Developers planning office campuses in Prosper have to treat stormwater as part of the product, because the grading, detention and drainage that keep a campus dry also shape how much land can be built on. We plan and supervise the cut and fill, pond excavation, storm structures and fine grading that make a site drain, and we hand the building contractor pads that are compacted, tested and on grade.
The Marco shows how far that thinking can go. On October 27, 2026 the Town Council approved zoning for a 143-acre Blackard Companies development on the tollway's northeast side at US 380, with two corporate campuses holding over a million square feet of top-tier offices, plus up to two hotels. A town announcement posted a day later said its 15-acre navigable lagoon and canal system would also work as regional stormwater infrastructure.
Water features that double as detention are an earthwork challenge: banks must be stable, liners or clay layers must hold, and the structures that fill and drain them must be set to line and grade. Beneath every building pad, the same clay soils require moisture control, and we manage that as a secondary but constant concern.
Earthwork, ponds and drainage structures
Our scope begins with clearing and topsoil stripping, followed by cut and fill earthwork that balances the site where possible, so that as little soil as possible has to be hauled in or out. Ponds and lagoons are excavated to design volume, with benches, side slopes and inlet and outlet structures built to the engineer's tolerances, and we check volume against the design by survey before the structures are poured.
We then coordinate storm sewer, inlets, headwalls and concrete flumes, and finish with fine grading to the elevation each pad, parking field and sidewalk requires. Survey checks at each stage keep errors from accumulating, and we have the surveyor verify control points so the contractor who follows inherits a known benchmark.
Detention, stormwater reuse and compaction
When a water feature is part of the drainage system, owners need to know it will hold water, drain on schedule and survive heavy rain without erosion. We follow the geotechnical engineer on liner or clay requirements, slope stability and erosion protection, and we test fill density in each lift. Banks that will be walked, planted or viewed from a hotel terrace need a gentler slope and a more durable edge than a plain detention basin, and we price those details separately.
Soil under building pads is handled differently. Engineered fill and soil stabilization controls swell so slabs stay flat, and moisture conditioning before the base is placed prevents later movement. A pad prepared months before the slab can dry and crack on the surface, so we re-wet, re-roll and re-test it shortly before steel is placed.
General contractors, developers and the town
Most of our earthwork is sold to general contractors and construction managers who need a pad delivered on time, and to developers who control a tract. We coordinate with the civil engineer, geotechnical firm, utility providers and the town so each hold point is met, and we send the general contractor a weekly look-ahead showing which pads, ponds and corridors are complete and ready for the next trade.
School districts also build here. Walnut Grove High School, which started classes in the fall of 2023, became the third high school in the district, and campuses like it need large, well-drained pads, bus lanes and athletic fields. Athletic fields are especially sensitive to grading, because a flat field holds water, and a field with too much slope drains but plays poorly.
Roads that move materials into Prosper
US 380 passes through Prosper and meets State Highway 289, also known as Preston Road, which gives trucks two strong routes. The Dallas North Tollway stops today at First Street, roughly a mile above US 380, and its planned six-lane continuation would cross Prosper and Celina for about 6 miles before ending at FM 428, due for completion at the end of 2027.
Our partners in Frisco and McKinney bring equipment and fill sources within a reasonable haul, and we plan truck routes around peak traffic on those corridors. Fill and select material are often sourced north of town, so we confirm tickets, scale locations and haul distances before the earthwork quantities are set.
What moves a grading and drainage budget
Haul distance, fill balance, compaction requirements, pond volume and the amount of import or export drive most of the cost. Wet seasons add stabilization and delay, and tight tolerances for slab pads add survey and fine grading effort.
We price cut and fill separately so owners can see the effect of changing grades, and we offer options such as raising a pad slightly to reduce export. Where soil is plentiful but suitable fill is scarce, we show the cost of stabilizing on-site material against importing, because treating existing soil is sometimes the cheaper route.
Campuses, hotels and retail on prepared pads
Corporate campuses need level pads, deep utilities and parking structures or fields, while hotels add drop-off lanes and heavy delivery routes. Retail pads need shallow, well-drained surfaces and carefully graded sidewalks that reach accessible entrances without steep slopes.
Prosper's employers are varied. In the town's 2023 annual report the school district tops the employer list at 3,334 people, with Kroger at 416 and Chick-fil-A at 400, a reminder that schools and retail carry much of the local construction demand.
Timing earthwork around the rainy season
Clay can hold water for days, so we stage earthwork to finish pond and subgrade work during drier months wherever possible. When rain arrives, we shape surfaces to drain, seal exposed subgrade with a roller and keep pumps ready. We never place fill on a soft or frozen base, and we remove unsuitable material before the next lift is started.
Concrete, utilities and paving follow the earthwork closely. We set the sequence with the general contractor so that foundations start while remaining grading continues elsewhere on the tract.
Plan your Prosper earthwork
Send the grading plan, drainage report and soil report. We will map out the order for ponds, storm lines, pad grading and testing.
Common Questions
How do you build a detention pond that doubles as an amenity?
The geotechnical report sets side slopes, liner needs and erosion protection, and the civil design sets volume and outlet structures. We excavate in lifts, test compaction, set structures to line and grade and protect banks from erosion until vegetation or lining is complete.
Why does moisture control matter under office slabs?
Clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry. If the subgrade is too dry or too wet at the time of the pour, the slab can curl or crack later. We condition and test the moisture before the base and vapor barrier go down.
Can earthwork be phased for a large campus?
Yes. We phase by pad, pond and utility corridor, protect completed areas with temporary drainage and keep haul roads stable. Phasing lets vertical work start sooner.
What records do you keep for grading work?
Survey as-builts, density test results, import and export tickets and inspection logs. Lenders and reviewers often ask for them.