Set in the heart of Queenstown, O’Connell’s is an iconic shopping and leisure destination that has undergone a significant redevelopment to blend luxury retail with an artisan, locally-focused food and beverage location.
In 2019, ENGEO completed a geotechnical site investigation of the existing O‘Connell’s site to inform a detailed seismic assessment of the structures ability to withstand a significant seismic event. Later, ENGEO was engaged to conduct ground investigations and prepare a conceptual ground improvement design to meet the client’s seismic performance goals. The ground improvement intends to reduce the liquefaction susceptibility of the soils beneath the foundations, improving the overall performance of the structure.
ENGEO proposed resin injection ground improvement beneath load bearing pad foundations to increase the level of seismicity the foundations can tolerate. ENGEO then completed construction monitoring of ground improvement resin injection, monitored verification testing using modern geophysical methods and modelled the seismic performance of finished foundation subgrades.
ENGEO considers that resin injection ground improvement had demonstrably met the performance target of liquefaction suppression of the soil profile.
“ENGEO came recommended to us and worked in a Team and collaborative manner to achieve the results we wanted. The decision to improve the ground came late in the design phase of the Project and required some lateral thinking on our procurement strategy. Although the work was fast tracked somewhat we felt the Team had control throughout the initial testing, and then work phases, and ultimately the ground improvement was completed on time and within the budget set very early on. In particular Sam Murray was very attentive and, with Neil Charters support, gave us confidence in the people, the process, and the decisions made”
Steve McLean- General Manager- Developments (Skyline Enterprises).
ENGEO Project Team: Ayoub Riman, Sam Murray, Neil Charters, Naomi Norris
