Mixed Use
Varsity Berkeley Apartments – Berkeley, CA
Geotechnical Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing Services
AKA conducted a geotechnical investigation and provided geotechnical engineering services during construction of the Varsity Berkeley Apartments in Downtown Berkeley. Completed in 2015, the Varsity Berkeley is a 5- to 6-story building with 73 residential units, a below grade parking level, and rooftop terrace. AKA’s geotechnical investigation included drilling borings at the site, conducting laboratory tests, and providing recommendations for the mitigation of expansive surficial soils, existing fill soils, and relatively shallow groundwater conditions at the site. Groundwater in this general area rises and falls with seasonal changes in rainfall patterns and it was necessary to evaluate probable “high” groundwater elevations for use in project design. By compiling and reviewing local groundwater measurements from our in-house database, AKA was able to provide reliable estimates of seasonal and maximum groundwater elevations for use in the design of temporary and permanent improvements at the site. AKA also provided comprehensive geotechnical observation and testing services during construction and provided consultation to resolve on-site geotechnical issues.
Stonefire Mixed-Use Building – Berkeley, CA
Geotechnical Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing Services
AKA conducted a geotechnical investigation and provided geotechnical engineering services during construction of the Stonefire Mixed-Use Building in downtown Berkeley. Completed in 2017, the Stonefire project involved the construction of a new 8-story mixed-use retail/residential building with a basement parking level with mechanically-activated “stacked” vehicle parking pits. AKA’s geotechnical investigation included drilling borings at the site, conducting laboratory tests, and developing geotechnical recommendations for the project design. As part of our investigation, AKA installed groundwater monitoring devices at the site to determine probable “high” groundwater elevations for use in the design of temporary and permanent site improvements. AKA also provided comprehensive geotechnical observation and testing services and provided consultation to resolve onsite geotechnical issues.
The New Californian (Trader Joe’s) – Berkeley, CA
Geotechnical Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing Services
AKA is proud to be the geotechnical engineer of record for this 148-unit mixed-use apartment community that brings housing, a Trader Joe’s grocery store, and a neighborhood café to Berkeley’s downtown. Working with the project’s developer, Hudson McDonald (www.hudsonmcdonald.com), AKA engineers provided a full range of geotechnical investigative, consulting, and construction services to successfully implement architect Kirk E. Peterson’s vision of a landmark building at the gateway to downtown Berkeley. Geotechnical challenges for the project included the excavation and construction of the building’s basement garage, which is within a developed urban environment and extends below groundwater. We celebrated the New Californian’s opening in June 2010 at an event on the building’s spectacular rooftop terrace, which features unobstructed views of San Francisco and the Berkeley Hills.
1321-1331 8th Street – Berkeley, CA
Geotechnical Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing
AKA performed a geotechnical investigation and provided construction phase geotechnical services for a new urban infill project within a combined residential/industrial area of West Berkeley. The 8th Street project included construction of a new two-story multi-use building, grading and paving of a surface parking lot, and retrofitting of an adjacent existing warehouse building. AKA’s geotechnical investigation included drilling borings, conducting laboratory tests, and providing recommendations for the mitigation of onsite expansive soils. The site is within an official State of California zone for earthquake-induced liquefaction, and our investigation included an evaluation of liquefaction potential and effects conducted in accordance with State guidelines. The results of our evaluations showed that liquefaction was not a significant concern at this site and the project was approved with the concurrence of the City’s technical reviewer.
Bachenheimer Building – Berkeley, CA
Geotechnical Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing
AKA conducted a geotechnical investigation and provided geotechnical construction-phase services for Downtown Berkeley’s Bachenheimer Building. Completed in 2004, Bachenheimer provides 44 apartments over 3,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space. A small garage at the rear of the structure provides parking for up to 30 cars, a feat accomplished through the use of mechanically-activated “stacked” parking. A notable aspect of the project is the irregularly-shaped mid-block urban site, which for the most part is surrounded by existing buildings. This constraint provided challenges to the field investigation program, which was performed prior to the demolition of the structure that previously occupied the site. Our investigation approach maximized the use of local geotechnical and historic information and utilized selective test borings to supplement the available existing data. AKA also provided comprehensive geotechnical observation and testing services and provided consultation to resolve onsite geotechnical issues.
Valdez Micro Units – Oakland, CA
Geotechnical Investigation
Construction Observation and Testing Services
AKA performed a geotechnical investigation and provided geotechnical engineering services during construction of the Valdez Micro Units project in Downtown Oakland. Micro units are meant to be a more affordable option for people who are willing to sacrifice living space to be in an urban area and this project is the first micro units project to be constructed in Oakland. Completed in 2016, the Valdez Micro Units project included the construction of a 5-story building with live/work space at the front of the first floor, and residential units behind and on the upper floors of the building. AKA’s geotechnical investigation included drilling borings, conducting laboratory tests, and providing recommendations for the mitigation of existing fill soils, weak surficial soils, and expansive soils at the site. As part of the investigation, an evaluation of liquefaction potential and effects was conducted. The results of our evaluations showed that liquefaction was not a significant concern at the site. AKA also provided comprehensive geotechnical observation and testing services during construction and provided consultation to resolve on-site geotechnical issues.
Library Gardens – Berkeley, CA
Geotechnical Investigation
AKA conducted a geotechnical investigation for the Library Gardens project; a 176-unit complex next to Downtown Berkeley’s Central Library. The project includes four stories of apartments over ground level retail space and a below-grade parking garage. AKA’s services on the project included reviewing existing geotechnical, geologic, and historic information, drilling test borings, conducting geotechnical laboratory tests, and developing geotechnical recommendations for the project design. A notable aspect of the design was the basement parking garage that extended two levels below the adjacent street grades. Groundwater in this general area rises and falls with seasonal changes in rainfall patterns and it was necessary to evaluate probable “high” groundwater elevation for use in project design. In addition, there are historic structures immediately adjacent to the project and it was necessary to evaluate likely temporary support and dewatering issues associated with the planned basement garage excavation. By compiling and reviewing local groundwater measurements from our in-house database, AKA was able to provide reliable estimates of seasonal and maximum groundwater elevations for use in the design of temporary and permanent improvements at the site.
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