19th and Arch Streets

Project Overview

A 16-story building and mixed-use development area consisting of 26,000 square feet of retail and office space was proposed at the intersection of 19th and Arch Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. GeoStructures provided a geotechnical investigation to characterize the subsurface conditions meant to accommodate the space.

GeoStructures’ detailed characterization of the subsurface conditions enabled the use of economical strip and spread footings (rather than a deep foundation) to support the high-rise structure. Our scope of work included:

  • Two phases of field exploration with a total of 10 test borings and 6 pumping wells/piezometers
  • Groundwater pumping and drawdown tests
  • Permeability and seepage analysis
  • Finite element method (FEM) analysis and design of secant pile wall and slurry wall

GeoStructures was also responsible for the engineering analysis associated with the conceptual design of two excavation support systems (secant pile and slurry walls) for the deep basement. Secant pile walls were eventually selected as the first-time application of this system in the city of Philadelphia.

Considering the limited right-of-way for temporary excavation support and other unique site constraints, GeoStructures proposed to use the excavation support system as the permanent foundation wall, as well as a cut-off wall to mitigate groundwater intrusion during construction and permanent occupation.

Geotechnical Laboratory Testing

Soil-Structure Interaction Analysis and Modeling

Foundation Investigation and Design

Drilling Services and Subsurface Investigations

Percolation and Permeability In-Situ Testing

Our Comprehensive Project Workflow: Step-by-Step Guide

01.

Initial Consultation and Client Needs Assessment

Our team responds promptly to your inquiries, ensuring timely communication and immediate attention to your project needs. We work closely with clients to understand all project requirements, ensuring that we capture every detail and objective from the start.

02.

Development of Work Plan

Our expert project managers extend innovative problem-solving to project planning, resulting in technically-sound, cost-effective work plans to better serve our clients.

03.

Project Proposal and Agreement

We provide a detailed project proposal outlining the scope of work, fee schedule, and agreement terms. The project begins once the proposal is approved.

04.

Execution and Quality Assurance

Our highly skilled team of principals, project managers, engineers, and field staff execute the project with precision, maintaining open communication to ensure alignment with client expectations. Each project undergoes a rigorous quality check by our team of licensed professional engineers, ensuring all deliverables meet our high standards of excellence.

05.

Project Delivery and Invoicing

Upon completion, we deliver the final project and issue an invoice for the completed work, ensuring full transparency and satisfaction.