University of Ottawa STEM Complex

University of Ottawa STEM Complex

HCM installed a 36,000 SF shoring system for the new STEM Complex at the University of Ottawa. To reduce the shoring schedule during the harsh Ottawa winter, HCM deployed double crews, 24 hours a day for both vertical drilling and anchor installation. Constant adaptation to the soil conditions was needed due to the presence of soft clays, cobbley till, and flowing sands. Multiple freeze-thaw cycles made for challenging site conditions requiring proficient site communication to ensure a productive and safe jobsite. RWH Engineering Inc. produced an efficient shoring solution and by self-performing the precision monitoring allowed for the design to be verified closely with the excavation procedures. In-house engineering support also ensured there was no downtime caused by unforeseen conditions or site issues.

HCM worked alongside the other contractors to expedite the project to the bottom of the 17 meter deep site in 3 months.

Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Customer: R.W. Tomlinson Ltd

Upper House Condominiums

Upper House Condominiums - Caisson Wall Piles and Lagging

Upper House Condominiums

HCM completed the shoring for the eight storey Upper House Condominium project which required a 12m deep excavation for two levels of underground parking. A tied-back shoring system comprised of piles and lagging with caisson wall adjacent to an existing residence was installed. 

Typical to developments in Toronto, there were encroachment restrictions on the south side of the site which only allowed for the tiebacks to extend a maximum of 6.2m to the neighbouring property line. To work within the limited space restrictions, RWH Engineering Inc. designed a system utilizing an upper row of double splayed anchors. Post-grouted strand anchors were installed to achieve the required load capacity in the soils. HCM with the supervision of RWH completed a load testing program to determine the optimal number of post-grout cycles required to meet the anchor design. Reducing the post-grout cycles resulted in schedule savings to the project.

Further, the shoring design was finite element modelled to allow for comparison against the monitoring results and ensure the shoring performed adequately throughout the construction. 

HCM and RWH worked together to produce a design-build shoring re-design which was tailored to the specific requirements of the project and resulted in cost and schedule savings.

Location: Toronto, ON 

Customer: SKYGRiD Construction Inc.

 

Upper House Condominiums - Caisson Wall Piles and Lagging
Upper House Condominiums - Caisson Wall Piles and Lagging

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 pile and timber lagging shoring system was used to support the excavation for the foundation wall along 50% of the perimeter of the entire building footprint. Most of the shoring was offset from the foundation wall and the remaining portion was used as a blind form for the concrete formworks. This was determined by the presence of the City of Calgary Utility Right of Way (URW) and the close proximity to the property line at the areas that required shoring. The depth of excavation varied from 4-5 metres below grade. The shoring was regularly monitored by an HCM field engineer in order to detect any unusual movement and/or anomalies which may occur in early stages of the excavation. If movement had occurred, an alternate design solution consisting of an internal raker bracing was prepared at early stages of the shoring design. This provided the owner/developer with significant cost savings as the shoring showed negligible movement for the duration of the excavation.


HCM completed this project on schedule and according to the planned stages of the progress requirements determined by the General Contractor.

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Customer: Lear Construction Management

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, HCM was contracted to install nine caisson wall compression rings at various locations. RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), an HC Group company, provided an economical design for the shafts which had diameters of up to 11 meters and depths up to 50 meters.

RWH overcame several design challenges on this project including the consideration of the compression rings to withstand large uneven surcharges due to a close embankment as well as significant crane loads. To ensure the integrity of the shoring system, RWH provided the precision monitoring services.

This project required the installation of the compression rings into the bedrock to support the overburden. HCM successfully implemented RWH’s innovative design which did not include a bench at the top of the bedrock, as commonly seen in compression ring design. This resulted in a reduced diameter of the compression rings, significantly reducing the amount of bulk excavation required as well as installation time.

The project exemplifies HCM’s ability to find effective solutions to complex projects to minimize construction time.

Location: Mississauga, Ontario

Customer: McNally Construction Inc.

Odeon Ronmore Development

Odeon Ronmore Development

HCM was contracted to provide the design and installation of shoring system for a mixed use commercial development in the main corridor of the Garrison Woods area SW Calgary. RWH designed a tied-back pile and timber lagging shoring system to support the vertical excavation for the foundation wall along the majority of the building perimeter. Due to overhead power restrictions and minimal clearances to the property line, the laneway side of the project was supported by a soil nailed shotcrete system. The laneway shoring presented various challenges including anchor encroachment limitations that could not exceed 6.0m to the adjacent property. Anchors were tightly spaced and injection grouted bars installed to gain increased soil adhesion. Regular site inspections and monitoring was performed by RWH to review the performance of the shoring and confirm the design during all stages of the excavation. The shoring was designed for a maximum excavation depth of 10m below grade for a total of 13,200 SF of shoring area.

HCM finished this project on schedule working with the General Contractor to escalate excavation activities and meet the occupancy milestone outlined by the owner.

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Customer: Chandos Construction Ltd.

