University of Toronto Faculty of Law

TTC Steels Launch Shaft

The expansion of the Faculty of Law building at the University of Toronto incorporated the addition of another storey to the existing building. The increased loading required an upgrade to the capacity of the building foundation. HCM proposed an innovative solution to install micropiles next to the caissons to accommodate the additional loading. The micropile foundation was designed by RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), an HCM Group company.

Specialty equipment was required to install the micropiles inside the existing building, as there was only four meters of headroom in some areas. HCM used a low head room drill to install micropiles to depths of 18 meters. The micropile design required triple post-grouting to achieve the necessary bond between the grout and the soil. The soil encountered was comprised of layers of sand, silt, and clay. To confirm the design adhesion, a sacrificial load test was performed to 250% of the ULS load.

This project is an example of how HCM/RWH can offer alternative foundation solutions to meet the needs of any project, including projects with challenging site restrictions.

Client: Eastern Construction

Location: Toronto, Ontario

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

Silver Creek Solar Farm

Silver Creek Solar Farm

For this project, HCM provided installation services to EllisDon for the helical pile foundations for future solar racking. Due to the stringent timelines and project milestones, HCM employed a total of four crews on this job to meet the project schedule.

A large challenge that HCM faced on this project was the harsh winter. HCM dedicated an auger mounted excavator on site for the second half of the project to allow for any necessary pre-drilling through the 500 mm thick frost layer. The schedule was maintained despite site shut downs due to below -30 temperatures, as well as site access issues resulting from the inclement weather. 

RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH) provided the field engineering support for the project, which allowed HCM to provide complete pile installation records. 

Client: EllisDon Corporation

Location: Aylmer, Ontario

The teamwork of the HCM crew members in combination with the attention to detail provided by RWH, and the positive team support provided by EllisDon resulted in the project being successfully completed within schedule and budget.

TTC Patten Building

TTC Patten Building

HC Matcon was retained to install micropile foundation for TTC Patten Building on 835 Davenport Road, Toronto. The building was originally designed for storage of paper tickets and when TTC transitioned to using tokens the increased loading caused settlement and structural issues which required strengthening of its foundations. 

The project consisted of drilling and installing 90 micropiles to a depth of 15M.  Working conditions presented an issue as drilling was restricted in a basement of an existing building where headroom was 3.5 meters high. HCM mobilized the Klemm low headroom drill rig in order to complete the project with productions to meet the strict deadlines required from TTC. 

The project was completed in a timely fashion and on budget. HC Matcon is well equipped to deal with difficult conditions presented on any project and are experts in micropile installations.

Client: Toronto Transit Commission & Buttcon LTD.

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Cobourg Railway Station

Cobourg Railway Station

On this project, HCM, in conjunction with its in-house engineering company, RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), was able to offer the owner one source for the design, supply, and installation of a complete temporary shoring system and precision monitoring services. 

RWH produced an efficient design that conformed to AREMA railway standards and resulted in savings to the owner, in comparison to the original tendered drawings. The RWH design included a double pile and lagging system with 17.5 meter long tiebacks, required due to the soft soils. In addition, HCM installed 275 mm diameter permanent micropiles at the base of the shoring. The micropiles extended through 12 meters of soil and were founded 5 meters into bedrock to provide the required capacity. 

The general contractor benefited from working with a single source that could take responsibility for all aspects of the shoring and deep foundations work – guaranteeing quality and reducing costs.

Client: Via Rail Canada Inc.

Location: Cobourg, Ontario

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.

Mapleview Drive

Mapleview Drive

The expansion of Mapleview Drive in Barrie required track protection for an existing railway overpass. HCM was retained to install a strutted piles and lagging shoring system. RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), an HCM Group company, engaged the design responsibility for the project, resulting in significant improvements to the tendered drawings. HCM and RWH redesigned the shoring system to better suit excavation and bridge footing construction. The redesign revised the center pier shoring system from a boxed in strutted system to a tieback shoring system. This allowed better access for shoring installation, excavation, and forming.

Due to site conditions and steep slopes, HCM coordinated all drilling platforms with the GC which optimized shoring and excavation activities and maintained the project schedule. Coordination with the GC for the temporary bridge placement was paramount as track removal and temporary bridge and track installation had to occur in a time period of four days.

 

Client: Arnott Construction Ltd.

Location: Barrie, Ontario

Significant time-saving was realized during installation by redesigninig the tendered sheet piling and driven piles close to existing tracks with an extended drilled double pile and lagging.

The work was successfully completed on time and on budget. This project exemplifies HCM’s ability to find cost-effective solutions to complex project requirements.

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

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

TTC Steels Launch Shaft

TTC Steels Launch Shaft

The TTC tendered the Steeles Launch Shaft project as part of the much needed Shepherd subway extension into Vaughan. HCM undertook this project as a general contractor: self-performing the shoring, excavation, dewatering, and precision monitoring of the shoring system.

The shaft was 20 meters in depth and required removal of 20,000 cubic meters of material. RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), an HC Group company, working together with T.H. O’Rourke Engineering, designed a three level strutted system of 460mm – 610mm diameter pre-loaded struts to brace the shoring walls. This design made the shoring system more durable as necessitated by the project due to the extended exposure to heat, cold and frost penetration as the excavated area was to remain open for a minimum of two years. The shoring was initially designed as piles and lagging with a portion of caisson wall, but was redesigned by RWH to a complete caisson wall as a result of these factors. RWH completed all monitoring which involved inclinometers, strain gauges, total stations, and piezometers. Final movement of the shaft showed less than 0.5% of the height. This project shows how HCM and RWH can perform a combination of construction activities, and provide the additional benefit of engineering and precision monitoring services, saving owners money while providing a safe shoring solution.

Client: Toronto Transit Commission

Location: North York, Ontario

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 residents of Scarborough.  HC Matcon was procured to install several excavation support walls within the treatment plant.

HC Matcon installed seventy-four soldier piles along with multiple tiebacks and shotcrete.  Due to the proximity of the proposed addition, the underground utilities posed a challenging concern.  To avoid disruption and contact with the existing utilities, HC Matcon implemented a perched pile system.  HC Matcon also designed a shoring system around the underground utilities and allowed work to proceed.

HC Matcon completed all work as per industry details combined with innovative connection designs which were incorporated to save schedule time.

Client: Alberici Constructors Inc.

Location: Scarborough, Ontario