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There’s a reason why the transformation of Toronto's Port Lands has become such an anticipated project in the local development industry. Beyond the sheer scale of the site and scope of the project, the successful delivery of the boldly designed elements as the peices come together has required a number of engineering solutions that are innovative, efficient, and integral to the longevity of the site.
Working closely with EllisDon and Waterfront Toronto, one of the firms that has been a key player in the engineering that is bringing the project to life is GeoSolv, a design and construction firm known around the industry as the Ground Improvement People. Their unique area of expertise is delivering cost effective structural solutions in challenging soil conditions, and their portfolio in the Port Lands consists of over 100 kilometres of ground improvement installed to date that has been instrumental in supporting several important pieces of infrastructure.
A significant part of GeoSolv’s contributions to the Port Lands relate to the larger flood prevention effort that is underway, preparing the site to be able to endure the impacts of a hundred-year flood. Roads are one of the more vulnerable structures during flooding events, so the team was brought on to deliver a strategy to prevent any potential settlement (sinking or movement of foundations) for the Don Roadway and Commissioners Street, both located within the floodplain.
Given the poor quality of the soil, which lacked any reliable structural properties, GeoSolv employed the Geopier GeoConcrete Column ® (GCC) system to support these roads, a system that is both durable in the long-term and cost-effective compared to traditional shoring methods. GCCs are a type of rigid inclusion and are installed by advancing a specialized mandril with a 70 tonne high mast rig, pictured above. With the help of a concrete pump, traditional ready-mix concrete is then rammed into ground to create high capacity elements. In the case of Commissioners Street, which runs parallel to the future riverbed, this process was carried out along the area of the future embankment, which will rest upon a concrete transfer slab that is also supported by GCCs.
The GCC system was also utilized for the nearby Pinewood Toronto Studios expansion, adding a new suite of film production spaces to the already thriving facility. Facing the same challenging soil conditions, which pose a high risk of settlement for structures, a reliable foundation was needed in order to ensure that the impending building would enjoy a long, problem-free life. GCCs were an immediate fit for the project’s unique structural needs, and was implemented by GeoSolv’s team quickly, allowing Ledcor, the project's builders, to maintain their desired construction schedule.
Another structural system that GeoSolv specializes in is the Geopier Impact ® system, also known as a Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP), which was used to enable the construction of the TTC’s Leslie Barns Streetcar Storage Facility located in the northeast corner of the Port Lands. Similar to the GCCs, RAPs are created with custom machine tooling, but rather than using concrete, a crushed limestone aggregate is used instead, and is simultaneously rammed into place. Representing one of the largest ground improvement projects in Ontario at the time of completion, GeoSolv’s work on the Leslie Barns site provided significant savings on the buildings foundation costs.
Delivering a variety of engineering solutions that have enabled the Port Lands redevelopment to manage the challenging soil conditions in a cost effective manner, GeoSolv has proven their mandate of helping clients build what they want, where they want to build it, saving time and money in the process. Beyond the Port Lands, the company has been involved in hundreds of projects across the Province, from single family homes to a 22-storey tower. With nearly two decades of experience in their field and a wide variety of ground improvement solutions, GeoSolv has established itself as a leader, and boasts the portfolio to show it.
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| Related Companies: | GeoSolv Design + Build , LEA Consulting, Priestly Demolition Inc., Tarra Engineering & Structural Consultants Inc |