Oshawa Mall

Oshawa Mall

The Oshawa Mall expansion was a large project that required several foundation and shoring services. HCM met the needs of the contractor by providing both tied back and cantilevered lagging shoring systems, shotcrete underpinning, and installation of caissons.

Client: Ledcor Construction Ltd.

Location: Oshawa, Ontario

RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH) completed the shoring designs and provided layout, as well as precision and vibration monitoring services. Taking on this additional scope, HCM/RWH were able to provide significant project cost-savings and minimize communication issues. On this project, the shotcrete underpinning design was superior to the conventional underpinning method and resulted in both schedule and cost savings due to the efficient construction process.

The HCM/RWH team provided services across multiple scopes of work, helping the contractor complete the project on time and within budget.

Weston Road

Weston Road

The Metrolinx Weston Tunnel project will serve as a below grade rail corridor for the GO Georgetown line linking the airport to downtown Toronto. HCM was subcontracted by KO Constructors to design, supply, and install several shoring systems as well as deep foundations.  

The project scope consisted of two shoring walls spanning a total distance of 2.6 km, ranging from 4.5 to 14 meters in depth. The shoring walls consisted of both bypass shotcrete and caisson wall to provide railway protection and allow for continuous GO train service. Precise coordination between all parties was required when drilling as close as 100 mm to the operational tracks.

HCM worked closely with the general contractor and owner to meet strict scheduling goals. HCM employed up to 5 large diameter drill rigs at one time, performed night work, and readily adapted to changes in the shoring scope to allow for early excavation and structure installation. RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), an HC Group company, performed the precision monitoring on the project and was also involved in the design process, enabling accelerated design changes.

The Weston Tunnel project is an example of the service HCM and RWH can provide to a large scale project where schedule goals are important.  The HC Group is able to develop solutions and adapt to any changes in conditions allowing the project to progress without delays.

Client: KO Constructors

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Twinning of the West Trunk Sanitary Sewer

HC Matcon - Twinning of the West Trunk Sanitary Sewer

Twinning Of The West Trunk Sanitary Sewer

This project includes the installation of a deep trunk sanitary sewer within bedrock under Erin Mills Parkway in Mississauga. HCM together with RWH Engineering proposed an innovative and economical design and construction process for shoring the manholes and access shafts using caisson compression rings. Challenges that had to be dealt with included designing the compression ring to withstand large uneven surcharges caused by a close embankment in addition to large surface loading by a crane. To ensure the safety of the shoring system RWH Engineering is providing precession monitoring utilizing inclinometers.

Client: McNally Construction

Location: Mississauga, Ontario

 

Twinning of the West Trunk Sanitary Sewer - Caissons

Alloa Feedermain

Alloa Feedermain

This project involved installation of 3 watertight caisson wall shafts. Two rectangular secant pile wall shaft approx 12m deep and one 6m diameter compression ring shaft approx 7m deep. In order to achieve the tight tolerance needed to ensure the shafts were in fact watertight the use of a guide wall was implemented. The guide wall was installed using Styrofoam form and concrete to allow drill casing to be perfectly centered over the drilled holes.

Client: McNally Construction
Location: Brampton, Ontario

Medicine Hat Regional Hospital – New Tower Expansion

Medicine Hat Regional Hospital – New Tower Expansion

Medicine Hat Regional Hospital – New Tower Expansion

The Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (AHS) have broken ground on this project, which will renovate and expand the hospital to improve patient services and reduce wait times. When complete, the $200-million redevelopment will expand available ambulatory care space and will allow more space for the emergency department, surgical suite, maternal/child care, and include a rooftop helipad.

HCM Contractors Inc. was successful with its’ proposal that included 100 Belled Caissons at depths up to 100 feet, 7000 ft2 of caisson wall, and the underpinning of 7 major columns to support the additional load imposed by the new structure. The underpinning is particularly challenging because much of the work is to be completed inside of an operational hospital with limited access and noise and vibration concerns. HCM employed a unique method of transferring the load from the column footings to the micro piles that ensured a good bond and efficient design.

This project comes on the heels of the newly constructed MHRH Energy Centre, another successfully completed project by HCM in the fall of 2012.

Client: Stuart Olson Dominion Ltd.
Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta

The Fuse at Evolution

The Fuse at Evolution

The Fuse at Evolution

Following years of planning by the City of Calgary, construction on the anticipated East Village Development has started. The proud owners of the first land deal in EV in over a decade have committed to building about 700,000 sq. ft. of mixed-use residential property starting with The Fuse at Evolution.

HCM Contractors Inc. proposed an alternative design-build excavation shoring system that resulted in significant schedule and cost savings. With its’ local geotechnical knowledge and utilizing its two new Bauer BG24 drill rigs and segmental casing system, HCM showcased its ability to design, execute and bring a quality product to its’ client, Embassy Development Ltd.

HCM has also secured contracts on the next two East Village developments that include the long anticipated National Music Centre and First Condominiums. HCM is proud to be a part of this landmark development which is considered to be a turning point in East Village history and a transformative moment for EV.

Client: Embassy Bosa Inc
Location: Calgary, Alberta