STUDENT HEALTH CENTER
Columbia, South Carolina
In 2013, FME provided geotechnical services for the University of South Carolina’s $27.5 million Student Health Center, a new five-story, 68,000-square-foot facility located on the west side of the existing center. FME performed a geotechnical exploration and laboratory testing, and developed recommendations for the project’s site preparation, foundation systems, basement/retaining walls, and pavement design.
During the exploration, FME identified a risk for undocumented subsurface obstructions (i.e., abandoned and active utility vaults). When an abandoned electrical vault was encountered and removed during construction, the contractor placed flowable fill into ponded water, which was documented by the University’s special inspection firm. At the University’s request, FME performed additional borings in the flowable fill and identified the potential for significant settlement due to segregation of the flowable fill. FME recommended a fix that was then implemented under our observation.
PROJECT OWNER
University of South Carolina
PROJECT COST
$27.5 million
SERVICES PROVIDED
- Subsurface Exploration
- Materials Laboratory Testing
- Foundation Analysis and Design
- Retaining Wall Analysis and Design
- Pavement Analysis and Design
