Chu Hall - University of California Berkeley

Key Features

 

Geotechnical Challenges

 

 

• Located on eastern side of Old Town, previously the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC) 

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

• Goal of achieving a LEED Gold rating

• Designed to mimic the natural form of the hillside based on hillside topography

• Design includes a new single-story basement level and subsurface drainage beneath and surrounding the perimeter of the building

• Various tests needed to determine best foundations for constructing basement and drainage

• Design requires hillside to be seismically stable 

• Public responses needed for draft environmental impact report (DEIR) 

Innovative Solutions

 

• Performed special inspections and testing related to soils, foundations, retaining walls, shoring, drainage and earthwork

• Developed shoring on three sides of building, excavation, spread footing foundations, prepared slab and pavement subgrades, and backfilled new basement walls 

• Provided feasibility-level studios to address potential geologic hazards