PROJECT OVERVIEW
Phoenix Project #1906
EMD Serono is a German based biotechnology and pharmaceutical company with a research and development facility in Billerica, MA. Since 2011, they have conducted expansion projects totaling over $80 million. Phoenix was contracted to design and install a temporary earth support system for a new foundation of their latest project.
Safety compliance was of particular concern with this owner, and Phoenix did not disappoint. The construction manager was so impressed with Phoenix’s daily procedures, that other incoming subcontractors would follow the standard that we had established on the jobsite.
With cuts over 15ft, a shotcrete soil nail wall was chosen as the most efficient way to support the excavation, while meeting a demanding schedule. Phoenix overcame unexpected soil conditions when a partial collapse of the shotcrete occurred during application. This was due to a poor fill layer surrounding a recently-installed site utility. The solution included adding additional shotcrete above the wall to create a swale for rainwater to move away from the wall. Ultimately, the owner, construction manager, and client were very complimentary of Phoenix’s performance on this project.