K-12 Schools
El Cerrito High School – El Cerrito, CA
Geotechnical and Geologic Hazards Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing Services
AKA conducted a design-level geotechnical investigation and geologic hazards study for the new El Cerrito High School (ECHS) campus in Contra Costa County. ECHS is located near the base of the East Bay Hills in a geologic environment that includes landslides, faults, and shallow bedrock. Our study included trenching to locate the toe of an adjacent landslide complex, establishing appropriate landslide setbacks, drilling borings to evaluate geotechnical conditions, and producing a design-level geotechnical and geologic hazard evaluation report. Removal of old fill and re-use of onsite excavated bedrock as non-expansive select fill were also key geotechnical issues. Our report was favorably peer-reviewed with no exceptions by the California Geological Survey.
Lexington Elementary School – Los Gatos, CA
Geotechnical and Geologic Peer Review Services
The Lexington Elementary School project consisted of the complete demolition and rebuilding of the 1950s school. The new school will accommodate up to 385 students and will include up to 16 new classrooms and a new library, multi-purpose building, and administration building. AKA provided peer review services for the geologic and geotechnical studies at the Lexington Elementary School site. The reports by others were reviewed by California Geologic Survey (CGS) and CGS found the reports to be insufficient. CGS concluded that the geologically complex site is possibly underlain by landslide deposits that may undergo movement during future large earthquakes. The site is within 1400 feet of the San Andreas Fault and in an area of mapped landslide hazard. On the basis of our review, we recommended that a staged program of investigation be developed to collect and analyze additional site data to help complete and resolve data gaps and uncertainties.
The studies were intended to confirm whether landslide materials are present under the site and analyze possible seismic movements in more detail to help conclude if the site is suitable for a school modernization project. Our peer review included active communication with the project team, CGS, and the very active community. AKA performed geotechnical and geologic observations during the drilling of borings, the study of fault trenches, and the logging of a large diameter boring. The studies included a fault rupture assessment, earthquake ground motion characterization, landslide characterization, static and seismic slope stability and displacements, coseismic ground deformation, and liquefaction assessment. With the help of AKA’s involvement and active communications with CGS, the revised geotechnical and geologic report was accepted by CGS.
Berkeley High School – Berkeley, CA
Student Union, Cafeteria, Library, Gym, and Pool Buildings
Geotechnical and Geologic Hazards Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing Services
AKA conducted a design-level geotechnical investigation and geologic hazards study for a significant expansion to Berkeley High Schools campus. The project location, in Downtown Berkeley, is near the former location of Strawberry Creek and adjacent areas have recently been designated by the California Geological Survey as a liquefaction hazard zone. Our geotechnical investigation found the two-block-long building site to be generally free of liquefaction hazards and identified strong earthquake ground shaking, old fills, and expansive onsite soils as the primary concerns. Geotechnical mitigation involved supporting the buildings on deepened spread footings bearing on compacted fill or natural soil below the depth of significant shrink/swell behavior.
AKA provided comprehensive geotechnical services during construction of this major school expansion project, which included replacing unsuitable onsite fill soils with engineered fill. All our work for the project was performed in accordance with DSA requirements and the school buildings are all open and actively in use.
Prospect Sierra School – El Cerrito, CA
Arts Building
Geotechnical Investigation
Geotechnical Services during Construction
AKA conducted a geotechnical investigation for a new Arts Building at Prospect Sierra School, which is located in El Cerrito near the base of the East Bay Hills. A review of published information showed the Arts Building site to be located along the edge of a very large landslide complex that extends thousands of feet upslope. However, AKA’s detailed review of onsite geotechnical data and targeted test borings were able to demonstrate that the proposed site was disconnected from the upslope portion of the nearby landslide, and that the landslide did not pose a significant hazard to the future Arts Building. A conventional shallow foundation system was therefore deemed appropriate for foundation support, which resulted in significant cost savings for the project. Follow-on services provided by AKA included a geotechnical review of the project plans and specifications and comprehensive geotechnical services during construction. The Arts Building is now open and in active use.
Pinole Middle School – Pinole, CA
Gymnasium and Library/Classroom Building
Geotechnical and Geologic Hazards Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing Services
AKA conducted a design-level geotechnical investigation and geologic hazards study for the new Pinole Middle School Gymnasium and Library/Classroom Building in Contra Costa County. Our study included drilling borings to evaluate geotechnical conditions and producing a design-level geotechnical and geologic hazard evaluation report. Our investigation revealed that extensive deposits of old fill existed in areas where the new buildings were planned. During an initial phase, we worked closely with the school district to identify alternate building locations to reduce the amount of mitigation required. Geotechnical mitigation involved the removal of old fill, installation of subdrainage, and construction of a new engineered fill slope and pad. Our report was favorably peer-reviewed with no exceptions by the California Geological Survey.
AKA provided comprehensive geotechnical engineering services during the construction of the new buildings. The scope of our construction-phase services included observation/testing of excavation, drainage installation, fill placement, and foundation construction; consultation; and preparation of daily reports, summary reports, and Geotechnical Verified Reports for submittal to the DSA.
Lowell High School – San Francisco, CA
Classroom Building
Geotechnical and Seismic Hazards Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing Services
AKA conducted a design-level geotechnical investigation and geologic hazards study for expansion to Lowell High School in San Francisco. AKA identified strong earthquake ground shaking and differential settlement of loose dune sands as the primary seismic hazard for this major multi-story classroom building. AKA consulted with the project team on foundation alternatives, which included drilled piers, piles, and footings supported on improved ground. Cost-benefit analyses led to a preferred ground improvement alternative involving the excavation and recompaction of loose near-surface soils, which allowed the building to be supported on cost-effective spread footing foundations.
AKA observed and tested during geotechnical mitigation, foundation construction, and other geotechnical aspects of the project. DSA interactions were managed by the project Inspector of Record, to whom we submitted daily reports documenting our geotechnical observations and test results. All our work for the project was performed in accordance with DSA requirements and the school building is open and actively in use.
© 2023 Alan Kropp & Associates, Inc. | Privacy Policy