Neuroscience Lab, Building 19a, UCSF Mission Bay Campus

• Clients: Clark Construction (geotechnical services) & Mission Bay Development Group (methane mitigation system)
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Senior Engineer: Cary Ronan
• Principals-in-Charge: Lori A. Simpson and Jeffrey Ludlow
  

Reclaimed in the 1880s, the Building 19a site in the new UCSF Mission Bay campus is underlain by heterogeneous fill, weak and compressible Bay Mud, dense sand, and bedrock. The site development will consist of a new five-story building to house laboratory facilities.

Treadwell & Rollo performed a geotechnical investigation for the building, consisting of borings advanced to bedrock. We provided recommendations regarding pile foundations, below-grade walls, seismic design, utilities, and earthwork.

Noise and vibrations during construction were unacceptable during construction, and recommendations were provided for alternative foundations. Non-grout injected Tubex piles were eventually chosen, and we provided recommendations for an indicator and test pile program.

We provided observation during installation and testing of the pile foundation system, including several compression and tension load tests and a lateral load test. We also provided observation during production pile installation; all piles were installed to bedrock.

Treadwell & Rollo also provided engineering design services for the building's methane mitigation system due to the presence of elevated methane concentrations in soil gas beneath the site. The mitigation system is designed to prevent intrusion of methane gas into the structure and is comprised of a methane barrier beneath the building slab which is underlain by a collection and venting system. The design details are coordinated with the building architectural, structural and mechanical features to be integral to the building features. Follow-up services will include observation and documentation of the system construction, and preparation of an operation and maintenance plan.