Micropiles below groundwater at the south auditorium block site, Buffalo, New York

Abstract

The CANALSIDE development in Buffalo, New York serves to revitalise the former site of the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The Auditorium was constructed in 1940 and founded on steel H-piles. It was demolished in 2009. The only portion of the Auditorium left intact was a subbasement equipment room with its floor 10 feet below groundwater. A four-story building was proposed to be constructed directly above the subbasement. The loads imparted by the new building would exceed the capacity of the existing piles, so micropiles were drilled through the subbasement floor to support the new building. Drilling through the existing slab and waterproofing system was a challenge due to water control. The concept for the micropiles included drilling from the subbasement roof through a standpipe bolted to the subbasement floor which was used to control water during drilling. The project included other foundation design and construction challenges, including asymmetrical pile cap geometry, water control and obstructions.