A general contractor hired us to provide a design-build support of excavation (SOE) system to allow deep excavation at a commercial property in close proximity to a main road and neighboring structure.

Our client contacted us to design-build a support of excavation system to a depth of 15’, to the base of their foundation pour, and allow a concrete contractor to work safely within the excavation footprint and protecting the surrounding properties. Ultimately the goal was to build out a deep basement near the main street and neighboring driveway, but the urban area with small properties and large four lane streets made this project a little more challenging. That’s when Shore was called to provide support with finding a solution! Our client provided their geotechnical report of the property, which our engineer required in order to design a micropile and lagging wall, utilizing 9.675” casing filled with concrete, welded T-Flange, and 3-inch wood lagging to retain the earth.

The design was free standing in cantilever allowing the concrete contractor to work within the excavation without the interference of rakers or heal blocks.

The support of excavation walls were built to serve as protection and retention for the surrounding grades in conjunction with to its use of the lagging wall “as back of form” for the concrete wall structure. This allowed maximum use of the property, creating more value for the client in the limited area available for construction.

HIGHLIGHT: During the final stages of the support of excavation, our crews encountered running sands inconsistent with the geotechnical data and background for the site. Immediate actions were needed involving a change of means and method. Our client quickly approved the revised plans and Shore acted immediately to ensure the surrounding areas were minimally affected during construction and to keep the project on schedule.