Medical Facility Projects

Department of Mental Health; Statewide, VA

For over 30 years, F&R has provided professional consulting, testing, and geotechnical and construction materials testing for a variety of projects at Department of Mental Health facilities located throughout Virginia. With respect to environmental services, F&R has conducted lead-based paint and asbestos sampling on over 20 buildings statewide.  F&R has also prepared asbestos abatement drawings for these buildings using our in-house drafting capabilities (on AutoCAD), abatement specification design notes, and abatement cost estimates. During asbestos removal, F&R monitored the contractor performance in executing the work, addressing change orders, and issuing final inspection/clearance documentation upon final completion of work.

 

Anne Arundel Medical Center; Annapolis, MD

F&R provided geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, and third party inspections for the Anne Arundel Medical Center East and West campuses and adjoining parking garage. During construction, F&R provided construction materials testing and special inspections for the foundations systems including drainage and waterproofing, reinforcing steel, concrete framework and bracing, firestop and fireproofing systems, and structural steel and framing systems.

 

Women & Children’s Hospital; UNC Chapel Hill, NC

The nine-story Women's and Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC required special foundation consideration due to difficult subsurface conditions and past history of cost overruns and time delays associated with caissons (drilled shafts) that have typically been used in this area. As the hospital’s geotechnical consultant, F&R drilled 16 borings within the footprint of the 55,000 sq. ft. building (170’ x 320’). Most of the borings were advanced to auger refusal levels, and rock was cored in 10 of the borings. The level of deep foundation (caisson) support on weathered rock and hard rock materials was found to be quite variable, and along with boulders in the overburden (common in this area) and existing below grade caisson shafts that supported one of the demolished buildings within the limits of the new hospital, an in-depth evaluation of foundation support alternatives was required. After much discussion with the project structural engineer comparing various methods of foundation support, F&R recommended that the hospital be supported on Mini piles pending load testing of the piles. These piles consisted of grouted pipe piles (7 5/8” and 9 5/8” diameter) advanced with a down-hole hammer through boulders and obstructions to depths of approximately 50’ to 60’ below grade to obtain 10’ to 15’ of socket into rock. The mini piles provide support almost completely by skin friction. Load testing to 200% to 250% of design loads (300 kips and 475 kips) on 4 piles indicated acceptable load carrying capabilities. Over 400 Mini piles were installed on the project and the foundation installation was completed within the estimated budget and projected time schedule.

 

University of Maryland Dental School; Baltimore, MD

The project is a new 11-story steel framed building that will provide the dental school with updated research facilities, classrooms and dental facilities for the University of Maryland. The building has slightly more than one-half acre footprint, and is founded on a mat foundation approximately 25 feet below street level. The structure is intended to be one of the landmark buildings of the university and includes a multi-story atrium and facilities for overnight hospital facilities for dental surgery patients. The interesting site features include placing the building between the existing dental school and an existing 100 year-old 72-inch arch type storm sewer that could not be relocated or shut down. The site geology consists of a typical urban fill over coastal plain deposits of sand and gravel that lies on top of weathered rock. The water table is this area is generally 10 to 15 feet below the street level.

 

Augusta Health Care; Fisherville, VA
F&R performed the subsurface drilling, geotechnical engineering, and construction materials testing and inspection services for several major Augusta Health Care expansion projects. The latest project that is currently under construction is the Physical Medicine additions. F&R has performed geotechnical engineering related to the foundation recommendations as well as observing foundation excavations for bearing capacities.  F&R also performed CMT services related to the specific disciplines of soils, concrete, masonry, grouts, mortars, reinforcing steel, structural steel, and fireproofing.

 

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