Overview
A retaining wall supporting a parking facility at the St. Francis Medical Center site failed after heavy rainfall in the Summer of 2020. Timmons Group was called out to provide an emergency assessment of the issue and provide recommendations. Timmons Group performed an initial site investigation to determine the extent of the cause of the failure and documented the movement to understand if the wall is continuing to move. We delivered a report summarizing our findings and recommended next steps, including partial demolition plans that were recommended to be conducted immediately to ensure site safety.
The Timmons Group team provided a replacement wall design within 2 weeks and coordinated with the selected contractor. They finalized construction plans shortly after and coordinated with a subconsultant on a design for a stormwater detention basin that would prevent excess pressure from accumulating behind the replacement wall. The team attended preconstruction meetings and provided construction administration services, including regular construction inspections, throughout the project duration. Construction and development of final as-built plans were completed within three months.
Timmons Group provided phased on-site inspection of the work and documented the progress of the construction with detailed site visit reports. This documentation was then used by the facility owners to secure reimbursement from their insurance company for the damage. The completed structure and the overall system have performed well in recent similar-sized storm events, which is a testament to the resiliency of the design.
