Overview
G2 Consulting Group performed a geotechnical investigation and provided special inspections/materials testing for the new $48 million, 180,000 square foot, three-story Magna Seating of America headquarters in Novi, MI. Site paving, truck docks, site utilities, and a retaining wall were also constructed in association with the project. Magna Seating will consolidate activities into a single facility to house engineering, research and development, and sales and marketing teams.
Magna International is a leading global automotive supplier with 316 manufacturing operations and 87 product development, engineering and sales centers in 29 countries. The company has approximately 133,000 employees. Its product capabilities include producing body, chassis, interior, exterior, seating, power train, electronic, vision, closure and roof systems and modules, as well as complete vehicle engineering and contract manufacturing.
G2 Consulting Group explored the site to determine and evaluate general subsurface conditions and developed related foundation recommendations for support of the proposed structure, pavement recommendations, and construction considerations related to the development. Our special inspections / materials testing scope of our services included evaluating earthwork operations, utility installation, retaining wall installation observation, performing foundation inspection and concrete inspection for foundations, flatwork, and site concrete, performing structural steel evaluation, masonry inspection, and bituminous paving.
Challenges/Solutions:
Significant grade fills of up to 16 feet and grade cuts of up to five feet required close evaluation of engineered fill placement. Significant challenges with poor subsurface conditions required the removal and replacement of soft/loose fill soils with engineered fill to support the foundations and floor slab, as well as, the removal and replacement of unsuitable organic soils within the retaining wall development area. In addition, a variety of subgrade stabilization techniques were used to minimize removal of non-organic native soils for support of engineered fill.
Solution FOCUSED
With any design/build project, turnaround time on project deliverables is critical to meeting construction milestones. G2 performed this significant geotechnical investigation in a short period of time and provided preliminary design recommendations shortly after completion of the field report to allow the design/build team to move forward with their design.