Cloverdale Sports and Ice Complex
The Cloverdale Sports and Ice Complex foundation required helical anchor installation to address highly variable soil conditions that rendered the original design impractical. TerraCana’s technical expertise enabled rapid identification of an alternative solution, switching from drilled anchors to a helical anchor system with real-time quality verification. This adaptability proved critical for this institutional project, where foundation performance could not be compromised.
The Challenge
The Cloverdale arena project encountered significant subsurface challenges that rendered the original foundation design impractical. The initial specifications called for drilled soil anchors to resist tension loads. However, highly variable soil conditions across the site produced inconsistent results during anchor installation. This variability created a critical problem: without consistent anchor performance, the anchors had to be significantly overdesigned costing both time and money. The project required an alternative anchoring solution that could adapt to unpredictable soil conditions while providing immediate verification of load capacity.
The Solution
TerraCana, working closely with Terrane Geotechnical Group, identified helical anchors as the technically superior alternative for this site. Unlike drilled and grouted anchors, helical anchor systems provide real-time installation torque monitoring, which correlates directly to load capacity. This allowed the team to verify anchor performance during installation rather than waiting for post-installation testing that might reveal inadequate capacity. The switch to AB Chance SS175 helical anchors enabled quality assurance throughout the installation process. Each anchor’s torque readings confirmed it had reached the required bearing stratum, and all 242 anchors were subsequently proof tested to 275 kN to validate performance. The project also required over 220 driven pipe piles for compression loads, installed to depths between 48 and 72 feet depending on subsurface conditions. Pre-production static load testing and PDA testing during construction ensured the driven pile component of the foundation met structural requirements.
The Outcome
Technical Specifications
Key Outcomes
