Project Description: Vista at Councill Square near downtown Huntsville, Alabama features a 5-story, wood-framed structure supported by a concrete slab-on-grade. The western portion of the mixed-use building surrounds a courtyard with an amenity area, and the eastern portion of the mixed-use building surrounds a pre-cast concrete parking structure. The total building footprint is approximately 61,000 sq-ft. The pre-cast concrete parking structure is supported by shallow spread footings bearing on a subgrade improved with vibro piers.
GTEC Services: GTEC performed due diligence services prior to property purchase, including a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, an Asbestos Containing Materials Survey, and a Preliminary Geotechnical Study. During the design phase, GTEC performed a geotechnical engineering study including soil borings, rock coring, site-specific settlement analysis, shear wave velocity testing, and associated laboratory testing. Our site-specific settlement analysis indicated the proposed 5-story structure could be supported on shallow foundations; however, the parking deck structure would require drilled shafts or ground improvement. Since the site is located in a geology prone to sinkhole development, GTEC performed electrical resistivity tomography to assess the feasibility of using stone column ground improvement. During the construction phase, GTEC provided quality assurance services including:
- Density testing of soil fill and aggregate base courses
- Proofrolling
- Shallow foundation observations
- Vibro pier observations
- Reinforcing steel observations
- Concrete testing
