Talbot Street

Talbot Street

HCM completed the design-build shoring for the Azure condominium project in downtown London. Due to the soil conditions encountered during initial drilling, a full depth caisson wall was installed for the construction of a two storey underground parking structure.

A combination of tiebacks and internal struts were used to support the 12.0m deep excavation. After piling was complete tieback encroachment became no longer possible along the west wall and had to be converted to a double rakered system. As the foundation structure was entirely precast this presented unique challenges when using rakers. RWH worked together with HCM and the Developer to make the internal bracing system work around the precast panels and designed the system to allow for removals to help facilitate the constriction process.

The shoring was constructed next to an existing church sensitive to movements. Excavation procedures were modified and extra considerations were taken in both the design and construction to reduce any movements and vibrations. Further, RWH completed target, inclinometer and vibration monitoring to verify the shoring performance throughout construction and ensure minimal impact to the church structure.

Client: The Tricar Group

Location: London, Ontario

Aligning with the HCM group’s core value of sustainability, the Azure project became the first LEEDS condominium project in London’s history.

LRT Slope Protection at Retaining Wall

LRT Slope Protection at Retaining Wall

LRT Slope Protection at Retaining Wall

HC Matcon (HCM) and RWH Engineering (RWH) reacted quickly after being contacted to provide a design-build solution for a slope failure that occurred during the excavation for a new retaining wall at the Eglinton LRT project. The 14m (45’) high slope was approximately halfway excavated for a permanent block retaining wall when it a sudden slip failure occurred creating concern for the adjacent properties. RWH designed a slope retention system with soil nails and shotcrete facing to remediate the slope and allow for continued excavation. Using a TEI drill mounted on an excavator, HCM was able to reach the top of slope to install soil nails.  Shotcrete was applied by a nozzleman in an elevated work platform. Once the exposed portion of the failed slope was stabilized, excavation was able to resume and HCM continued installing additional lifts of anchors and shotcrete to the base of the finished slope for a total protected area of 1250m2 (13,500 SF).

HCM and RWH provided an efficient solution, adapting the slope protection design to assist with the durability of the permanent retaining wall. Real-time design changes were made onsite to accommodate additional area required after installation had already commenced, enabling the original retaining wall construction to resume as fast as possible. 

 

Location: Toronto, ON

Customer: Metrolinx

LRT Slope Protection at Retaining Wall
LRT Slope Protection at Retaining Wall

Slope Remediation

Slope Remediation

Slope Remediation

HCM and RWH Engineering provided a design build solution to remediate a failing slope at a project located in Western Ontario.

Prior to HCM’s involvement, the site was excavated 7m into a silty clay at a 1:1 slope.  HCM was contacted after the slope began to fail and large movements were seen.  After RWH completed the design solution, HCM worked from a boom lift to install anchors with a TEI drill mounted on an excavator to stabilize the slope.  HCM applied meshed shotcrete directly to the face of the slope and tied in the system by post-tensioning the anchors.  Utilizing real-time engineering and quick execution, HCM was able to complete the installation without substantial ground loss, allowing for work onsite to be conducted safely.

HCM has applied shotcrete with tieback anchors as slope protection systems on many job sites with poor soils or tight sloping constraints. This project is an example of HCM’s and RWH’s ability to act quickly and adapt to changing site conditions to provide effective solutions.

Location: Coruuna, ON

Customer: Cope Construction and Contracting Inc.

Slope Remediation
Slope Remediation
Slope Remediation

Eglinton LRT – Cedarvale Station SEM and SOE

Segmental Excavation Mining and Support of Excavation - Eglinton LRT - Cedarvale Station SEM and SOE

Eglinton LRT – Cedarvale Station SEM and SOE

The Eglinton LRT Cedarvale Station required the new structure to pass below the existing TTC subway below grade. HC Matcon Inc. (HCM) was contracted by the Crosslinx group to perform segmental excavation method (SEM) and support of excavation (SOE) below the existing subway tunnel. HCM performed the detailed excavation and the installation of dry mix shotcrete in 6 galleries for the phased installation of structural needle beams to support the tunnel above.
HCM’s SEM work involved excavation in 1.1m sections, installation and stressing of temporary supports, and installation of accelerated fibre-reinforced dry mix shotcrete for the walls and base slab. Due to strict movement tolerances of the tunnel above, a unique prestressed waler incorporated with shotcrete shoring was implemented. Special design and constructability considerations were coordinated with the designer to ensure safety during excavation. HCM installed a waler and tie-rod system that was prestressed from between the walers to achieve the deformed shape required by designers.
Due to HCM’s knowledge and experience with shotcrete and associated applications,
this unique project was executed successfully and to the satisfaction of the project
team.

Location: Toronto, ON 

Customer: SKYGRiD Construction Inc.

