By: Lane Enterprises, LLC
Project Summary
The Ontario Ranch Commerce Center project utilized five underground retention systems to support a major commercial development in Southern California. Despite tight schedules, material challenges, and weather delays, the project delivered critical stormwater infrastructure needed to keep development moving forward.
Supporting Growth at Ontario Ranch Commerce Center
Commercial developments require more than buildings and roadways. They also depend on effective stormwater infrastructure that manages runoff while maximizing usable site space.
Submitted by Lane Enterprises, LLC, the Ontario Ranch Commerce Center project in Ontario, California, provided a large-scale underground stormwater solution for a new business center constructed by Kana Pipeline of Riverside, California. The project was particularly notable because it consisted of five separate underground retention systems designed to support future development while remaining hidden below ground.
Projects like this demonstrate how modern stormwater management systems can help developers meet drainage requirements without sacrificing valuable commercial real estate.
Five Underground Retention Systems for One Development
The project incorporated five underground retention systems utilizing polymer-coated 96-inch corrugated steel pipe manufactured from 16-gage steel.
Each underground retention system was fully perforated and included maintenance holes along with inlet and outlet stubs. These features allow the systems to store stormwater, promote infiltration, and provide long-term access for inspection and maintenance.
In total, the project required 2,318 linear feet of 96-inch perforated pipe. The systems also included twenty-seven maintenance holes, interior access ladders, and traffic-rated maintenance lids to support long-term operation.
The project highlights the growing role of underground stormwater storage systems in commercial development projects where land utilization and stormwater management are equally important.
Meeting an Aggressive Construction Schedule
The project team faced significant scheduling challenges from the beginning.
Lane’s Fontana facility already had several projects in production when the opportunity arose. However, because the required material was already in inventory, the team developed a plan that allowed production to begin quickly and helped keep the project moving forward.
After coordinating closely with Kana Pipeline, production was scheduled to meet an aggressive installation timeline. The work also required careful planning around both Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday schedules.
The collaborative effort between manufacturer and contractor helped ensure material availability when it was needed most. Similar coordination played an important role in the success of the Sustainable Industrial Development: Overcoming Complexities at The Broadway project, where infrastructure solutions supported a challenging commercial development.
Overcoming Weather and Site Challenges
Although production and delivery remained on track, Mother Nature introduced additional obstacles.
Heavy flooding at the project site created delays that affected installation activities. Despite those challenges, the stormwater infrastructure was available when needed and delivered to the site as construction progressed.
Approximately 50 truckloads of material were transported to the project location, just miles from Lane’s Fontana facility. The ability to quickly deliver material helped support the developer’s goal of keeping construction activities moving forward despite weather-related setbacks.
The project’s focus on balancing development needs with effective stormwater management mirrors the goals of CSP Providing Recharge, Water Quality, Smaller Footprints and Lowered Costs, where underground infrastructure helped maximize site utilization while meeting drainage requirements.
Why Underground Retention Systems Matter
Underground retention systems continue to gain popularity because they allow developers to manage stormwater without dedicating valuable surface acreage to large ponds or basins.
For commercial projects, this approach creates opportunities for additional buildings, parking areas, and operational space while still meeting regulatory requirements. It also provides a long-term stormwater management solution that remains largely invisible once construction is complete.
The Ontario Ranch Commerce Center project demonstrates how underground infrastructure can help support growth while delivering effective stormwater performance. Similar benefits can be seen in the Underground Stormwater Cistern and Infiltration System Supports Spelman College Expansion in Atlanta and the Repurposing Rainwater at a Bus Depot project, where underground systems helped maximize site functionality while managing runoff.
The project also reinforces many of the advantages highlighted in NCSPA’s Why Steel, including durability, adaptability, and long-term value.