PROJECT OVERVIEW
Phoenix Project #1912
This project called for the installation of 100 drilled micropiles (“DMPs”) to support an apartment building in Boston’s Fenway-Kenmore area. This building houses many local students from nearby colleges including Berklee College of Music and Northeastern University. Two original buildings were heavily damaged by fire in October of 2018, displacing more than 100 residents. Full demolition of one building, and partial demolition of the adjacent building was necessary for reconstruction.
Phoenix installed 100 DMPs in the small footprint of the original buildings in low overhead and open headroom conditions. Piles were installed in multiple phases to facilitate congruent work by several construction trades. The original building foundation was made up of granite blocks on top of driven timber piles. This foundation couldn’t be reused due to the lowering water table seen in many areas of Boston’s Back Bay. These timber piles and granite blocks also contributed to heavily obstructed drilling conditions. The project team was able to respond to intense schedule demands, working long hours and up to 7 days per week, in the interest of advancing the project in a neighborhood where housing supply is very limited.