Soldier Piles, Anchor Rods, and Shotcrete Walls *Completed*

The strange looking spool-like objects protruding from the shoring wall, between the soldier pilings, are ducting caps to various sized pipes, which run through the shot create. As the foundation, and the basement levels are built the pipes will extend through the foundation walls for  use as prescribed by the engineers and architects. As one looks around the interior perimeter of the shoring walls, the ducting caps are visible mostly near the top of the walls.

06.02.16 – 1
Excavation has begun on the first bench (see the excavator boom in the center left) along the southern east-west boundary of what will be the pit. The benches
(approximately six feet in height) are the levels from which the laborers work as they install the anchor rods and complete the shoring wall. Once that level is
complete, excavation begins on the next level. The process will continue until seven levels have been completed. Inasmuch as there is an approximate fifteen-
foot downward slope in grade from the south to the north, the north shoring wall will be approximately thirty-three feet in height from bottom grade to top grade.

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Once a series of soldier piles are lowered 75-feet into the ground, cement is poured into the holes. Once excavation reaches permanent grade,
the pilings will anchor the foundation another 33-feet below ground.

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Upon completion of all the chiseling, hammering, and all things that might scratch, mar, or dent the soldier piles, and just prior to spraying on the

shotcrete, a thick, black epoxy is applied to any and all areas that might be susceptible to rust.
When brushing on the epoxy, a mask must be worn by the applicator.

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The south wall with the next to last section cutback exposed at 36 feet below grade. Permanent grade will bottom out at 42 feet below grade.

The south wall stands tall (42-feet) above permanent grade. Four sections await the rebar and shotcrete. Across the
four-lane  thoroughfare, Barton Road, the parking structure (P4) as seen at the top of the photo, is under construction.

These surveyors are measuring the movement of the soldier pilings with a TST (total station theodolite or transit). The data recorded during this weekly process will provide the engineers back in the home office with vital information that may necessitate the tweaking of the foundation specifications, which may avert major problems down the line.

The yellow arrow (above) points to a survey target mark stenciled on a bearing plate. These marks located all around the perimeter of the pit are targets which the surveyors view from their scope as they collect the weekly data.

02.08/17 – 29
All bearing plates and soldier piles must be covered with epoxy. Before the foundation walls are poured, the bearing plates must be covered with
a waterproof pre-molded tie-back boot.

03.30.17 – 30
A stack of pre-molded sheet metal galvanized boots that will be placed over each bearing plate and securely fastened to the shotcrete wall.

03.31.17 – 31
Mixing the Bentolseal (a rubber based sealant used for waterproofing) and sand, which is put in the boot to seal the bearing plates.

03.31.17 – 32
After the sealant-filled boot has been placed over a bearing plate a laborer holds the boot against the shoring wall with a 2 x4 while it is anchored
to the shoring wall.

04.03.17 – 33
Note the tension on the 2 x 4 as the boot is pushed over the bearing plate and anchored to the shoring wall.

03.31.17 – 34
This photo shows that four bearing plates have been sealed with a boot (see number 1). Two bearing
plates (see number 2), in black, are yet to be booted. By Monday, 04.03.17, the plates had been booted.