Customer Testimonial Letters                  Need Adobe Reader?   

   PROJECT REFERENCES

UC DAVIS, WEST ENTRY PARKING STRUCTURE, DAVIS, CA
6-STORY PARKING STRUCTURE, Concrete moment frame structure
General Contractor: HMH, Inc. - Mr. Kirk Thompson at (916) 383-4825
Geotechnical Engineer: Wallace Kuhl & Associates - Mr. Tim Cress at (916) 372-1434
Structural Engineer: Watry Design Inc., Inc. - Mr. Ray Bligh at (650) 298-8150
Geopier rammed aggregate piers were selected over 3 foot diameter concrete belled piers to mitigate compressible soil for construction of the 499,000 square foot structure. Cost savings were reported at $950,000 compared to the concrete pier base bid. Interior column loads were on the order of to 600 to 1300 kips. A total of 950 – 100 kip capacity Geopier RAP elements were installed to support the structure in less than 4 weeks. Using Geopier allowed the contractor to stage construction and begin foundation construction before heavy winter rains.

CORRALITOS CREEK APARTMENTS, WATSONVILLE, CA
3 -STORY APARTMENTS, Wood Frame
General Contractor: Kent Construction - Mr. John Curro at (408) 846-5550
Geotechnical Engineer: Earth Systems - Mr. George Barnett (831) 637-2133
Structural Engineer: KPFF Structural Engineers Inc. - Mr. Tim Heiman at (415) 989-1004
Geopier rammed aggregate piers were selected instead of 35 to 40 foot deep 24-inch diameter concrete piers to mitigate compressible soil and to reinforce the soil next to Corralitos Creek to reduce liquefaction potential. Cost savings approached $250,000 and construction was completed in 1/4 the time that concrete piers would have been. See John Curro's testimonial above.

ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
2 & 3 -STORY BUILDING, Steel moment frame structure
General Contractor: McCarthy Building Cos., Inc. - Mr. Rod Riddle at (916) 786-3833
Geotechnical Engineer: Kleinfelder - Mr. Ken Sorensen at (916) 366-3701
Structural Engineer: John A. Martin & Associates, Inc. - Mr. Louis Choi at (213) 483-6490
Geopier was chosen instead of either concrete piers or a 12-foot deep overexcavation to mitigate compressible soil for construction of a 106,000 square foot two-story building. Interior column loads were on the order of 15 to 900 kips. A total of 577 – 90 kip capacity Geopier elements were installed to support the structure. Using Geopier allowed the contractor to stage construction and begin foundation construction before required utility relocation was completed.

BELL MEMORIAL EXPANSION, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO
3-STORY BUILDING, Steel moment frame structure
General Contractor: Allen L. Bender - Mr. David Hoskins at (916) 372-2190
Geotechnical Engineer: Krazan - Mr. Dean Alexander at (209) 348-2200
Structural Engineer: Lionakis Beaumont - Mr. Tim Fry (916) 558-1900
Both bearing and uplift Geopier elements support the 3-story Bell Memorial Union expansion at the University. Seven to twelve foot Geopier elements replaced 40 foot driven piles at this high groundwater site. The project was constructed during the winter in highly unsuitable soil conditions. The design team recommended Geopier elements for demonstrated cost savings, schedule savings, and low environmental disturbance (less noise and vibration than pile driving).

RENAISSANCE HOTEL, WALNUT CREEK, CA
7-STORY LUXURY HOTEL, Concrete cast-in-place structure
General Contractor: Hensel Phelps Construction Co. – Mr. Dale Weislak (408) 452-1800
Geotechnical Engineer: GeoForensics, Inc. – Mr. Dan Dyckman (650) 349-3369
Structural Engineer: Paul Koehler Inc. – Mr. Jack Koehler (480) 922-8854
Geopier was selected for this high profile hotel project to control building settlement in soft ground conditions as an alternate to 60 foot driven piles. Five hundred and fifty 30-inch diameter by 14-foot Geopier elements were installed in just under three weeks. Mr. Brian Hill, Hensel Phelps project manager says “Geopier saved us at least 30 days on the construction schedule compared to the driven pile alternate.” Mr. Dale Williams, Vice President for Leisure Sports Inc., the owner, says “Geopier saved us money, Geopier saved us time, and the installation went off without a hitch, I would have to say that bringing Geopier on-board was a win-win decision all the way around.”

