Chu Hall - UC Berkeley
Key Features
-
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
Innovative Solutions
-
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