Skip to content

The Osterberg Cell

The Osterberg Cell

HCM was contracted to provide supply & installation of O-Cell load test on the New Calgary Library project located in downtown core of the city, in close proximity to the City Hall. The outcome of the load test was to determine the actual soil parameters for the foundation pile design on the project.

The O-cell is a hydraulically driven, high capacity, sacrificial loading device installed within the foundation unit. As the load is applied to the O cell, it begins working in two directions; upward against upper side shear and downward against base resistance and lower side shear (if applicable). Each O-cell is specially instrumented to allow for direct measurement of the O-cell’s expansion. O-cells range in capacities from 800 kN to 26,000 kN.

The scope of work consisted in installation of single test pile (1070mm diam. x 8.0 meters top liner casing, 910mm diam. x 8.0 meters rock socket). The overall length of test pile was approx.16 meters. O-cell was attached to the bottom of the steel frame c/w instrumentation connections, gauges, wiring etc.

Steel frame was manufactured in HCM’s shop, the O-cell was supplied by Loadtest Inc. HCM installed the pile in one day according to the timeline and specification requirements.

Client: Tetra Tech EBA

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Maxwell Bates

Maxwell Bates This project, located on Fourth Street in the downtown core of Calgary, consisted of a tied-back continuous caisson wall.  The caisson wall provided zero ground loss and minimal
Read More

Currie Barracks Residential Development

Currie Barracks Residential Development HCM was contracted to provide the design and installation of shoring system for a multi-family condo development in the Currie Barracks area SW Calgary. Conventional cantilever
Read More
Centre 10

Centre 10

Centre 10 Two attempts had been made by others to build two high-rise condo towers on the site of the former Gaslight Square retail strip at 10th Ave and 4th
Read More

Highland Creek WWTP

Highland Creek WWTP Due to increased population and the requirement for treating excess amounts of waste water, Highland Creek WWTP underwent a significant upgrade to provide clean water for the
Read More

Twinning Tunnels

Twinning Tunnels The installation of a deep trunk sanitary sewer system in the bedrock beneath Erin Mills Parkway in Mississauga required an innovative approach for shoring manholes. For this project,
Read More
Smith Residence

Smith Residence

Toronto’s First Permanent Soil Nail Wall This project involved a hillside lot and a high end home in Toronto. The installation was the first permanent soil nail wall used in
Read More