GeoStabilization International® enjoys working on historic buildings as these jobs come with structural and engineering challenges but are also a fantastic opportunity to preserve important pieces of history.
In a recent grouting project, the GeoStabilization team helped save a century-old structure on the Bucksbaum Campus of the Aspen Music School in Aspen, CO. Built on mine spoils, the building had experienced up to four inches of differential settlement. An additional concern was the potential for the additional load to cause even more settlement.
It was also undergoing extensive remodeling, placing an additional load on the original rubble/stacked rock foundations. This required an increase of the current soil-bearing capacity to 4,000 psf.
Moreover, the ongoing remodel made access to the site problematic.
GeoStabilization’s team had to come up with a way to:
GeoStabilization used a combination of Spider Excavators and compaction grouting to tackle this job.
First, GeoStabilization deployed Spider Excavators to access the site. Spider Excavators are all-terrain vehicles specially designed for steep, hard-to-access areas and challenging environments.
These machines can perform drilling, mechanical scaling, and high-angle excavation in mud, snow, rock, and floodwater on up to 70-degree slopes. Instead of installing tracks or cutting roads, Spider Excavators can “walk” right up to the site and start work immediately. This can cut project costs and duration by up to 80%.
GeoStabilization has the largest and newest Spider Excavator fleet in the industry, so nationwide access to any job site is quick and easy.
Next, GeoStabilization implemented compaction grouting to stiffen the soil and improve bearing capacity.
This method involves the injection of low-mobility cementitious grout under high pressure into the ground. As the grout expands and stiffens, it moves and compacts the soil. The grout itself stays in the injection zone.
Compaction grouting is highly effective for ground improvement and settlement control under new or historical structures, as in this case, as well as:
The crews used handheld equipment to drive and install the grout under the existing stacked rock foundation. The result was a series of grout columns surrounded by stronger and denser soil.
For over twenty years, GeoStabilization has been helping clients in the United States and Canada with their geohazard and ground improvement needs.
As an industry leader, the team at GeoStabilization has always positioned themselves at the forefront of geotechnical innovation. Whether you need assistance with grouting, engineered soil repairs, soil retention, or other ground improvement projects, GeoStabilization can help.
If you are interested in a no-obligation site visit to determine if our services fit your geohazard mitigation needs, call us at 855-579-0536 or fill out our contact form.
