Diegan Hotel

Temporary Shoring Design, and design of façade support for existing historical building façade.

Shoring Design: Earth Support Systems, Inc.

Foundation Contractor: Malcolm Drilling Company

Case Study

Since it opened in 1962, Malcolm Drilling Company has become one of the largest and most successful foundation contractors in the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, MDC has developed specialized and proprietary techniques that have enabled them to handle difficult earth support systems that require innovative design/build techniques. Jack White, superintendent of MDC’s San Diego office, has worked with Will Fischetti, founder of Earth Support Systems, for over ten years on numerous projects, including the Marriott Residence Inn project in San Diego in 2007. White contacted Fischetti to design the shoring and façade support plans. The Marriott Residence Inn was being built adjacent to the historic Diegan Hotel, a hundred-year-old landmark building. Because of the age of the Diegan Hotel, the building had a sub-standard foundation which needed to be supported with underpinning while the hole was being dug for the Marriott.

“Fischetti is always my first choice for façade support projects,” White explained. “My job as a shoring contractor is to assemble a good package in a limited amount of time with a good budget. Will and his team do the job well. His designs make sure the problem is covered with an inexpensive solution. He gives me a simple system that is easy to assemble in a short period of time.”

“When we come across unforeseen situations,” White further explained, “I can call Will, and he will get back to me within the hour and solve the problem fast, whether it’s the presence of water that should have been held back at the street or unexpected weather that wasn’t considered. If we have a problem with material unavailability, we can fax the materials list to him, and he will adjust immediately to the substituted materials. “In an industry where down time is very costly, “White concluded, “Will and his team help us deal with the unexpected efficiently which enables us to continue an unimpeded flow of production.”