Penn New College House West, University City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Overview: This 250,000 GSF residential building at the corner of Walnut & 40th Streets was designed specifically as an undergraduate college house– part of Penn’s residential system of shared communities. GeoStructures performed a geotechnical investigation, environmental testing (Phase I), and infiltration testing for the proposed development. The plan consisted of a U-shaped residential complex having three separated but connected structures: a 13-Story North Tower with a basement facing Walnut Street, a 5 to 6-Story East Wing with a basement, and a 5 to 6-Story West Wing without a basement.

Highlights & Related Services:

Detailed subsurface characterization
Test borings including rock coring
Foundation investigation and design

Phase I ESA & clean fill testing
Infiltration testing
Construction inspection

Highlights & Related Services:

Detailed subsurface characterization
Test borings including rock coring
Foundation investigation and design
Phase I ESA & clean fill testing
Infiltration testing
Construction inspection

Shallow foundations of footings and mat versus deep caissons foundation were evaluated for areas of either a full and partial basement, or without a basement at all. The final selected foundations were primarily rock socketed caissons with spread and strip footings for on grade load-bearing walls, connector, and mezzanine. A permanent subsurface drainage system was also designed to keep the basement slab on grade above the shallow ground water.

The project involved a significant amount of excavation for basements, as well as the removal and hauling of excavated materials off-site. As a result, GeoStructures also conducted a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) including clean fill soil testing to characterize the soils for re-use and disposal purposes. During the construction phase, GeoStructures provided inspection and material testing services for caissons and drilling, footings and foundation bearing, cast-in-place concrete, rebar and concrete, earthwork, backfill and compaction, structural steel, fireproofing, and precast related testing.