PROJECT DESCRIPTION
HEWSON HALL DEEP FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION TUSCALOOSA, AL
MORRIS-SHEA PROJECT COMPONENTS: CFA PILE
22 36 INCH DIAMETER PILES
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Morris-Shea, a leading deep foundation contractor, installed continuous flight auger pile (CFA) for the new Hewson Hall deep foundation construction at the University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business in Tuscaloosa. The building’s foundation was originally designed as 36”, 42” and 48” drilled shafts supporting cast-in-place concrete columns and grade beams. The University substituted an alternate bid based on design loads prepared by The Structural Design Group, the Structural Engineer of Record (EOR). Morris-Shea provided a Value Engineered Alternate design consisting of 24” and 36” CFA piles capable of satisfying all load requirements. CFA pile were ideal for the project’s soil conditions and vibration and noise concerns.
MORRIS-SHEA VE-ALTERNATE DESIGN
The new project design, developed by the Morris-Shea team and The Structural Design Group, produced a Value Engineered Alternate design that provided a one-for-one replacement at all locations. At locations where CFA pile supported grade beams, these piles were constructed to the bottom of grade beam. Where the deep foundation installation of CFA pile directly supported the columns and where column diagonals were larger than the pile diameter, Morris-Shea collaborated with the EOR to design transition caps to develop vertical reinforcing and column dowels for the CFA piles. The Morris-Shea VE-Alternate design offered significant savings and helped to bring a project to completion on time.
CFA PILE INSTALLATION
Morris-Shea used a Fundex 3500 drill rig to install 100 24” diameter CFA piles and 22 36” diameter CFA piles to depths ranging from 25 FT in hard sand and gravel layers to 45 FT terminating in rock. Top of pile cutoffs ranged to a depth of 10 FT below working grade to accommodate the new recessed auditorium.
CFA PILE BENEFITS
Morris-Shea CFA pile provides a field-proven deep foundation solution that is economical and environment-friendly. Elimination of temporary or permanent steel casings increases production rates, reduces costs and minimizes work area requirements.
