Canton | The Thrasher Group

Providing Ohio with Architecture and Engineering Solutions Since 2012

Serving A/E Clients Across the State

Thrasher’s Canton, Ohio location provides multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering consulting services from Stark State’s Downtown Canton Campus. Thrasher opened our Canton, Ohio office in 2012 and has since grown into the firm of first choice for a wide array of clients across the state. Our Canton office serves various municipalities, developers, contractors, boards, state agencies, and private clients of all types. Having delivered everything from a simple line extension to complex, multi-discipline downtown mixed-use projects, our Canton team has solutions for improving communities where we work and live. This location was opened with a single employee dedicated to growing Thrasher’s presence in Ohio and has been a wildly successful venture. Today we have dozens of staff members based out of this location who – using a full range of architecture, engineering and field services expertise – serve these key markets: Buildings and Facilities, Water Resources, Transportation, Energy, and Land Development, along with Field Services and Funding Assistance.

Learn more about who we are

Canton Service Offerings

To meet the many needs of these markets, Thrasher has a wide variety of service offerings based out of our Canton office including, but not limited to, the following:

Building & Facilities Market

Architecture: Our Buildings and Facilities team has architects licensed across the Mid-Atlantic region. Thrasher’s Ohio designers specialize in the following areas:

Government Facilities
Recreational Facilities
Educational Facilities
Industrial Facilities
Residential and Mixed-Use Facilities

Water Resources Market

Water Resources: Thrasher was founded on serving the public utility sector. Our engineers are highly skilled professionals who are dedicated to performing at the top of their craft. No matter your water resources needs, Thrasher’s got it. Some of our utility services include:

Sewer Line Extensions
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Sewer System Modeling
Storage Tanks
Stormwater System Design & Evaluation
MS4 permits

Transportation Market

Transportation Engineering: Infrastructure improvements are an integral component of Thrasher’s offerings. Our transportation team handles all things roadway, from new industrial access roads to resurfacing projects, and all types of other transportation engineering, including:

Roadway Design
Bridge Design
Intersection Design
Sidewalk, Shared Use Paths, and Streetscape Design
Right-of-Way Establishment and Design

Energy Market

Energy: Thrasher has used the experience that it has gained through the other markets to establish itself as a leader in the Energy Market. The Energy projects provided by Thrasher could be:

- Well Pad and Compressor Station Design
- Environmental Permitting (i.e. wetland, streams, USACE, etc.)
- Intake, Delivery System, and Treatment Design
- Injection Well Site Design and Permitting
- Recycling and Treatment
- Pipeline Routing, Right-of-Way Design, Construction Staking, As-built Survey, and LOD Staking

Land Development Market

Land Development: The Thrasher Land Development Market services various land developers, providing site grading, drainage, utility extensions, retaining walls and site lighting design to private developers and supporting other markets as needed. These projects may be:

Conceptual Site Plans
3D Site and Building Modeling
Site Grading and Drainage Design
Stormwater Treatment and Permitting
Well Pad and Compressor Station Design

Survey

Survey: Thrasher has one of the largest survey teams in the region. We provide boots-on-the-ground, traditional survey work and highly specialized geospatial services, such as:

Boundary Surveys
ATLA Surveys
Quantity Checks
As-Built Surveys
Aerial Mapping
Right-of-Way Staking
Construction Staking
Roads and Paving Layout

Construction Services

Construction Services: One of the most important pieces of Thrasher’s offerings is our Construction Services department. This team works across all five of our markets, serving clients of all types. These technical professionals have certifications and specializations in a wide range of areas, including:

Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Construction Administration and Management
Materials Testing
Third Party & Sediment Control Inspections/Assessments
Cement Technologies

Environmental Services

Environmental Services: This division supports all of the Markets in the Thrasher scope and is one of the reasons our clients continue to return for the one-stop-shop consulting services. We do not have to sub-contract these services, but rather provide them in-house, allowing us to react to our clients and regulators needs quickly. These services range from:

Phase 1 and Phase 2
Wetland Delineations

Access to Thrasher’s Full Line of Services

While these are the areas our Canton staff specialize in, they are supported by the entire Thrasher team. We can provide the full range of Thrasher’s services for our Ohio clients, helping you from concept to completion. Whether you need to revitalize your downtown’s sidewalks, or you are planning a green field, or mixed-use development, or need to design a state-of-the-art building, Thrasher’s got it.

See more about the capabilities of the entire Thrasher team.

