Dilworth Plaza, City Hall Renovation

Project Overview

Philadelphia’s City Hall is a National Historic Landmark and the world’s tallest masonry building. Dilworth Plaza’s west side underwent a $50 million renovation to transform this historic civic space into the cultural, social, and commercial center it was intended to be. GeoStructures provided multiple aspects of a design role for the project.

The project involved reconfiguring the plaza level, as well as adding multiple sitting areas, a programmable and interactive fountain, a cafe, and an outdoor venue that can convert to an outdoor skating rink during the winter months.

GeoStructures’ design role in this project involved a detailed geotechnical investigation, an assessment of existing foundations, foundation design requirements for the planned renovation, and consideration of conflicts between existing and proposed structural supports.

To accomplish the reconstruction, many of the new foundation supports needed to penetrate a labyrinth of two or even three underground subway tunnel levels, as well as pedestrian and utility tunnels. During construction, GeoStructures was also responsible for performing periodic inspections to ensure the foundation conditions were consistent with the subsurface characterization and design assumptions.

Construction Inspection and Materials Testing

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.