How The Dwyer Company Protected a Historic Campus Building During Major Renovation with Engineered Tie-Back Anchors and Underpinning
- Project Type: Commercial
- Project Services: Earth Retention, Helical Tiebacks/Anchors
When Miami University’s College of Elm underwent renovation requiring installation of a new elevator and stairwell, the project presented a unique engineering challenge: excavating directly adjacent to the existing building without causing settlement or undermining the historic structure. Working in close collaboration with Schaefer engineering firm and general contractor Messer Construction Company, The Dwyer Company designed and installed a support system featuring 6 tie-back anchors and 5 underpins that enabled safe excavation against the building while preserving complete structural integrity, proving that even the most structurally sensitive renovation projects can achieve aggressive timelines with proper engineering coordination and precision execution.
Quick Facts
- Oxford, Ohio
- Project Type: Commercial – Structural Support Retrofit
- Foundation System: 6 tie-back anchors and 5 underpins for structural protection
- Owner: Miami University
- Partners: Messer Construction Company (GC), Schaefer (Engineer)
The Challenge
The primary challenge was coordinating closely with excavation and earthwork contractors in severely confined working quarters adjacent to an occupied campus building, requiring precise sequencing of operations and continuous communication to ensure safe, efficient project execution in the limited available space. The renovation project demanded excavation directly against the existing College of Elm building to accommodate the new elevator shaft and stairwell—creating significant risk of settlement or undermining the historic structure’s foundation if not properly supported. Our team needed to carefully navigate the existing structural elements and establish a comprehensive protection plan that would enable aggressive excavation work while maintaining absolute structural integrity of the occupied building. Conventional excavation approaches without engineered structural support couldn’t achieve the required excavation depths adjacent to the foundation without extensive and costly risk of building damage, settlement, or structural compromise.
Key Project Details
tie-back anchors installed into existing building wall for lateral support during excavation
underpins strategically positioned to transfer building loads through excavation zone
Precision coordination with excavation contractors in severely confined working spaces
Close collaboration with Schaefer engineering and Messer Construction throughout design and execution
The Solution: Engineered Tie-Back Anchors and Underpinning System
Working in close collaboration with Schaefer engineering firm and general contractor Messer Construction Company, The Dwyer Company designed and installed a structural support system featuring 6 tie-back anchors and 5 underpins that preserved the structural integrity of the existing building while enabling safe excavation for the stairwell and elevator addition. The solution required detailed coordination among all parties, meticulous attention to structural loading details, and cooperative execution of installation sequencing with excavation operations.
The installation process involved establishing structural safety measures to prevent any settlement or lateral movement of the existing building, strategically positioning tie-back anchors into the existing wall to provide lateral support during excavation, and installing underpins beneath the existing foundation to transfer loads safely through the disturbed excavation zone to competent bearing strata. Each component was installed to precise engineered specifications with continuous monitoring to verify structural performance throughout the excavation sequence.
The entire installation was completed efficiently within the project timeline, allowing the renovation to maintain its aggressive construction schedule and providing Miami University with a structurally sound building expansion while eliminating any risk of settlement or undermining of the historic structure.
Why Tie-Back Anchors and Underpinning for Building Renovations?
This project exemplifies The Dwyer Company’s expertise in delivering engineered structural protection solutions for challenging renovation and excavation projects. Tie-back anchor and underpinning systems provided:
- Retaining Wall Stabilization – Secures and straightens retaining walls affected by shifting or moving soils
- Load Transfer Through Weak Soils – Transfers structural loads to stable soil or bedrock in areas with poor soil conditions
- Excavation Support – Stabilizes trench or pit walls during digging to prevent collapses and keep projects on schedule
- Slope Stabilization – Secures sloped terrain against erosion or landslides, protecting property investments
- Foundation Underpinning – Strengthens existing foundations to support new loads or repair settlement—perfect for renovations or expansions
- Commercial Construction – Supports large-scale projects requiring robust foundation or wall anchoring, such as infrastructure or building expansions
Why Choose The Dwyer Company for structural integrity?
Deep History • Solid Choice
The Dwyer Company’s proven track record in commercial and institutional foundation systems made us the trusted partner for this critical campus renovation project. Our team’s technical expertise, advanced equipment, and commitment to precision execution delivered a structural protection system that enabled successful building expansion while preserving the integrity of Miami University’s historic campus structures.