Case Study: Vapor Intrusion Mitigation System - LBX Long Beach, CA
265,000 SF Mixed-Use Retail Development
THE CHALLENGE
The Long Beach Exchange—a 265,000 SF mixed-use retail development—was subject to a Land Use Covenant (LUC) requiring the installation of a Vapor Intrusion Mitigation System (VIMS) beneath all buildings.
The previous property owner and Responsible Party, Boeing, mandated strict compliance with LUC mitigation requirements for any future development.
This created a layered challenge: deliver a system that satisfied regulatory and RP requirements while supporting a complex, high-traffic retail environment anchored by Whole Foods 365—without driving excessive cost or construction friction.
SOLUTION
Terra-Petra designed and implemented a site-wide Vapor Intrusion Mitigation System (VIMS) aligned with LUC requirements and Boeing’s oversight.
Working in concert with a major membrane manufacturer, Terra-Petra developed innovative membrane-based mitigation solutions that prioritized:
- Practical constructibility across a large, multi-building footprint
- Cost efficiency without compromising compliance
- Seamless integration with structural and architectural systems
- Clear guidance for contractors to reduce ambiguity and execution risk
OUTCOME
The project achieved full compliance with LUC and Responsible Party requirements while maintaining development momentum.
Terra-Petra’s pragmatic, cost-effective membrane system approach minimized construction complexity, reduced potential change orders, and enabled a smooth build-out of one of the premier retail destinations in Long Beach, CA —delivering both regulatory certainty and real-world constructibility.