Title:
Structural Investigation of a Mysterious Concrete Foundation
Author(s):
Harald Greve
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
15
Issue:
9
Appears on pages(s):
34-35
Keywords:
caissons; concrete construction; field tests; foundations; mass concrete; retaining walls; Structural Research
DOI:
Date:
9/1/1993
Abstract:
Describes the engineering study performed at the First National Bank Building, One Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey, an historic structure built during 1920 and 1921. The study was undertaken after a contractor's crew, despite several days of jackhammering, could not break through concrete located beneath the sidewalk outside the building foundation. The concrete turned out to be an 8-ft-wide continuous retaining wall, built down to bedrock using the caisson technique, to enable dewatering of the site prior to construction of the building foundation.