Situation
The original site was formerly agricultural farmland. Throughout the project’s various design phases, Sierra Construction engaged GBI for ongoing budgeting and preconstruction support. After multiple project delays, construction ultimately began nearly 10 months later than originally anticipated. A major factor in restarting the project was the successful value engineering effort, which utilized granular soils during optimal summer conditions in place of more costly all-weather materials.
Solution
GBI provided excavation, embankment, and grading support for approximately 150,000 cubic yards of imported material required to raise the former farmland to the elevation of the adjacent 164th Avenue corridor. Although construction did not begin until late July, later than the anticipated early summer start, GBI successfully maintained progress well into the fall and delivered the work efficiently and safely. Close collaboration with the general contractor, combined with the use of drone technology and transparent communication, allowed the team to proactively manage site conditions and maintain project momentum with minimal disruption.
Notable
This project involved significant earthwork and infrastructure challenges, including the import of approximately 130,000 tons of base course material required to surcharge the building pad and address long-term settlement concerns. Groundwater management presented additional complexity during the installation of underground utilities, which included approximately:
- 6,000 LF of fire water pipe
- 13,000 LF of storm drainage pipe
- 1,500 LF of sanitary sewer pipe
To support installation of the deep sanitary sewer system, deep well points were installed at 20-foot intervals along approximately 1,500 LF of trenching. The overall building pad footprint measured approximately 650,000 square feet.
