McLeod ICU Patient Tower

With the help of McKinney Drilling, WBI completed 20 of the 27 total caissons for the new McLeod ICU Patient Tower; ranging from 48” to 90” in diameter, and 60 to 98 feet deep. Since space was extremely limited, the caissons were installed using the Slurry Displacement Method. Caisson installation had been phased to accommodate the existing hospital central energy plant boilers shutdown, demolition and recommissioning. The caisson installation crew re-mobilized in early July to complete the remaining 7 caissons. WBI crews had been working since early April 2011 on the grade beams that connect the caissons. This work consisted of underpinning the existing hospital foundations to allow for deep adjacent grade beam excavations. Heavy embed plates were suspended in the top of the grade beams; which later served as steel frame wind braces and lateral support attachments. The heaviest embed plate cast in the grade beam was 20,000 lbs. WBI also performed the utility sitework to allow for the new caisson and grade beam installations. The utility work consisted of sanitary sewer and storm drain demolition, and new sanitary sewer and storm drain installation/relocation. WBI completed this project in September 2011.