The Study Hotel

Project Overview

The Study Hotel is a 145,000 SF hotel featuring 212 rooms, banquet and meeting spaces, a 105-seat capacity restaurant and bar, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. GeoStructures performed a geotechnical investigation, environmental testing, and inspection and materials testing for the hotel construction.

Early on in the geotechnical investigation, GeoStructures recognized the feasibility of strip and spread footings in the basement, as attributed to two factors: (1) the presence of weathered rock within 5 ft of the basement floor, and (2) favorable triaxial testing results on Stratum 3 soils directly above the weathered rock. In our analysis, we attended closely to the issues of settlement and constructability of shallow foundations in close proximity to the water table by optimizing footing depth and bearing capacity. We recommended that the Level 1 area of the building have the columns and walls supported by a system of drilled shafts or caissons and grade beams. Thus, the structural loads below the weak fill and alluvial silt and clay deposits would be transferred to the underlying rock. Additionally, this use of caissons will avoid surcharging a nearby subway tunnel along the north side.

During the construction, GeoStructures provided inspection and materials testing services for caissons (drilling inspection), footings (foundation bearing inspection), cast-in-place concrete (rebar and concrete testing), and earthwork (backfill and compaction testing).

As part of the Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), geotechnical test borings confirmed the presence of some buried masonry demolition debris mixed with soil. No buried storage tanks were found during the geophysical survey. Moreover, Phase II chemical testing of soil and groundwater samples for analyses related to the historical activities showed levels below both the Cleanup and Clean Fill Limits set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). Based on the test results and the due diligence process of the Phase I ESA, the material excavated from the site was managed as clean fill under the PA Clean Fill Policy.

Concrete and Cement Testing

Geotechnical Laboratory Testing

Construction Inspection and Materials Testing

Environmental Services

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.