Residential and Mixed Use
Residential and Mixed Residential/Office/Commercial projects introduce many construction needs unique to the development objectives, and are often located in urban areas. MRCE combines core disciplines of geotechnical engineering and structural foundation design to support high-rise and mid-rise residential and mixed use projects. The MRCE portfolio includes design and inspection of large excavations for underground commercial space connecting to mass transit, and foundations on brownfields interfacing with environmental caps and groundwater management systems.
MRCE has collaborated and partnered with architects, structural engineers, and owners to produce foundation designs for a wide range of site conditions: high capacity foundations on marginal waterfront land, urban parcels requiring excavations deep below neighbor structures, and abandoned industrial sites.
The Wharf
When completed in 2021, The Wharf will feature more than 3 million square feet of new residential, office, hotel, retail, cultural, marina, and public uses, including waterfront parks, promenades, piers, and docks. The $475 million mega mixed-use project is a pedestrian-oriented, water-oriented, and transit-oriented development all in one. Situated on 19 acres on DC’s southwest waterfront, the mixed-use community is being completed in two phases. MRCE provided geotechnical engineering services for both phases. Phase I was completed in 2017 and Phase II is under construction. In Phase II, MRCE is assisting the developer with an analysis of the impact of the proposed construction on the underlying WMATA Green line tunnels and developing a design approach to minimize the impacts on the metro tunnels.
Interesting Facts
• The Wharf is on the Green Line, part of Washington Metro’s original 103 mile subway system. From 1966 on, MRCE was the General Soil Consultant for WMATA for the original system, providing complete geotechnical investigations, evaluation of construction conditions, and establishing design criteria for the entire line.
• MRCE regularly works on WMATA projects, mainly providing evaluation of new construction located over and adjacent to the shallow and deep tunnels of the Metro lines.
The Yards
The Yards is a 42-acre mixed use development consisting of commercial, office, and residential space located on the banks of the Anacostia River in Washington DC. The area is at the center of the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District and was originally an annex of the Washington Navy Yard. In 2004, the GSA awarded the property to a developer for redevelopment. MRCE has provided geotechnical engineering and foundation design on a number of development parcels within the site (F1, A1, D, G, I, L, N, and O), as well as conducting studies and analysis of construction impact on Washington Metro tunnels. The overall site has a challenging underground that is underlain by deep organic clays requiring deep foundations. MRCE selected drilled-in piles as the deep foundation system best suited to the site. In addition, the inbound tunnel of the Metro passes beneath the southwest corner of the site requiring WMATA approval of approval of foundations in this area.
Interesting Facts
• The Navy Yard neighborhood was Washington's earliest industrial neighborhood and many of the existing buildings are being renovated and reused within the new development.
• The Yards has several metro stops within it, all part of Washington Metro’s original 103 mile subway system. From 1966 on, MRCE was the General Soil Consultant for WMATA for the original system, providing complete geotechnical investigations, evaluation of construction conditions, and establishing design criteria for the entire line.
• MRCE regularly works on WMATA projects, mainly providing evaluation of new construction located over and adjacent to the shallow and deep tunnels of the Metro lines.
Gotham Center
Challenges Solved
This 3.5 million sq. ft. 4-building complex of residential and office towers in Long Island City is split in half by Jackson Avenue, a subway tunnel, and an elevated transit structure, making construction of foundations extremely challenging. MRCE provided geotechnical engineering and structural foundation design services that included large-scale geotechnical investigations with geotechnical reports, assessment of foundation types, groundwater concerns, and protection of the adjacent transit facilities during construction. In particular, MRCE designed excavation support for a 20 foot deep excavation adjacent to the elevated train line and secured approval from NYC Transit for both foundation and excavation support designs.
Westchester's Ridge Hill
Challenges Solved
Ridge Hill is an 80-acre mixed-use development, the largest in the New York metropolitan area. It is modeled after a pedestrian-friendly town center. Ridge Hill is located in Yonkers, New York between the New York State Thruway and the Sprain Brook Parkway.
MRCE was deeply involved in many aspects of this major development. MRCE performed geotechnical subsurface investigations, provided foundation recommendations, monitored ground vibrations during rock blasting, and designed the temporary excavation support and retaining walls required for building construction. MRCE provided foundation construction engineering and inspection services for all development foundations.
Riverside South
Challenges Solved
Riverside South is a $3 billion project on a 56-acre site along Manhattan’s Hudson River waterfront between 59th Street and 72nd Street. This multiple-use complex was planned to include 16 apartment buildings with a 5,700 residential units, retail space, and a 25-acre waterfront park.
MRCE performed a geotechnical subsurface investigation and designed the foundations for 14 buildings. Foundation design was particularly complex as the site is underlain with deep deposits of compressible clay which required improvement by pre-loading before street and park structures could be built. Project structures and new fill for Park development are constructed over the Amtrak and Metro-North railroads, adjacent to the elevated Miller Highway. Several years earlier MRCE designed concrete encasement of the elevated Miller Highway frame structure to extend its life and enable park construction below the highway.
50 Hudson Yards
Challenges Solved
This 58-story commercial office tower is the final building in Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in New York City. Project challenges included its location within the Hudson Yards Eastern Rail Yard, adjacent to 30 and 55 Hudson Yards, and Hudson Park and Boulevard, and the protection of the No. 7 subway line, to which the tower will have direct access. MRCE provided geotechnical engineering and foundation design solutions, including a geotechnical investigation, support of excavation design, and construction inspection. MRCE engineers also provided inspection of the installation of SOE elements such as soldier piles, concrete-button-piers, rock bolts, raker installation and lagging; and foundation elements consisting of rock subgrade preparation, waterproofing installation, underslab drainage installation, and the inspection of installation and testing of a large array of post-tensioned tiedown anchors.