The first phase of this project included the construction of an approximately 7,000 square foot medical clinic and associated parking lot. This phase was then followed by a remodel of the existing adjacent clinic. The services provided by PCEI during this project included a site-specific geotechnical investigation, Phase 1 environmental assessment, construction phase geotechnical testing and consultation, and laboratory testing.
The existing parking garage structure was constructed in the 1990’s and consists of a cast-in-place concrete structure founded on belled piers. The primary objective of the project was to expand the parking structure, however the southeastern portion of the exsisting parking garage was starting to show signs of distress, and the basement level was showing signs of cracking in the drywall of the office partitian walls. PCEI conducted a comprehensive geotechnical investigation and floor level survey to determine the causation of the distress and develop geotechnical recommendations to mitigate the observed distress. After an extensive investigation, it was determined that deep desiccation of an expansive clay layer approximately 15' below the ground surface was the most likely the cause of the observed distress.
Pacific Crest Engineering completed a geotechnical investigation for the relocation of the Watsonville Community Hospital. The study included the drilling and logging of 11 test borings ranging in depth from 16 feet to 42 feet below ground surface. The site consisted of stratums of clay, silty sandy clay, and clayey silt interbedded with stratums of clayey sand and gravelly sand. The investigation provided recommendations for spread footings, slab-on-grade construction, surface drainage, and pavement design. The study also addressed potential settlement issues.
Pacific Crest Engineering completed a geotechnical investigation for a new health services building for the County of Santa Cruz. The study included the drilling and logging of 6 test borings ranging in depth from 16-21 feet. The investigation determined that the potential of liquefaction and lateral spreading was low for this area which later became the permanent home for the new health services building. This first investigation provided recommendations for spread footings with slab-on-grade floors, surface drainage, and pavement design. The additional study investigated two alternative building sites in the same general vicinity. This investigation included the drilling and logging of 4 test borings and provided recommendations for filling in an existing drainage swale, slope erosion control, spread footings with slab-on-grade floors, surface and subsurface drainage, and pavement design.
Pacific Crest Engineering completed a geotechnical investigation for a new annex at the main entrance to the hospital. The study included the drilling and logging of 3 test borings ranging in depth from 22 to 25 feet. The project included the demolition of the existing annex and replacing it with a cast-in place two-level structure of approximately 10,300 square feet with the lower level of the building partially below grade. The soil conditions were coastal terrace deposits underlain by Purisima Formation Sandstone Bedrock at depth.
Pacific Crest Engineering completed a geotechnical investigation for a new Medical Clinic and Office Building on the southeast intersection of West Rossi Street and North Davis Street. The medical clinic was a one-story structure with a total floor area of approximately 5300 square feet. The office building was a two-story office structure with a total floor area of approximately 12,600 square feet. The study addressed moderate liquefaction issue with sub-excavation and recompaction and provided recommendations for sub-excavation and recompaction, spread footings, slab-on-grade construction, surface drainage, and pavement design.
Pacific Crest Engineering completed a focused review and design for the existing parking deck for the structural engineer’s analysis of the existing emergency parking deck. Recommendations were made to the Structural Engineer addressing the bearing capacity, modulus of sub-grade reactions, and lateral soil pressures. One test boring was extended to a depth of 20 feet below ground surface.
Pacific Crest Engineering completed a geotechnical investigation for the Family Center Addition at Natividad Medical Center. The study included determining the liquefaction potential, lateral spreading potential, and settlement potential for the proposed addition. One 8-inch diameter test boring was drilled as well as two CPTs. Based on the drilling and CPT results in conjunction with the 17 feet of engineered fill to be placed on top of the native soils, it was deemed that the liquefaction potential for the site was low. This was due to the low to very low liquefaction potential for the upper 15-20 feet of soil and the very low liquefaction potential for the engineered fill to be placed upon native soils for a total of 30-35 feet of non-liquefiable soils above interbedded silts, clays, and sands. As a result, the potential for lateral spreading was also deemed low, and settlement was determined to be 0.25 to 0.50 inches and would occur within the first 50 days upon completion of the foundation.
444 Airport Blvd, Suite 106, Watsonville, CA 95076 · 831-722-9446
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