Award-winning Arizona geotechnical project will boost future Phoenix-area economy

Client

Confidential

Location

Phoenix, AZ

Challenge

Sometimes we contribute to projects that benefit our communities for years to come. From 2020-2022, our Phoenix office was contracted to provide geotechnical work for a FAB plant on a 1,000-acre project site in the native Sonoran Desert. Our exploration team was tasked with performing borings for subsurface exploration, laboratory testing, geotechnical engineering analysis, and report preparation. That included 160 borings, ranging between 40 and 80 feet below ground surface. Project timelines were tight, with several subcontractors involved and up to four drill rigs operating simultaneously at times. With service additions and changes to field operations coming in constantly, flexibility and attention to detail were vital.

Solution

The geotechnical data our team collected was essential to making sure the project was constructed on solid footing. Testing of project site soil samples by our Phoenix laboratory formed the basis for numerous recommendations for the FAB plant, including earthwork, site preparation, excavation considerations, subgrade preparation, fill material placement and compaction requirements, grading and drainage, permanent slopes, construction observation and water testing, and foundation recommendations. 

Organization was crucial on this project. Field exploration sites were constantly being changed and/or added during construction for services including borings, field electrical resistivity testing, and geophysical surveys. Our team developed a spreadsheet and naming convention to track the additions and avoid unnecessary duplications of work. 

The client also trusted our team to provide supplemental letters and reports for additional recommendations to several key areas of the project. 

Results

Our team members came together to deliver a successful project for the client, coordinating field and laboratory work to continuously deliver accurate, reliable data on a demanding schedule. 

Not only was our client very satisfied with our work, but our Phoenix geotechnical team was recognized with the 2022 Project of the Year award by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Geo-Institute – Arizona chapter. The FAB plant will also have the distinction of being the first to operate using cutting-edge N4 process technology – playing a vital role in the U.S. government’s goal of increasing domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Once the plant is operational, it’s anticipated to bring thousands of jobs to the Phoenix area.