Mohawk Valley Health System Regional Hard Hat News

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John Ostrander, general superintendent has been in the construction industry for an impressive 35 years and brings extensive knowledge and experience in roadwork, bridgework, and underground to the MVHS Regional Medical Center project. John’s accomplishments as an operator and superintendent span from commercial buildings to roadways, bridges, and lakes in having worked on projects like the GlobalFoundries Plant in Malta, NYS Route 17 Monticello Bypass, and the Whaley Lake Dam. John’s expertise in navigating the complexities of the underground and foundational work that supports the new hospital is key to the success of the project. His attention to detail and determination is matched in John’s personal life, as he built a beautiful family home on Great in the . In John’s spare time he enjoys working on projects around his house, spending time with his family, hunting, and fishing.

THE LATEST: SOIL IMPROVEMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS Following the Phase 1 demolition work completed by Sessler Rammed Aggregate Piers (RAP)s and Rigid Inclusions (RI)s Wrecking, Gilbane began preparing the footprint of the new are the two soil stabilization methods that were designed to hospital building for the steel superstructure. After testing of improve the stability of the site in preparation for the building the site was completed the existing soil within the footprint footings and foundations. RAPs are underground compacted was found to be compressible and unstable making it stone columns that are installed by excavating holes to a unsuitable to support the weight of the new building. Soil designed depth of approximately 11 feet then feed high stabilization was required to increase the bearing capacity density stones into the holes and compact the 20” “lifts” of the of the soil and provide a stable base that would bear the stones through a vertical ramming process until RAP reach tremendous weight of the new building without settling. the desired elevations. The RAPs were installed specifically to support the building slab on grade that will make up the first Under the supervision of Gilbane Sitework General floor of the building while the RIs are installed to support the Superintendent John Ostrander, Ground Improvement bottom of the footings the building structure will bear on. Services, Inc. (GIS) mobilized on March 23, 2020, to begin the installation of 644 rammed aggregate piers and 854 rigid inclusions inside the building footprint of the new hospital.

Article by: James Czora and Myungjoo Park, Project Engineers Gilbane Building Company Mohawk Valley Health System Regional Hard Hat News

THE LATEST: SOIL IMPROVEMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS CONTINUED The RIs are similar to the RAPs, they are drilled into the ground weight of the building over an entire building footprint. This is to bypass the soft soil to reach the stiffer soil or rocks below, one of the most important aspects of any building because it however, instead of using compacted aggregates as a filler, not only acts as an anchor for the structure, but also transfers rigid inclusions are comprised of a non-compressive grout that the load imposed by the superstructure to the ground on is injected into the ground as the drill bit is removed. Once the which it rests. building foundations are installed they will transfer the load of As GIS completed their soil improvements on the west end of the building through the RIs down to suitable soil minimizing the building footprint, The Wesson Group, site preparation/ the potential for the building to settle under the full load of the excavation contractor, started to excavate tthe renches per building, the equipment and the future occupants. the designed locations of footings and mat slabs. Murnane The foundation system for this project is a shallow foundation Building Contractors began forming and pouring the concrete system comprised mainly of spread footings and concrete footings and concrete slabs for the foundation. The foundation slabs, referred to as mat slabs. The size of these footings vary is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2020, and the erection of depending on the soil condition, the bearing capacity of soil, steel will be the next sequence of construction. and the total load applied to the area - there is a total of 225 spread footings in the MVHS downtown hospital foundation. Mat slabs are not structurally connected to the RIs, but rest on the soil to minimize contact pressures and distribute the

Article by: James Czora and Myungjoo Park, Project Engineers Gilbane Building Company