Subaru Headquarters

Project Overview

In 2017 Subaru of America moved its North American headquarters to a four-acre site in the Gateway District of Camden, NJ. This 250,000 SF, $118 million project was developed by Brandywine Realty Trust as part of the revitalization of Camden City.

GeoStructures was retained by Brandywine Realty Trust to perform a peer review of a geotechnical
investigation by others GeoStructures performed additional explorations including test borings with
undisturbed samples (Shelby tubes) and seismic cone penetration tests (SCPT). We identified two
subsurface factors governing foundation design – up to 20 ft. of loose existing fill and excessive
consolidation settlement from 30 ft. of soft, normally consolidated Delaware River silt. Upon
performing numerous consolidation tests on the silt and detailed geotechnical analysis, we developed
a ground improvement program which would eliminate the costly piles and enable use of conventional
shallow foundations. This comprises: (1) deep dynamic compaction (DDC) to densify the existing loose
fill; and (2) preloading to induce consolidation of the soft silt prior to construction.

In January 2016, the entire site was treated by DDC. Then surcharge fill was placed and left for
about 3 months. During this period, the ground settlement and pore pressures were continuously
monitored. Once the surcharge was confirmed to have achieved its intended objectives, the surcharge
was cut down to the final grade and building construction started in the summer of that year.

GeoStructures was also awarded the construction inspection and materials testing contract. The scope of inspection work included earthwork and foundations, cast in place concrete, structural steel, and fireproofing.

Soil Improvement Techniques

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.