Bringing Your Project to Life: Ohio Funding Expertise

Thrasher does more than take your project from idea to design. One of our most notable areas of expertise is funding. With in-house grant capabilities, we bring unparalleled knowledge of the Ohio funding landscape. This ability to help you identify and secure funding on the preliminary side of your project is integral to the project’s success. We have a depth of knowledge on Ohio grant and loan availability and funding agencies that sets the Thrasher team apart from the competition. Not only can we work with you to secure your project dollars on the front-end, but Thrasher is also able to assist you from the concept with our grant administration, to the project close out with the funding agencies. This service will help keep your project on track while meeting the specific requirements of your funding package.

Providing Quality Control: Local Materials Testing Service

Another key Thrasher service is our materials testing capabilities. We have labs all across the Mid-Atlantic region, including in Canton. This lab is just across the street from our office, allowing quick and effective services to meet our clients’ needs. Our lab personnel work closely with our architects, engineers, and technicians to perform testing not only in the lab setting, but in the field as needed. This team of experts has experience in every facet of material and laboratory testing, with a wide variety of trainings and certifications to ensure proper standards are met.

A sampling of the Thrasher lab accreditations and certifications include:

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL)
American Concrete Institute
Concrete Mix Design
Various Ohio Department of Transportation Certifications
Compaction Testing
Concrete Cylinder Testing
Aggregate/Soil Testing

Project Highlights

Thrasher’s Canton team is highly qualified, with a diverse portfolio of successful projects. Our expertise crosses a multitude of project types, from interior renovations to roadway upgrades and everything in between. A sampling of our recent successes can be found below:

Akron-Canton Airport Visitor Information Center Renovation

The Akron-Canton Airport’s (CAK) existing Visitor Information Center (VIC) was not prominently featured and was an underutilized space. Thrasher and Beaver Constructors Inc., partnered on this project to increase the presence of the VIC while tying in the aesthetic with other modernization efforts that had been previously undertaken throughout the Airport. The design focused on increasing visibility through lighting, color, and form, while increasing approachability and accessibility through relocation and reorganization of the information spaces.

Twin City Water and Sewer District Water Line Replacement

The Twin City Water and Sewer District selected Thrasher to design the replacement of 2,543 feet of 12” water line along East 1st Street in the Village of Uhrichsville, Ohio. During the project kick-off meeting, Twin City requested that we look into ways to fund the project. Thrasher’s Funding Coordinator proposed several sources of funding for the project. Twin City Water and Sewer District was successful at receiving $500,000 in CDBG-CIG funds from the Tuscarawas County Community and Economic Development Office. They have also received funding from the Ohio EPA and a grant through the Ohio EPA Lead Service Replacement Program.

Once the design was underway, the City of Uhrichsville asked if Thrasher would also add a storm sewer extension to the project. Thrasher entered a contract with the City of Uhrichsville to add the storm sewer extension to the water line project plans. The City of Uhrichsville financed their portion of the project though the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). While Thrasher was performing the design of the storm sewer, it became evident that the existing sanitary sewer needed to be relocated to allow the large diameter storm sewer to be constructed. Thrasher had also prepared this design and coordinated plans to be bid as one project and split the elements of the project out to allow the contractors to bid on a larger project.

The construction documents were prepared combining the water line, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and lead service line abatement.

City of Cuyahoga Falls Sandalwood Culvert Replacement

Thrasher was hired to review another consultant’s preliminary drainage report and develop two alternative solutions. Options were provided to (1) remove the existing 72” pipe and replace it with a larger pipe or (2) leave the existing culvert and add a second 72” culvert – the City’s preferred alternative was to install a second 72″ culvert. Thrasher’s team provided survey work, environmental services, design plans and specifications, cost estimates, and bidding services for the project.

City of Niles North Main Street Reconstruction

Thrasher worked with the City of Niles for the reconstruction of North Main Street. This project consisted of approximately 14,500 SY of pavement planning, 1,970 SF of sidewalks, 13 ADA ramps, partial depth pavement repair, and curbing. The Thrasher team also provided concrete aprons around the existing catch basins and manholes.

Summit County, Cleveland-Massillon Road & Ridgewood Road Intersection Improvements

The Thrasher team was selected for the Cleveland-Massillon Road & Ridgewood Road Intersection Improvement project. The project is the northern intersection of Cleveland-Massillon and Ridgewood Roads, with the project limits of 800’ north of the intersection along Cleveland-Massillon, 300’ south of the intersection along Cleveland-Massillon, and 1,000’ west of the intersection along Ridgewood Road.

Intersection improvements included widening both roadways to add a southbound right-turn lane to Cleveland-Massillon and an eastbound left-turn lane on Ridgewood. Additional improvements included grading along the north side of Ridgewood and the west side of Cleveland-Massillon for a future sidewalk, upgrading the signal for the new turn lanes and better visibility for vehicles, upgrading the drainage along the widened section, and upgrading all signs, including additional signs for the new turn lanes. The design followed ODOT L&D, AASHTO, and Summit County specifications, standards, and requirements. The project followed the ODOT PMP process for a Path 2 project. The plan format followed the typical locally administered project (LAP) process. Plans were developed using AutoCAD Civil 3D. The only alternative that was considered was a ditched section versus a curbed section.

