Chu Hall - UC Berkeley

• 40,000 gross square foot building housing research laboratories and offices devoted to nanoscale photovoltaic and electro-chemical solar energy systems

• LEED Gold rating

Geotechnical Challenges
 

• Complex geologic setting with highly-variable volcanic and sedimentary rocks and adjacent steeply-sloping ground

• Geologic stability of volcanic rock mass that directly underlies site needed to be confirmed 

• Excavation cuts on two sides of sloping site required shoring 

• Complex and variable groundwater regime documented in long-term monitoring of environmental wells 

• Coordinated a detailed engineering geologic study that included deep borings and exploratory trenches to confirm geologic stability 

• Developed recommendations for cost-effective spread footing foundations embedded in variable volcanic rock 

• Developed recommendations for wall backdrainage and slab underdrainage to mitigate the potential for groundwater rise and high groundwater flows to impact below-grade construction 

• Conducted detailed onsite observations of rock exposed in site excavations to verify stability and adequate bearing