Irvington Village

Work

Saving Money in the Foundation: Geopier versus traditional pile system in poor soil conditions

This five-story, low-income assisted living facility offers 104 studio and one-bedroom apartments in Portland. DCI Engineers provided structural design services for the facility, and coordinated closely with the entire design team to find cost-saving solutions.

Location:

Portland, Oregon

Area:

69,700-sf

Size:

5 stories

Units:

104

Service:

Structural

Industries:

Multi-Family Residential, Senior Living

Primary Material:

Concrete

Project Highlights

Totals 69,700-sf and contains 104 studio and one-bedroom units, as well as a library, meeting rooms, and a secure central courtyard.
Post-tensioned concrete slab was chosen for its quality, economics, and ability to provide open common space on the lower floor.
Poor soil conditions on the site mandated the use of a geopier foundation system, which utilized compacted gravel columns to support conventional spread footings.