Challenge: Peak was challenged with constructing a new state-of-the-art experience center in a popular entertainment area located on a former landfill for the Village of Rosemont. The inconsistent landfill soil presented a major challenge that the soil was not strong enough to carry the weight of the building. Another challenge was that this site was close to the road, with an elevation difference of nearly 10 feet at one point—too close to allow for traditional sloping.
Additionally, the use of H-piles introduced a scheduling challenge to maintain construction equipment access for pouring the slab and erecting precast and steel structures in such a small space. The main challenge was that all pile caps and grade beams had dowels extending anywhere from 1–3 feet from them to tie into the structural slab reinforcement. These dowels severely limited site access and mobility on the pad, as damaging them could result in costly repairs to pile caps and grade beams.
Solution: After a thorough review of the site plans, civil engineering, and geotechnical reports, Peak and the project team agreed that H-piles were the best foundation solution. They would transfer the building loads to a lower, more competent soil stratum that could support the building safely. The original H-pile design called for uniform pile sizes and depths across the site. However, after further geotechnical evaluation and calculations, Peak proposed a value engineering (VE) solution: using smaller and shorter piles in select areas where soil conditions permitted. Both Peak and the Village agreed to proceed with this approach and share the associated risk, hoping that the savings will be much more. In the end, only 3 out of 160 piles needed to be extended beyond the design length. This VE proposal led to significant cost savings compared to the original design.
Furthermore, the jobsite sits just a few feet from busy Pearl Street, with a 10-foot elevation difference at some locations. The design team determined that a retaining wall was necessary at the steepest location. Traditional metal sheet piling was not ideal due to the risk of encountering buried debris in the landfill, and because of the lack of flexibility and added cost/time associated with redesigning and sourcing materials. Peak suggested a soldier pile and lagging retaining wall, allowing for greater adaptability. If an obstruction was encountered, the pile location could be slightly shifted without impacting the overall design. The wood lagging between piles could be adjusted in length to accommodate such shifts. Typically, a soldier pile and lagging wall would require tie-backs to resist soil pressure. However, tie-backs weren’t feasible here due to the street proximity and existing underground utilities in the easement. After extensive coordination with the design team, a final solution was approved: using larger and longer piles along with a reinforced concrete wall cast against the lagging to resist soil loads—without needing tie-backs.
To maintain site access and ensure safety, Peak proactively coordinated and scheduled specific areas of grade beams and pile caps to have dowels installed later using drilled and epoxied methods. This approach gave crane and equipment operators enough maneuvering space during precast and steel erection, without risking damage to dowels or structural elements. Peak’s dynamic problem-solving and proactive coordination saved both time and money, helping the project stay on schedule and within budget—if not ahead of both. This success was made possible thanks to the collaboration with the Village, who remained open to creative solutions, and a responsive, flexible design team that welcomed all the input from Peak.
