How The Dwyer Company Supported a Vertical Addition at 616 Race Street in Cincinnati
- Project Type: Commercial
- Project Services: Deep Foundation Systems, Micropiles
616 Race Street in Cincinnati is being redeveloped, with one to two stories proposed above the existing structure. Carrying that added load meant building capacity into the corner of the building first, so The Dwyer Company installed four micropiles there, working with general contractor Stonehenge Building Group, LTD and engineer Civil Solutions. Each pile extends approximately 30 feet and supports between 25 and 50 kips in compression along with 25 kips in tension. Tight corridors and sandy soils shaped how the crew got them in.
Adding stories to a building already standing?
Quick Facts
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Project Type: Commercial – Retrofit
- Property: 616 Race Street redevelopment
- Foundation System: Micropiles, four installed at the corner of the existing structure
- Pile Capacity: 25 to 50 kips in compression, 25 kips in tension
- Pier Depth: Approximately 30 feet
- Soil Conditions: Sand
- Site Conditions: Tight corridors and limited access, requiring smaller equipment
- Partners: Stonehenge Building Group, LTD (general contractor), Civil Solutions (engineer)
The Challenge
Adding one to two stories to a building puts load on a structure sized for what it already carries. At 616 Race Street the corner needed capacity underneath it before anything could go up above, which is a foundation problem before it is a framing problem.
The site made that harder. Corridors limited what could reach the corner, so the pile work called for smaller equipment throughout. The four piles also sat close together in sand, and piles set that tight in loose granular material can communicate with one another during installation. The order and the method mattered as much as the design capacity did.
Key Project Details
micropiles installed at the corner of the existing structure
Piles extended approximately in depth
The Solution: Micropile Foundation System
The Dwyer Company installed four micropiles at the building corner to pick up the load from the proposed addition. Each pile reaches roughly 30 feet and supports between 25 and 50 kips in compression along with 25 kips in tension. A micropile carries substantial capacity through a small diameter, which is what let the design work at a corner with this little room around it.
Installation took the planning. Loose sand shifts during drilling, and four piles set close together in that material can interact if they go in without a plan. The crew sequenced the piles to keep them from communicating with each other and used equipment sized to move through the corridors on site. Dwyer coordinated the work with Stonehenge Building Group, LTD and Civil Solutions.
The Impact
Capacity for the addition
Each pile supports 25 to 50 kips in compression and 25 kips in tension, sized for what the proposed floors bring down to the corner.
Installed through tight corridors
Smaller equipment reached the corner despite the access limits on the site.
Piles kept independent
Sequencing four closely spaced piles in sand kept them from communicating with one another during installation.
Capacity built from below
The work went in underneath the existing structure, so the corner is ready for the framing above it.
Why Micropiles?
Micropiles let The Dwyer Company add capacity at a building corner where access was tight and the soil was sand.
- High capacity, small diameter – Piles carry substantial load through a footprint that fits confined locations.
- Compact installation equipment – Rigs move through corridors that larger drilling equipment cannot enter.
- Suited to sand and variable soils – Drilled and grouted construction works in material that will not stand open.
- Compression and tension in one pile – A single pile can be designed for both, which matters when an addition brings uplift along with gravity load.
Why Choose The Dwyer Company for structural integrity?
Deep History • Solid Choice
The Dwyer Company’s proven track record in commercial and industrial foundation systems made us the trusted partner for the 616 Race Street redevelopment. Working alongside Stonehenge Building Group, LTD and Civil Solutions, our crew installed four micropiles at the building corner and gave the structure the capacity its vertical addition requires.
Planning to build up on a structure that is already there?