El Cerrito Fire Station - El Cerrito, CA

Geotechnical Investigation and Geologic Hazards Evaluation

Construction Observation and Testing Services

A new fire station facility was planned by the City of El Cerrito to meet fire fighting service needs on the hillsides. The fire station is located immediately adjacent to an active trace of the Hayward fault. Geologic hazards were assessed and geotechnical design criteria established. In addition, careful monitoring was performed during construction with respect to locations of possible splinter fault traces.

Hills Fire Station - Berkeley, CA

Geotechnical Study (2004)

Stabilization Plans and Specifications (2004)

Construction Observation and Testing (2004)

AKA provided design-level geotechnical recommendations, plans and specifications, and construction observation/testing services to the City of Berkeley Public Works department for the stabilization of a 50-foot-high hillslope behind a critical Fire Department facility. The project was initiated in response to a direct request from the City to help them find a means of stabilizing the slope that would be less costly than the drilled-pier and tieback system that was previously envisioned. AKA utilized the existing available onsite data to develop an alternative geo-reinforced fill slope design that provided several key benefits. First, it could be completed within the City's targeted cost; second, it allowed the slope to be constructed at a steeper inclination, which eliminated the need for costly retaining walls; third, it could be designed and constructed in a shorter period of time, which would allow construction of the adjacent fire station building to  proceed on schedule. The  entire project, which included a geotechnical investigation, plans and specifications, competitive bidding and construction, was completed over a period of just 9 months.