Geopier System the method of choice for General Contractor in Wisconsin on Peat Soil Site

July 17, 2008 - PRLog -- The Geopier Intermediate Foundation system provides an engineered alternative to deep pile foundations for a new national pharmacy chain in Middleton, Wisconsin.  Steve Weyda, P.E., the local geotechnical design engineer for Geopier Foundation Company - Midwest (GFC) reviewed the foundation design and provided a cost-saving approach for the project in challenging exsting fill over organic peat soil conditions.

The Geopier system was used to reinforce the existing fill and peat in place so that the structure could bear on normal spread footings with a floor slab-on-grade.

Mr. Weyda indicated that the Geopier technology actually stiffens soft clay and organic soils with a proprietary direct vertical ramming process.  This technique forces thin lifts of crushed aggregate laterally into the soils and increases the confining pressure around each Geopier.  This has been recognized in the engineering profession as a marked improvement on historical vibro techniques that either have no effect or actually weaken these soil types.

The General Contractor, KVG Building Corporation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was concerned about the escalating costs associated wiht bringing the structure out of the ground.  KVG then learned that the adjacent bank building was supported on Geopier.  Derek Opgenorth, project manager with KVG, first contacted GFC to learn more about the Geopier design and construction process.  

According to Opgenorth, there were several advantages in using the Geopier system.  "The Geopier system afforded a cost savings of more than $100,000 over the proposed pile, grade beam and structural slab system," Opgenorth said.   "There was also consideration given to time savings in schedule," added Opgenorth.

The Geopier system eliminates the need for resource-depleting pile and caisson foundations and traditional over-excavation on poor soil sites.  Instead the Geopier method uses natural aggregates from local sources, and recycled materials such as crushed concrete and glass.

The Geopier and Impact Pier intermediate foundation systems can allow for smaller footings, reduce fossil fuel use, create very minor disturbance to greenfield sites, and allow for economical development of brownfield sites.  The systems can contribute to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building credits.

More information on the benefits of Intermediate Foundation technologies can be found at www.geopiermidwest.com.

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We are a geotechnical engineering firm in the midwestern U.S. licensed to design the proprietary Intermediate Foundation technologies offered by Geopier Foundation Co., including the Geopier and Impact Pier systems.