144 Park Street

144 Park Street

During the bidding process, HCM proposed an innovative design-build shoring solution for the 144 Park Street project, a 19 storey condominium in the downtown core of Waterloo. HCM was retained by Mady Developments to design, supply, and install a complete 9,500 SF bypass shotcrete shoring system.

RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), an HC Group company, took on the design and monitoring responsibility for the project. The design consisted of a tied-back bypass shotcrete shoring system to a depth of approximately 5 meters. Bypass shotcrete is a unique solution developed by HCM which combines the benefits of shotcrete with a traditional piling system.

HCM’s design-build approach allows for a single source of responsibility. The HCM/RWH integrated working relationship facilitates quick response to design changes and site issues that may occur, ultimately minimizing potential delays and helping to maintain project milestones.

Client: Mady Development Construction Ltd.

Location: Waterloo, Ontario

The HC Group team is positioned to provide exemplary service when performing design-build work – providing both cost and schedule savings to the project.

London Mental Health

London Mental Health

London Mental Health – Structural Shotcrete

HC Matcon completed a 1,650ft2 structural shotcrete wall in just two days of shooting concrete. The wall had a depth of 0.450m thickness and was (on average) 10m in height.

The first day, Matcon placed a scratch coat at 0.400m thick, and then a surface coat at .050m thick on the second day. Since no form work was used, there was no need for stripping and finishing the wall.

This was the first structural shotcrete wall for both HC Matcon and EllisDon Construction.

Client: EllisDon Construction
Location: London, Ontario

Pixel by Battistella

Pixel by Battistella

HCM was contracted to provide the design and installation of shoring system for a 110 unit building consisting of town homes, studios and condos. This development was located at 1037 Second Avenue N. W. Calgary, Alberta. HCM, in conjunction with RWH Engineering, designed, supplied and installed a tied-back continuous caisson wall.

The shoring was designed for a maximum excavation depth of 10 meters below grade for a total of approximately 18,900 square feet of shoring area. The soil conditions consisted of gravels with the presence of ground water, making the continuous caisson wall the superior solution due to the zero ground loss and minimal water infiltration advantages.

This project had strict timeline requirements and called for the shoring to be completed in 28 days. In order to finish the project on time, HCM had to use double shifts and injection anchors to double the anchor production. The steps taken by HCM were successful and the project was finished within the given deadline.

Client: Battistella Developments

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Burke Residence

Burke Residence

The site topography presented the challenging task of installing shoring on steep slopes which impeded the accessibility of conventional equipment to the residential lot at the back alley portion of the site. The site was located in the Elboya Park region of SW Calgary. The purpose of the shoring was to protect the adjacent neighbouring property and utilities along the east, west and back sides of the site.

The east and the west sides of the property were shored with a cantilever steel pipe and timber lagging system. The shoring on these sides extended to 11 feet below grade, and approximately 70 feet long for a total area of 1,800 square feet.

The back side of the property presented the greatest challenge as it was along the steepest slope of the site with a designed depth of 15 feet below grade. Due to the site conditions, shotcrete was an ideal shoring solution. The total area of the shotcrete shoring covered 350 square feet.

Due to the residential nature of the site special emphasis was put on the impact of the project to the surrounding area. The disruption to neighbouring properties, along with noise and vibration and existing structures was carefully monitored and managed.

HCM finished the project on schedule completing in two planned stages according to the progress requirements of the general contractor.

Client: Hillson Homes

Location: Calgary, Alberta

BRT Tomken Station

BRT Tomken Station

The Mississauga Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is a dedicated roadway for bus travel. It stretches 18 km from Winston Churchill Boulevard to Renforth Drive.

HCM’s scope of work for this project included all shoring and caisson work to accomodate the construction of transit stations, bridge underpasses and overpasses, and below grade roadways. HCM’s tender submission used shotcrete for roadway protection systems and two-sided shoring for bridge underpass/overpass construction. This unique design, completed by RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), an HC Group company, resulted in many cost and schedule savings for the owner.

There were numerous jobsites that HCM coordinated during different stages of the project schedule which made communication between the HCM team, the GC and other sub trades critical. This project exemplifies the ability of HCM to assist owners and GCs in finding beneficial solutions for all parties.

