The Cheesecake Factory at 15th and Walnut Streets

Project Overview

Now home to the Cheesecake Factory, this 15th and Walnut Streets development originally began as three tagged vacant buildings. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson designed the sleek glass building that Inga Saffron says is “an original design that responds to its surroundings in a deeply informed way”. GeoStructures provided a geotechnical investigation to determine the load capacity of proposed foundation designs.

GeoStructures was contracted by the architect, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, and the structural engineer, CVM Engineers, to perform a geotechnical investigation to determine the number of stories that could be supported by a strap footings foundation system (or a deeper one based on caissons). We performed 5 test pits and 3 test borings at selected locations around the existing buildings.

GeoStructures’ investigation revealed that strip and spread footings with slab on grade was the optimal means of supporting the proposed structure. The investigation also revealed that temporary shoring and underpinning was required for excavation support of the basement level during construction. It was determined that the strip and spread footings would accommodate a five-story loading.

During construction, GeoStructures also performed required special inspection and materials testing including foundations, concrete, and structural steel.

Concrete and Cement Testing

Construction Inspection and Materials Testing

Support of Excavation and Underpinning

Foundation Investigation and Design

Drilling Services and Subsurface Investigations

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.