Seismic Retrofit for the Veterans Administration Hospital in La Jolla, California.
Shoring Design: Earth Support Systems, Inc.
Shoring & Foundation: Clark Construction
Case Study
Clark Construction is the largest, privately held contractor in the United States with annual revenues of over $3 billion. Vice President Carlos Gonzales brought in Earth Support Systems to do the shoring design for a seismic retrofit for their client, the V.A. Hospital in La Jolla, California
Gonzales explained why he chose Earth Support Systems, “They have the reputation of having a sound knowledge of complex support systems. The seismic retrofit meant that we would have to go around the hospital, under it and over it. I knew I didn’t want to work with anyone else because ESSI’s plan would be economical and would ensure the safety of the adjacent hospital.
“Earth Support Systems helps us be successful in two ways,” Gonzales continued. “First, they provide us with a good basic design that is structurally sound and financially responsible. Secondly, their designs always have the flexibility and adaptability to change according to unforeseen circumstances. Things are usually different from what you expect– that’s the nature of the beast.”
The VA Hospital project was no exception to the rule. The project included building a new foundation around and under an active utility tunnel that had to be protected in place. The utility tunnel wasn’t properly documented, and when it was exposed, Clark Construction realized it was not built the way they had been told. Earth Support Systems received a call late one night about the tunnel and responded immediately.
“Will Fischetti of Earth Support Systems came in late that night, studied the problem and worked through the new solution,” Gonzales stated. “This was one of several surprises during the course of the project. I couldn’t be happier with Will and his team. That’s why we enlisted their help to begin with. We knew their design would be adaptable. We knew they would be responsive and prepared to modify their design to accommodate unexpected situations.”
Jim Douglas, superintendent of field operations at Clark Construction Group, echoed Gonzales’ praise. “We worked with Earth Support Systems over a two-year period on complex excavation at eight locations around the VA San Diego Hospital. We brought them into the seismic retrofit project because of their experience in complex shoring design. Compared to other shoring design engineers,” Douglas emphasized, “Earth Support Systems stands out because they are able to quickly put together working documents. I was impressed with their ability to work around existing conditions at the VA Hospital and their ability to adapt their design based on changing sub-surface conditions.”
The VA Hospital seismic retrofit project, a $55 million project, is due to be completed ahead of schedule.
Testimonials
“When our company was contracted to do a seismic retrofit of the V.A. Hospital in La Jolla, I called Will Fischetti at Earth Support Systems because of their reputation and knowledge of complex excavation support systems. A seismic retrofit meant that we had to go around the hospital, under it and over it. I knew I didn’t want to work with anyone else, I knew that Earth Support Systems’ plan would be economical and would ensure the safety of the adjacent hospital. With ESSI’s help he project was completed 4 months ahead of schedule.”
Carlos Gonzalez
Vice President
Clark Construction Group, CA – LP
San Diego, California
“Clark Construction worked with Earth Support Systems over a two-year period on complex excavation at eight locations around the VA San Diego Hospital. We brought them into the seismic retrofit project because of their experience in complex shoring design. Compared to other shoring design engineers, Earth Support Systems stands out because they are able to quickly put together working documents. I was impressed with their ability to work around the existing conditions of the VA Hospital and their ability to adapt their design based on changing sub-surface conditions.”
Jim Douglas
Superintendent, Field Operations
Clark Construction Group, CA – LP
San Diego, CA