SYBASE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, DUBLIN, CA
TWIN 6-STORY TOWERS, Steel moment frame structure
General Contractor: DPR Construction, Inc. – Mr. Lloyd Bisballe at (650) 474-1450
Geotechnical Engineer: Kleinfelder, Inc. – Mr. Michael Majchrzak at (925) 484-1700
Structural Engineer: Middlebrook + Louie Inc. - Mr. Jason Louie (415) 546-4900
DPR brought Geopier to the table for these high-tech office buildings because of their experience of schedule and cost savings on past projects. Column loads range from 250 to 1,200 kips. “We don’t have the time to wait for indicator piles or pile casting time and we know Geopier will be finish the job two to three weeks after the pad is ready, it’s a no-brainer,” says Mr. Bisballe of DPR. Seven hundred and thirty two Geopier elements were installed in 6 weeks. Geopier uplift elements (33-inch diameter by 15 feet long) were designed and tested to resist an allowable uplift load of 75 kips. The 24-hour load test showed less than 0.04 inches deflection at 80 kips for a 30-inch by 18 foot deep Geopier.

ORCHARD HOTEL, 665 BUSH STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
10-STORY HOTEL TOWER, Concrete cast-in-place Structure
General Contractor: Swinerton & Walberg - Mr. Bill Krill at (415) 421-2980
Geotechnical Engineer: Consolidated Engineering - Mr. Bill Stevens at (925) 485-5000
Geotechnical Peer Review: Treadwell & Rollo - Mr. Frank Rollo Senior at (415) 955-9040
Structural Engineer: KL&A of California, Inc. - Mr. Gregg Luth (408) 654-0475
Ten-foot long Geopier elements were used as an alternate to 45-foot Tubex piles with a significant cost savings. Geopier elements support this 10 story Orchard Hotel in San Francisco dune sands; SPT blow counts range from 2 to 6 in the upper 20 feet. Geopier supported footings carry maximum column loads of 1,052 kips. Rammed Cement PiersTM support exterior wall footings on zero lot lines for future excavation support under the hotel. The Modulus Load Test indicated a factor of safety greater than 2.

STATION OAKS OFFICE BUILDING, WALNUT CREEK, CA
8-STORY TOWER and adjacent 5-STORY GARAGE, Steel moment frame structure
General Contractor: LE Wentz Company – Mr. Craig Braccia at (650) 592-3950
Geotechnical Engineer: Terrasearch, Inc. – Mr. Simon Makdessi at (925) 243-6662
Structural Engineer: Liftech Consultants – Ms. Catherine Morris (510) 832-5606
Terrasearch, Inc. recommended Geopier to control settlement in compressible alluvial clay soil. The 7-story office tower has column loads ranging from 100 to 1600 kips which are supported by 9 and 12-foot Geopier bearing elements and 15 foot Geopier uplift elements. The allowable uplift capacity for one 33-inch diameter by 15 Geopier uplift element was 75 kips and was confirmed by a full-scale uplift load test. Geopier elements are designed to control settlement to less than 1-inch total and ½-inch differential and to resist earthquake uplift forces as high as 1,125 kips. Six hundred and sixty two Geopier elements were installed between December 2000 and January 2001 during winter rains in 5 weeks.

OLYMPIC PLACE, WALNUT CREEK, CA
3-STORY RETAIL and PARKING GARAGE. Concrete cast-in-place structure
General Contractor: Sundt Construction Inc. – Mr. H.B. “Chip” Seliger at (916) 371-4100
Geotechnical Engineer: Kleinfelder, Inc. – Mr. Michael Majchrzak at (925) 484-1700
Structural Engineer: Watry Design Group – Mr. Jess McInerney at (650) 298-8150
Kleinfelder Inc. recommended Geopier soil-reinforcing elements to support this 3-story concrete structure to control settlements as an alternative to driven piles. The soil conditions are very complex at this site in Walnut Creek; on the east side of the site bedrock is exposed at the surface and at the western side of the site soft alluvial soil overlies the bedrock to depths of 25 to 30 feet. Two-hundred and thirty-five 30-inch by 10 foot Geopier elements support column and shear wall loads between 30 and 1,300 kips.

BTV CROWN CORPORATE CENTER, SACRAMENTO, CA
Two 3-STORY BUILDINGS (1999), Concrete tilt-up and Steel frame structure
4-STORY BUILDING (2001), Concrete tilt-up and Steel frame structure
General Contractor: DPR Construction, Inc. (916) 568-3434
Geotechnical Engineer: Wallace Kuhl & Associates - Mr. Ed Uhlir at (916) 372-1434
Structural Engineer: Culp & Tanner – Mr. Mik Wilson at (530) 895-3518
Geopier elements support column loads up to 320 kips and uplift Geopier elements support shear wall loads. DPR selected Geopier for demonstrated schedule and cost savings compared to massive overexcavation and replacement. This site is underlain by 4 to 8 SPT blow count silt to 12 feet and then 10 to 15 SPT blow count silty sand to a depth of 30 feet. Seventy-two uplift and 234 bearing Geopier elements were installed in 11 days, two days ahead of schedule.

