Piedmont College New Student Commons

Project Description

Southern Geotechnical Consultants, LLC (SGC) provided geotechnical engineering and construction monitoring and testing (CMT) services for the $14 million-dollar New Student Commons Building at the Piedmont College Campus in Demorest, Georgia. As part of this project Piedmont College constructed a new 58,000 square feet, two-story building that includes dining facilities, a fitness center, gymnasium for intramural sports, group study rooms, a banquet and conference area, bookstore, and offices for student services and student organizations. The atrium features a rock-climbing wall.

As part of the design phase, SGC provided geotechnical design services the included soil test borings and applicable laboratory analysis at the site to help assess the nature of the subsurface materials and provide soil design parameters and recommendations for soil related construction. Additionally, a site-specific seismic assessment was performed so that shear wave soil profile could be measured and modeled to directly asses the seismic site class.

During construction, SGC provided all construction materials testing and “Special Inspections” services related to the project including monitoring and testing as required by the project specifications in conjunction with mass grading and building construction. The tests performed during the earthwork phase included in-place density testing for building pad, earth reinforced retaining walls and utility backfill. During the building construction phase the testing/evaluations included shallow foundation and subgrade evaluations; inspections of reinforcing steel placement; bolt torque and visual weld inspections; non-destructive evaluations of moment weld connections; concrete strength; masonry block; grout and masonry cell reinforcement placement; concrete and mortar placement; concrete slab moisture transmission surveys; NPDES inspections; storm water monitoring; and pavement placement