DESCRIPTION

This site is the previous location of a South Philadelphia train stop and yard. The property included several historic structures utilized by previous occupants as a rail storage and maintenance area and more recently for the storage of snow removal equipment by the Streets Department. The existing shed is a registered historic site and will be redeveloped as part of the project. A new multi-family structure with below grade parking and at grade retail is constructed immediately adjacent to the preserved train shed.

CHALLENGE

Typical to Philadelphia properties, the site had been modified over time to suit the needs of the occupant, invariably requiring the placement of fill and razing of structures. The result being a thick deposit of historic undocumented fill. This project was no exception, with historic fill consisting primarily of soil mixed with bricks, CMU, and some old foundations. However, site treatment was complicated by the close proximity to the existing historic structure and the proposed lower level parking structure.

SOLUTION

To support the at-grade commercial portions of the structure the Geopier Rammed Aggregate Pier® (RAP) solution was chosen due to the limited vibrations that would be produced and the ability to work more effectively around obstructions and debris. The design included 152 RAPs up to a depth of 9-ft to completely penetrate the undocumented fill at the site.