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, NEWARK, CA
6-STORY HOTEL. Concrete cast-in-place structure
General Contractor: Sundt Construction Inc. – Mr. Randy Cannon at (916) 371-4100
Geotechnical Engineer: Kleinfelder, Inc. – Mr. Michael Majchrzak at (925) 484-1700
Structural Engineer: D’Amato Conversano Inc. - Mr. Guy Conversano (425) 827-2238
Sundt brought Geopier to the table for this high-profile hotel because of their experience of schedule and cost savings on past projects. Column loads range from 250 to 1,200 kips. Geopier foundation elements were installed to control building settlements to less than 1 inch total and ½ differential. Geopier elements were also extended into liquefiable soil zones to depths of 20 to 25 feet to reduce liquefaction potential and seismically induced settlements at these depths. The 24 hour load test showed less than 1/10 inches of deflection at 80 kips for a 30-inch by 14 foot deep Geopier.

DICON FIBEROPTICS, INC. HEADQUARTERS, RICHMOND, CA
3-STORY BUILDING, Steel braced frame structure
General Contractor: Lusardi Construction Company – Mr. Kurt Evans at (925) 560-0370
Geotechnical Engineer: Treadwell & Rollo - Mr. Craig Shields at (510) 847-4500
Structural Engineer: DASSE Design Inc. – Mr. John Westphal (415) 243-8400
Geopier Foundation Systems were specified by the project Geotechnical. In an area where 40 to 50 foot fiction piles are traditionally installed, Geopier supports the first phase of this Fiberoptics manufacturing Headquarters on soft bay mud. Geotechnical Engineer Darren Mack of Treadwell & Rollo said “The vertical capacity of the single Geopier element is quite impressive in this soft bay mud.” A 30-inch diameter by 10 foot Geopier had less than ¾ inches deflection under 168 kips of vertical load during the load test. The full scale Geopier Modulus load test showed a factor of safety greater than 3 for settlement control. Two hundred and seventy Geopier elements were installed two days ahead of schedule.

BAY WEST OFFICE COMPLEX, RICHMOND, CA
1-STORY, Concrete tilt-up structure
General Contractor: Aberthaw West – Mr. Bill Ratekin at (650) 548-3600
Geotechnical Engineer: Treadwell & Rollo - Mr. Craig Shields at (510) 847-4500
Treadwell & Rollo specified Geopier Foundation Systems for structural support. Geopier saved foundation costs of about 50% compared to competing systems. Geopier Foundation elements support this 1-story, high tech, wireless office facility on debris fill and soft Bay Mud.

CITY OF ROSEVILLE CIVIC CENTER, ROSEVILLE, CA
2 AND 3 STORY BUILDINGS. Steel braced frame structure
General Contractor: McCarthy Construction
Geotechnical Engineer: ENGEO formerly Anderson– Mr. Mark Gilbert at (916) 786-8883
Structural Engineer: Cole Yee Schubert & Associates – Ken Lutrell (916) 920-2020
Geopier reinforced 8 to 12 feet of loose sand to support shallow footings for the new Civic Center. Geopier was recommended and selected because of demonstrated cost savings and neighbor friendly construction when working in city areas and adjacent to historic buildings.

GRAYSON CREEK APARTMENTS, PLEASANT HILL, CA
4-STORY BUILDING, Concrete and Wood frame structure
General Contractor: Segue Construction, Inc. – Mr. Kirk Wallis at (510) 234-1800
Geotechnical Engineer: ENGEO, Inc. - Paul Geurin, (925) 838-1600
Geopier elements and gravel drains will support two buildings in this 4-story apartment project. ENGEO, Inc. recommended Geopier Soil Reinforcement for settlement control in the upper 5 to 10 feet due to an old fill and for liquefaction mitigation to depths of 25 to 30 feet.

CAPITOL AREA EAST END COMPLEX, DEPT. OF GENERAL SERVICES, SACRAMENTO, CA
6-STORY OFFICES AND PARKING GARAGE, Concrete cast-in-place structure
Design-Builder: McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. - Mr. Rod Riddle at (916) 649-4383
State Construction Manager: 3D/International - Mr. Woody Nelson at (916) 447 7600
Geotechnical Engineer: Consolidated Engineering - Mr. Bill Stevens at (916) 568-6700
This first phase to the State of California Capitol Area East End Complex was initially designed for 75 foot driven piles. Geopier Foundation Systems were considered and used as an alternate for demonstrated schedule, cost savings, and low environmental disturbance (less noise and vibration than pile driving). Ten to fifteen foot Geopier elements support maximum column loads of 1,064 kips and maximum shear wall loads of 2,800 kips on 30 feet of compressible silt and clay deposits, SPT blow counts range from 2 to 8 in the upper 30 feet. After the full scale Modulus Load Test, 429 Geopier elements were installed saving 30 days on the construction schedule. Division of the State Architect reviewed and approved the Geopier System.

