects for all five public school districts in St. Charles County – an unmatched record in the region. This depth of expertise, combined with long-standing relationships with municipal, state, and community stakeholders, positions Bax as the go-to partner for large-scale, community-focused developments that demand precision, innovation, and lasting impact.