Projects

Garvin Boward Beitko Engineering has worked on hundreds of projects since its founding. Listed below are a sample of some notable projects we've had the priviledge of being involved with.

Robert Morris University

Garvin Boward Beitko has worked on numerous projects at the Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA, campus, including consulting (geotechnical investigations including comprehensive slope stability analyses to satisfy the Moon Township Code) and/or construction-phase services for: grading at Colonial Village; a new business school building; a proposed nursing school building; a proposed osteopathic school; several phases of the new loop road around the campus; and the proposed Concord Hall II residence.

Butler, PA, VA Hospital

We provided consulting engineering services as well as construction-phase services on projects at the Butler Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) during several phases of improvements at the campus, including a nursing home addition to the existing building as well as a domicilliary building.

"Big Box" Developments

We performed geotechnical engineering investigations and some construction-phase services for several "big box" developments in Grove City, Penn Hills, Erie, Chambersburg, and Irwin, PA. Many of these sites presented very challenging geologic conditions, including poor-quality and colsolidation-prone glacial outwash soils and mine subsidence/coal mining concerns.

Nevin Avenue Retaining Walls

This project involved the geotechnical investigation, design and construction-phase observation of two soldier beam and lagging retaining walls to support a narrow of Nevin Avenue along a tributary to the Ohio River in Sewickley Borough, Allegheny County, PA. Challenges at this site included weak alluvial soils along the stream bank and the need to avoid work in the creek due to its sensitivity as a tributary to the Ohio River.

Munhall Sewer Upgrade Project

Upon completion of a geotechnical investigation including both extensive test borings and test pits, we analyzed the stability of over a dozen existing retaining walls and one broad, steep slope adjacent to a streambed with respect to excavation (and potential undermining) for proposed sanitary sewer installation operations.

Cochranton Sewage Treatment Plant

We performed a geotechnical engineering investigation to delineate subsurface conditions at this site, as required to develop foundation recommendations for structures related to this entirely new treatment plant facility. We also monitored the installation and load-testing of auger-cast friction piles as well as the installation of over 100 production piles to provide support to the proposed structures.

Corapolis Water Tanks

We conducted geotechnical engineering investigations for two new water supply tanks to serve Coraopolis Borough, PA. One tank is an over 100-ft-high hydropillar structure, while the other tank is a conventional large standpipe structure. Site challenges included addressing the landslide-prone red bed strata at the standpipe tank site.

Old Whitaker Way Retaining Wall Project

We performed the geotechnical engineering investigation necessary to delineate site subsurface conditions as required to develop recommendations for the remediation of a severe landslide that rendered Old Whitaker Way impassable. We prepared design drawings and specifications for a soldier beam and lagging retaining wall to remediate the landslide. We also provided construction-phase field evaluation services during retaining wall construction.

University of PIttsburgh Darragh Street Housing Project

We performed a geotechnical engineering investigation as required to provide foundation recommendations for this four-building high-rise student housing facility at the University of Pittsburgh main campus in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. The buildings are supported on vertical cast-in-place drilled shafts (caissons) extending to competent bedrock at the floor of an extensive deep coal mine voids underlying the site. Our recommendations included providing the caissons with permanent steel casings to avoid potentially catastrophic foundations failures should the mine collapse and impose downdrag forces on the caissons.