Client: Metrolinx

Location: Mississauga, Ontario

St. Thomas Courthouse

St. Thomas Courthouse

Alternate Methods Stop Running Sands

HCM was retained to design, supply and install a complete shoring system to facilitate construction of the new St. Thomas Court House for EllisDon. Construction of the proposed shoring was initially for soldier piles and lagging with a single level of bracing using tiebacks.

The existing structures were initially designed using conventional underpinning. When excavation reached the underside of the existing structures it had been determined that soils were not what expected in the geotechnical report. The existing soil conditions were flowing wet sands and HCM was asked to provide an alternate method to the conventional underpinning.

HCM implemented a shotcrete underpinning system including positive support of the existing rubble foundation to allow us to support the structure and lateral pressure of the earth while excavation proceeded to base of the new structure.

With the assistance of RWH (an HC Group of companies) our ability to react and provide an alternate design solution allowed HCM to complete successfully the shoring and foundation works within EllisDon’s budget and schedule.

Client: EllisDon Construction
Location: St. Thomas, Ontario

St. Thomas Courthouse - Shotcrete, Soldier Piles & Lagging

Bluwater Condominiums

Bluwater Condominiums

The Pemberton Group is adding the luxury waterfront Bluwater Condominiums to its portfolio. The 22,000 SF area of shoring area will accommodate the construction of three eight-story buildings on the banks of Lake Ontario.

The job was tendered with numerous systems; soldier pile and lagging, caisson wall and shotcrete shoring. The excavation depth was 7.5m with soils on the site comprised of 3m of overburden underlain by shale bedrock.

HC Matcon (HCM) in conjunction with Isherwood Associates completed the shoring using shotcrete shoring. Shotcrete shoring system allowed for significant cost savings and quicker installation over a conventional shoring system.

Client: Saddlebrook Management Consultants Inc.
Location: Oakville, Ontario

 

Bluwater Condominiums

McMaster Nuclear Building

McMaster Nuclear Building

The nuclear research building was an upgrade to the existing structure to allow for world class nuclear research for leading nuclear scientists.  This project was funded by the provincial and federal governments as part of a stimulus package for Hamilton, Ontario.  This project required a deep foundation solution to support the proposed structure next to the existing nuclear building.

Helicals were designed and installed with 4.5” diameter helical pipe to allow for desired corrosion protection.  Load testing confirmed the ULS loading and the design was based on a SLS of 400KN.  RWH, an HC Group company, worked very closely with the structural engineer, Atkinson, to ensure SLS settlements and differentials were less than the specified 1/2” maximum.  The helicals were founded 30ft deep in a layer that provided sufficient resistance but required very accurate placement due to wet, poor soils located just above and below the layer.  An important challenge to note was that construction and excavation was performed beside the nuclear testing building and vibrations had to be kept to a minimum due to sensitive equipment located inside.

HC Matcon’s operators and site supervisors performed their work with a very high degree of skill allowing successful installation of the helicals while proceeding on schedule with the contract timeline.  HC Matcon also provided zero clearance shotcrete complete with excavation in a second stage contract, working with a new owner, to attain budgeted costs allowing that contract to proceed with government grants.  This is also an excellent example of the HCM/RWH service in design build of helical piers.

Client: IRA MCdonald Construction Limited

Location: Hamilton, Ontario

Lakeview Water Treatment Plant

Lakeview Water Treatment Plant

This project was part of the second phase of an expansion program to the region of Peel’s Lakeview Water Treatment Plant. Given the information provided at the time of tender, HCM proposed the use of shotcrete shoring for the site’s earth retention system. Later, due to an unforeseen influx of water into the excavation from a problematic sand lense and the resulting saturated soil conditions, shotcrete was found to no longer be a suitable solution for the site’s shoring. To address the issue, HCM devised a perched caisson wall system to cut off the flow of groundwater.

As fieldwork progressed, other fill soil conditions were encountered that were different from the geotechnical report issued at the time of tender. A change of the soil conditions, as encountered at Lakeview, would typically impact the project’s schedule because of the need for a redesign of the shoring system. HCM was able to respond with practical solutions to keep the project moving while updating the drawings to represent the design changes.

