Project Summary

Internally Braced Sheet Piles

Earth Retention
1600 Museum Park
Chicago, IL

A
new 32-story residential high-rise with two levels of
below-grade parking was planned for construction in
downtown Chicago. The foundation consisted of both
rock caissons and caissons belled into hardpan. Soil conditions
consist of 8 feet of urban fill overlaying 10 feet of loose to medi-
um dense sand over a 6-foot layer of stiff silty clay with very soft
silty clay below. The excavation depth for the basement varied
from 18 feet to 24 feet, with an elevator core area 38 feet below
grade. Ground water was encountered at 10 feet below grade.

Problem
The site was surrounded by an electric power substation to the
north, an active passenger and freight railroad situated on a berm Looking west at upper cross-lot braces. Vertical H-piles are
9 feet above site grade to the east, townhomes along the south supporting the braces at the approximate mid-point. Railroad
property line, and an active street on the west side. An earth reten- berm is in the background; townhomes are in the upper right.
tion system was necessary to protect the surrounding properties
from the deep excavation and to prevent movement of the railroad
adjacent to the excavation at the northeast corner of the site.

Design Solution
Hayward Baker designed and installed an internally braced sheet
pile earth retention system, which minimized water infiltration into
the deep basement excavation and protected the surrounding struc-
tures from movement. Cross-lot and corner braces were installed
for the upper level of bracing. The lower level consisted of corner
braces and rakers.

Construction
The work consisted of installing approximately 545 linear wall feet
of permanent steel sheeting around the perimeter of the site and
around a 15-foot-by-42-foot pit for the elevator shaft.
A key feature of this project was constructability of the concrete
work and the efficient removal of the waler and braces. Boxout
formwork for brace penetrations through the foundation walls and
floor slabs were not required and this permitted removal of upper
and lower level bracing in full length pieces.
Northwest corner of the site depicting upper corner braces.
The silver shoring in the middle of the picture was installed by
the railroad to prevent the railroad berm from encroaching on
the site.
Owner
The Enterprise Companies, Chicago, IL
General Contractor
Kenny Construction Company, Wheeling, IL
Engineer
Collins Engineers Inc., Chicago, IL
 Project Summary
1600 Museum Park, continued
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Movement of the railroad during excavation was a particular
concern since the centerline of the tracks was 15 feet from the
excavation at the northeast corner of the site. Sheeting movement
was monitored on a weekly basis from nine control points.
Maximum horizontal movement was 1 inches. The remaining
control points averaged -inch of horizontal movement.

Conclusion
The sheet piles minimized water infiltration into the excavation,
allowing control of ground water from sump pumps. The design
of the earth retention system permitted bracing to be removed in
a sequence that allowed the general contractor to work with min- Upper cross-lot bracing attached to west sheeting wall of the
imal interference from the bracing. deep basement excavation.

Typical cross-section.
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Formwork for the upper level garage slab being installed. After the 336-668-0884 201-489-1700
slab had been poured, upper level bracing was removed. Hayward Baker Inc. 2008
www.HaywardBaker.com
Pub No: 15536