Geotechnical Engineering Redevelopment Services
Herb Chambers Medford
Client Challenge
Aries Engineering was retained to provide geotechnical engineering services, as part of an exceptional team of engineers, architects, and stakeholders to design and construct a new auto dealership for Herb Chambers in Medford, Massachusetts. The property is situated along Interstate 93 just north of Boston. The property was originally marshland and surface water of the Mystic River. As Boston expanded, this area was in-filled to create more usable land. The site has a long history of development and unfavorable subsurface conditions including urban fill materials, buried marsh deposits, and soft marine clays resulting in several complex geotechnical considerations for redevelopment.
The property was formerly developed as a roller rink, and later commercial office space, consisting of two connected buildings totaling approximately 27,000 square feet. The proposed redevelopment plan included demolition of a no longer useful failing two-story building, filling a former basement level, and constructing a new auto dealership and service center. Aries has decades of experience leading successful projects where challenging subsurface conditions can significantly impact the overall project.
Comprehensive Solution
Aries performed a geotechnical engineering evaluation, supported the design and construction teams, and provided special inspections during construction. We coordinated specialized subsurface testing necessary to complete ground improvement design. Based on our understanding of the project and anticipated construction activities, we performed the following tasks:
Review of Site History & Existing Conditions
Geotechnical Investigations & Evaluations
Laboratory Testing
Structural Evaluations
Design Team Collaboration and Planning
Preparation of Project Plans and Specifications
We identified subsurface conditions considered to be unfavorable for the design and construction of a shallow, conventional foundation system for supporting the proposed building without strengthening of the soil or employment of a deep foundation system. Aries recommended ground improvement as the most cost-effective solution, specifically a system of rigid inclusions and helical piles for foundation and slab support. The existing site soils were strengthened and low density fill materials were utilized to support the foundation of the new dealership building.
How did we do this?
Aries utilized decades of experience and expertise in local soil conditions to evaluate and understand the challenging site conditions and then developed a plan to allow successful construction of the new dealership building. We worked closely with the project team to integrate these geotechnical solutions into the overall development plan. During construction, Aries provided geotechnical engineering support to address design changes, document geotechnical related activities, and provide quality control.
Beneficial Outcome
A failing building was demolished, and an underutilized property was successfully redeveloped into a new state-of-the-art Herb Chambers Toyota auto dealership and service center.