HCM can overcome most problems or restrictions to produce a final product that is desirable to all parties.

Client: North America Constructors Ltd.

Location: Mississauga, Ontario

Graham Residence

Graham Residence

 Residential Shoring: Complex Design Requires Innovation

A retaining wall was required to accommodate the architectural design for a private residence. The site topography presented the General Contractor (Builder) with the challenging task of constructing a retaining wall structure into a steep hill on a residential lot in the Mount Royal area of Calgary, Alberta. To accommodate the residence, extensive shoring was required along the property lines and the back alley of the site.

  • The retaining wall was designed by T.H. O’Rourke Structural Consultants Inc. as a Tied-back Shotcrete Shoring Wall with its excavation depths ranging from between 6.0m to 12.0m below-grade.
  • The length of the shoring wall is approximately 87.0 lin. metres with a total of 382 square metres of exposed surface area. The shoring design also reflects the structural Engineer’s requirement for a permanent retaining wall at the back of the property (deepest excavation).
  • In addition, the client accepted HCM’s proposal to provide monitoring of the permanent wall, which included the supply and installation of inclinometers and their subsequent reading for the duration of one year.
  • HCM completed the soil nailing operations with a TEI drill mounted on an excavator hoe.
  • The project required precision in placing the shotcrete shoring along the contour of the building envelope as a significant amount of the shoring was adjacent to the property’s steep slope.
  • Also, special emphasis was put on the sensitivity of the entire project with respect to neighboring properties, minimizing disruption, noise and vibrations to existing structures.

HCM Contractors finished this project on schedule and to the complete satisfaction of the Builder and Owner.

Client: Wiens and Company
Location: Calgary, Alberta

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Redevelopment Project

St. Joseph's Healthcare Redevelopment Project

Unique Soil Conditions

The future location for this tower is located immediately adjacent to the emergency wing of the existing St. Joseph’s hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. HCM is a recognized shoring contractor that will take on many challenges relating to foundation design.

On this particular project, HCM took on the tasks of:

  • shotcrete shoring
  • caissons
  • micropiles
  • excavation
  • site services
  • demolition with the constraints of limited access and project complexity.

A portion of the work was to be performed indoors, which required special care towards the patients of the hospital and the HCM workers. The original design for this inside work included conventional pad footings dowelled in to existing caissons five feet below the finished floor. The soil conditions are unique on this project due to the fact that the site is situated at the bottom of the Niagara Escarpment where bedrock is on an incline. This increased the depth required for adequate bearing stratum, requiring the entire area to be excavated and the perimeter shored. To save costs to all parties involved, HCM proposed an alternate to the original design to provide hand-dug caisson caps around the existing caisson and column construction. Caissons were excavated to depths of 18 feet below the finished floor using reinforced compression rings and shotcrete shoring to reach adequate bedrock.

The above innovations were the optimal solution for this portion of work resulting in another successful hospital project by HCM on budget, on time.

Client: PCL
Location: Hamilton, Ontario

TTC Wilson Complex Modification

TTC Wilson Complex Modification

Engineering Solutions

The Toronto Transit Commission will be purchasing all new subway cars in the near future, creating the requirement of larger maintenance carhouses. The original contract drawings employed caisson wall, soldier piles and lagging, and conventional concrete underpinning for the earthwork specifications related to our field of work. HC Matcon proposed an alternative engineered solution that included the use of shotcrete, underpinning, micropiles, soldier piles and shotcrete lagging (SPSL) to achieve the same effect. The acceptance of this proposal allowed for a substantial cost savings to the owner, as well as a shorter construction schedule for the various contractors involved. Mechanical jacking pits were built where shoring is used as a backform for manholes. Shoring for carhouses below- grade will be used as a backform for foundation walls. The substitution of shotcrete underpinning in lieu of caisson walls will allow for easier access to the tunnel portion of the project. This will allow for less demolition of the existing building and less clearance issues.

The above are just a couple examples of the innovations that HCM Contractors Inc. will use to add value to any project.

Client: Aquicon Construction
Location: Toronto, Ontario