PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Providence Vista Condominiums
Restoration project to permanently solve
long-term foundation settlement
By Kim Biggar
The Society of Hope, a Kelowna,
B.C.-based non-profit organization
that provides affordable
housing, owns and operates
700 housing units in the interior
of the province. One of its properties,
Providence Vista, located in Westbank
– about four hours east of Vancouver
– includes several fourplex buildings,
one of which showed signs of
settlement almost immediately after construction
was completed in 2001.
A geotechnical report had recommended
standard construction on the
site, but soil instability became evident
when exterior cracks on the building
were noted.
In 2004, slope movement was
confirmed by a geotechnical
engineer. Monitoring of soil conditions
continued until, in 2007, the
Society chose to lift the building and
install underpinning piles to a depth
of 12 metres. Interior and exterior
fixes were made, but the building continued
to move.
In 2016, the Society again decided
that action was required and a team was
put together to develop and implement a
permanent solution:
• Geotechnical engineer – Tetra Tech
• Structural engineer – CWMM
Consulting Engineers Ltd.
• Construction (helical pile installation,
levelling of building) – Team
Foundation Systems Ltd.
Tight quarters create logistical
challenges
The plan to stop the sinking and
ensure the building’s stability involved
installing helical piles to properly
support the foundation.
“It was a perfect storm for settlement
on the site,” said Grant McKinney,
owner and project manager of Team
Foundation Systems (Team). “The soil
is not the best and the building is on
the edge of a bank. A finished building
on a neighbouring lot had to be demolished
and completely removed due to
ongoing structural concerns.”
Conditions around the building
meant Team had a small laydown
space, a very tight working space and
a ravine and creek to protect during
the construction process. The crew
was also cognizant of the families
that were temporarily displaced to
enable the work to be done and of
the other families nearby that had
to live through the noise and mess
COURTESY OF TEAM FOUNDATION SYSTEMS LTD.
PILING CANADA 57