VPoint, Arlington, VA
Steele Foundation recently completed the earth support system and underpinning for VPoint, a $32 million project located in Arlington, VA where historic components of an existing church were preserved and incorporated into the new structure. The complex provides underground parking, a new sanctuary for church services and housing units located within a block of a Metro station. The new structure included the addition of three below-grade stories and required shoring of the existing church steeple, underpinning of the steeple and school building, and sheeting to protect the adjacent streets. The support of excavation included hand-dug concrete underpinning piers, soldier beams and lagging, and tieback anchors. Wet, loose soils found at subgrade required undercuts up to five feet in depth. Additional bracing and carefully monitored excavation were needed to allow the concrete subcontractor to safely install the new foundations.