Segmental Excavation Mining and Support of Excavation - Eglinton LRT - Cedarvale Station SEM and SOE
Segmental Excavation Mining and Support of Excavation - Eglinton LRT - Cedarvale Station SEM and SOE
Segmental Excavation Mining and Support of Excavation - Eglinton LRT - Cedarvale Station SEM and SOE

Midtown Lofts

Midtown Lofts

On this project, HCM in conjunction with RWH Engineering Inc. (RWH), provided the owner with a complete design-build package and precision monitoring services for an 8.5m deep temporary shoring system.

RWH produced a tailored piles and lagging shoring design. As tiebacks were not feasible on the project due to encroachment limitations, RWH provided a waler and raker design that minimized interference as construction progressed.

HCM worked closely with the general contractor during pile installation and lagging to ensure that excavation proceeded safely and on schedule. Precision monitoring was implemented and reviewed by RWH throughout the project to confirm the integrity of the shoring system and surrounding infrastructure.

Client: GUPM Construction Managers

Location: Kitchener, Ontario

Telus Sky tower

Telus Sky tower - HC Matcon

Telus Sky tower

The Telus Sky tower will be the 3rd tallest building in Calgary with the deepest basement excavation in western Canada. HCM Group took on the challenge of creating a shoring system suitable for the 30m excavation. RWH designed the shoring system with an 11m deep perched secant wall and shotcrete was used in the bedrock to stabilize the rest of the excavation. HCM contractors were responsible for the installation of the perched secant wall and the shotcrete.

The project was not without its challenges. These challenges included neighboring structures, the LRT system that ran adjacent to the site, existing Telus utilities and limited working space within the excavation. An extremely sensitive Telus duct bank ran adjacent to the excavation and the movement of the bank had to be kept to a minimum. RWH had to take this into consideration when designing the wall. The footprint of the excavation was only 2,100m2. HCM contractors were able to work strategically with other sub-contractors to ensure work could be carried out seamlessly in the small area. RWH provided precision monitoring of the shoring, neighboring structures and the LRT line. Monitoring reports were provided twice a week until the excavation reached sound bedrock and it was then reduced to weekly.

HCM Group were able to use their experience with similar past projects to design and construct a shoring system that was suitable for the 30m excavation. The shoring moved 75% of what was originally predicted, proving it was more than adequate.

Client: Icon West Construction

Location: Calgary, Alberta

HC Group - Telus Sky Shoring Clean Wall
Telus Sky tower - HC Matcon
Telus Sky tower - HC Matcon
Telus Sky tower - HC Matcon

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

65 Lillian Street Condominium Building

65 Lillian Street Condominium Building

65 Lillian Street Condominium Building

Work on this jobsite included the excavation support system for a new condominium building located on 65 Lillian Street in Toronto, Ontario. HC Matcon used soldier piles and shotcrete lagging shoring (SPLS) with soil nails to support the excavation of an approximately 30-foot deep underground parking garage.

One challenge of this project was the close proximity of the excavation to the property line of the adjacent residential buildings. The consultant’s design included a caisson wall for this part of the system. HC Matcon proposed an alternative to save the owner and general contractor money, schedule time, and square footage of finished building by applying an equivalent system of shotcrete shoring and soil nails. This system will also act as a one-sided form for foundation walls.

During this project, there were some unforeseen obstacles for the shoring installation that required avoidance.

Utilities were found between the shoring system and the adjacent existing building footings to be demolished. HC Matcon was able to modify the pile design to support these utilities during demolition.


Other concrete obstructions were avoided by using an alternative pipe pile design to satisfy property line constraints, a perched walkway for the access of neighboring houses, and to facilitate the demolition of the existing parking garage.

HC Matcon will take on many challenges related to shoring and foundation design while keeping the interests of the general contractor and owner in mind.

Client: Lewis Build Corporation
Location: Toronto, Ontario

Dufferin Mall

Dufferin Mall

Dufferin Mall Pedestrian Tunnel

This renovation project includes the challenge of constructing a 10ft wide by 12ft deep pedestrian tunnel inside an active mall. HCM together with RWH Engineering proposed an innovative design and construction process to accomplish this endeavor with very limited working space and tricky access issues. The construction involves:

• Shotcrete shoring to allow for vertical excavation of the tunnel area

• Bob Cat mounted TEI drill for the installation of tie backs

• Removal of excavated material via narrow stairwells and utility corridors

• Supply of materials and tools via narrow stairwells and utility corridors

In addition, HCM’s scope of work includes increasing the depth of an existing elevator pit, building underpinning, exterior stair concrete footings and retaining walls.

Client: EllisDon Corporation
Location: Toronto, Ontario

Great Lakes Copper Plant

Great Lakes Copper Plant

Great Lakes Copper Plant

The Great Lakes Copper Plant in London, Ontario, posed a technical challenge in shotcrete shoring. HC Matcon helped to facilitate the installation of a new copper roll press. The shoring was completed inside a fully operational copper plant at night and on weekends. Special care was taken to ensure dust and overspray was contained within the work area causing minimal clean up and ensuring the plant was fully functional throughout the process.

HC Matcon, along with Blue-Con Excavating and McKay Cocker (GC), completed the 2,200ft2 shoring in less than three weeks.

Client: MacKay Cocker
Location: London, Ontario

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