office building foundations

protecting your investment

Office buildings represent a significant financial investment.  So when something goes wrong with the foundation, the damage can frustrating and costly.  If the building is up for sale, the problem is compounded since buyers will rarely consider a property with unsolved foundation problems.  GeoDynamics offers foundation evaluations for commercial real estate under contract for sale as well as for buildings currently in use.  If your property has been compromised by foundation issues, give us a call.  A GeoDynamics engineer can help you find a solution.

case studies

GeoDynamics has investigated and designed repairs for the foundations of numerous office buildings where the slab had moved to the point the building's usability had been compromised.  Here are a few examples of foundation problems solved:

multi-story building

GeoDynamics was retained to investigate the cause of the failure of the 1st floor  slab of a multi story building and why, even though it had supposedly been previously repaired, had failed again.  The building had been on the market for several years and even though the building was in a desirable location, could not be sold because the slab failure was so severe.  GeoDynamic’s investigation isolated the cause of the slab failure and provided the building owner with the repair concept that eventually led to the successful sale of the building.

office/warehouse

GeoDynamics was retained by the owner of large office/warehouse building (over 100,000 sq. ft.) to investigate why one section of the foundation was experiencing severe slab movement to the point it affected the concrete tilt wall panels. After analysis, the cause was determined and a repair plan was devised.

hotel

GeoDynamics was recently retained by a large hotel because portions of the slab for their convention center were experiencing significant differential foundation movement.  There were periods of noticeable upheaval during various times of the year yet noticeable settlement in other times. GeoDynamic’s investigation determined the probable causation for the movement and presented the client with several repair options.

TV Station

GeoDynamics was retained by a local TV station to determine why their slab foundation was experiencing movement, even though the slab had supposedly been previously repaired several years prior. Our investigation determined the problem and recommended a repair plan. Also, the Geo report strongly advised the client not to proceed with a repair option that had been recommended by others that could, if implemented, have caused significant structural damage not only to the foundation but to the superstructure supporting the 2nd floor.

Industrial manufacturing

GeoDynamics was retained by the owner of a building to investigate the foundation failure of a 50,000 sq. ft. building used to manufacture industrial items. The building was filled with large heavy machinery that operated 24 hours a day and production could not be interrupted. GeoDynamics designed a repair process that allowed the slab to be stabilized without interfering with the manufacturing process.

Church

GeoDynamics has been retained by several churches to determine the cause of foundation movement and develop a plan of repair. At the church shown in the photo, a portion of the slab had settled several inches and also caused damage to the plumbing system. Geo recommended repairs that restored the slab to a level position and ensured future stability.

COMMERCIAL PRIVATE SCHOOL

The property owners were concerned that their building was experiencing differential foundation movement that would disrupt their school operations. They based this opinion on a few sheetrock cracks and some manufactured stone that was coming loose and in danger of falling. Geo’s investigation determined that the foundation movement was very minor and within normal and acceptable standards. GeoDynamics showed the owners that the manufactured stone façade was loose because of faulty installation. Geo helped them find a reputable stone mason to make the necessary repairs.