PACIFIC BELL CENTRAL OFFICE EXPANSION, SANTA CLARA, CA
3-STORY BUILDING, Steel braced frame structure
General Contractor: Kleeman Roebbelen Inc. – Mr. Brad Meade (510) 723-0633
Geotechnical Engineer: BSK Associates, Inc. – Mr. Alex Eskandari ((925) 462-4000
Structural Engineer: Lionakis Beaumont Design Group – Mr. Tim Fry, (916) 558-1900
Geopier elements were selected for this highly sensitive, Central Office expansion for demonstrated vibration control during construction and positive settlement control. Twelve and 14 foot Geopier elements support column loads up to 620 kips on 8 feet of fill and 22 feet of soft to firm clay. Fifteen-foot Geopier Uplift elements were installed to resist Seismic Zone IV uplift forces. Seismic reliability and low vibration disturbance are the primary advantages offered by Geopier Soil Reinforcement for this project.

GATEWAY OAKS IV, SACRAMENTO CA
4-STORY BUILDING, Steel braced frame structure
General Contractor: Sundt Construction - Mr. David Downey at (916) 471-3400
Geotechnical Engineer: ENGEO formerly Anderson - Mr. Mark Gilbert at (916) 786-8883
Both bearing and uplift Geopier elements support this four-story office building as a replacement of traditional 40 to 50 foot driven piles. The site is underlain by 4 to 8 SPT blow count silty clay with ground water fluctuations within 5 feet of the ground surface. Geopier elements support building loads of 367 kips vertical and uplift loads of 144 kips. After a full-scale load test, 240 Geopier elements were installed in eight days and accelerated the construction schedule by one month.

HALL OF JUSTICE, SACRAMENTO, CA
4-STORY BUILDING ADDITION, Steel moment frame structure
General Contractor: John F. Otto, Inc. – Mr. Tim Mann at (916) 441-6870
Geotechnical Engineer: Wallace Kuhl & Associates – Mr. Tom Wallace (916) 372-1434
Structural Engineer: Marr Schaffer Miyamoto, Inc. – Mr. Kit Miyamoto (916) 567-0793
In an area where piles are typically driven to between 50 and 80 feet, 10 and 12-foot long Geopier elements were installed for the 4-story addition to the historic Hall of Justice. The site is underlain by 3 feet of fill, then 6 feet of soft sandy silt, and then by 5 to 12 SPT blow count alluvial sand and silt to depths of 50 feet. Geopier Foundation Systems were selected for demonstrated schedule acceleration, cost savings, and low environmental disturbance. Geopier installation is environment friendly with less noise and vibration than pile driving.

ITC BUILDING AT AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE, SACRAMENTO, CA
Division of State Architect Approved Geopier design
1-STORY, Steel braced frame structure
General Contractor: C&C Construction - Mr. Kerry Talbot at (916) 652-2888
Geotechnical Engineer: Consolidated Engineering - Mr. Ken Sorensen at (916) 568-6700
The design team selected Geopier elements we instead of overexcavation/replacement due to an AT&T fiber optic line crossing the site. The Geopier System was reviewed and approved for this project by the California Division of the State Architect (DSA) and the California Division of Mines and Geology (CDMG), a Geopier first.

THE LOFTS, DAVIS, CA
3-STORY MIXED USE, Steel and Wood braced frame structure
General Contractor: Harrison Construction – Mr. Steve Harrison at (530) 753-0373
Geotechnical Engineer: EARTHTEC, Ltd. – Mr. Ed Hendrick at (916) 786-5262
Structural Engineer: Point 2 Structural Inc. - Mr. Bill Larson at (916) 442-4942
Harrison Construction and Point 2 Structural suggested the Geopier option to the Owner as a cost and schedule savings alternate to 35-foot deep concrete caissons. Geopier uplift elements were designed and tested to resist working uplift loads of 50 kips. Seventy-six Geopier bearing and uplift elements were installed in just 4 days in the downtown area of Davis, California.

Serving California -»

MAIN OFFICE:   3025 VENTURE ROAD  |  PLACERVILLE CA  95667

CONTACT US    TEL (530) 621-4867   |   FAX (530) 621-4837

HOME   GEOPIER   IMPACT  RIC   AUGER-CAST  MINI-PILES  

Geopier^® and Impact^® and Rammed Aggregate Pier^® are registered trademarks of Geopier Foundation Company, Inc.

PRIVACY POLICY                                                     © 2009 FARRELL DESIGN-BUILD COMPANIES, INC.   ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.