The Thrasher team performed the topographic/location survey and established the property and right-of-way lines for the corridor described above. The survey limits were expanded 10 to 20 feet beyond the right-of-way. Additional right-of-way was needed for the project and Thrasher was able to perform the right-of-way design in-house and provided the information to the environmental consultant to prepare the CE2 documents. The County discussed the additional right-of-way with the property owner and was able to have the right-of-way donated to the County. This project included a full set of right-of-way plans for the temporary and permanent right-of-way required for the intersection improvements.

A Mid-Atlantic Powerhouse: Providing a Regional Presence

While our office and materials testing lab are located in Canton, Thrasher’s services reach far beyond the City of Canton. Our service area covers a large portion of the state, including northeastern, central, and southern Ohio. Some of the key locations we work in include, but are not limited to, Stark, Cuyahoga, Jefferson, Summit, Noble, Guernsey, Monroe, Belmont, Muskingum, Crawford, and Tuscarawas Counties; the Cities of Sandusky, Cuyahoga Falls, Niles, Toronto and Youngstown; and the Villages of Tuscarawas, Caldwell, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Scio, Mingo Junction, and Bellaire. Thrasher’s Canton personnel provide work beyond the state’s border as well, serving areas in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

In addition to the staff located in Ohio, Thrasher is headquartered in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Other regional offices include Charleston, Beckley, and Scott Depot, West Virginia; Canonsburg, Pennsylvania; and Oakland, Maryland. These offices combine for more than 300 total employees with a breadth and depth of expertise that is unmatched.

Need a partner for your next project? Contact Regional Manager Brad Olinger.

Brad Olinger, PE, regional manager in the Canton office, is a State of Ohio Professional Engineer and serves the Thrasher team as a project manager for the Transportation Department.

Brad has experience with a variety of project types including highway work for both the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and local municipalities; ODOT-sponsored bridge and other structures projects; bikeways and pedestrian walks and paths; storm water and flood control projects; and parking lot design projects. He works primarily with roadway and utility design projects and has specific expertise in roadway-plan preparation, correspondence/coordination with clients and utility owners, project bidding, and construction administration.

Brad is a highly motivated, solution-oriented engineer focused on providing the best experience for his clients.

Brad Olinger, PE | 330-451-2042 | bolinger@thethrashergroup.com

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Find Us In Canton:

400 3rd SE, Suite 309 | Canton, OH 44702

O: 330-451-2042

F: 330-451-2043

Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Satisfied Customers: Client Testimonials

Our team takes great pride in the service we provide to our clients. Don’t take it from us – see what some of our Ohio clients think about working with Thrasher:

Thrasher has partnered with us to improve both our infrastructure and service delivery, all while keeping the cost down to our residents. Thrasher’s team is extremely professional, courteous and competent. From their engineers to their grant expertise was one of the best moves our village has ever made on hiring an engineering firm.

Village of Tuscarawas

We have found Thrasher to be very thorough and effective in their efforts to provide us construction documents in a timely manner for our project together. The team from Thrasher is motivated and would apply any resource toward meeting aggressive timelines while still providing a great product. Thrasher’s attention to detail and their willingness to work cooperatively as a team is particularly impressive. We are pleased to continue working with Thrasher on projects as they arise, due to their motivation and attention to detail.

City of Steubenville Planning and Zoning Commission

Steve Hamit and his staff at The Thrasher Group, Inc. have been a pleasure to work with. They are highly professional and responsive to our requests. Their design work for this project has, thus far, met or exceeded our expectations. They have been on-time with all their plan deliveries, while staying within the original scope and budget. They have quickly and effectively incorporated last-minute changes into the design as the project has progressed.

City of Canton

For almost 9 years, I have worked with Erin Wright (Grant Writer) regarding project financing on our CSO, water line, and park projects. She has secured numerous grants and loans for our Village projects and has helped with audits required by the funding agencies. The grants and loans that we have secured throughout the years, has helped our utility rates from having to be greatly impacted.

Village of Caldwell

From the onset of the relationship, Thrasher consistently demonstrated a genuine commitment to performing quality work in the best interest of the customer. My highest remark for Thrasher is that they care. They care in providing the best product possible for their customer. They care about collaborating in a team environment, and they care about maintaining productive relationships throughout the entire process.

Beaver Constructors, Inc.

Hear from more of Thrasher’s clients.