Hays County Juvenile Detention Facility Investigation
| Owner | Hays County |
|---|---|
| Client | Steve Brown, Atty (Representing Hays County) |
| Project Location | San Marcos, Texas |
Key Features:
- Structural Investigation
- Foundation Retrofit Recommendations
P.E. Structural performed a detailed structural investigation of the 42,000sf facility. This existing building was being purchased by Hays County, and the purpose of our investigation was to observe and document visible signs of damage and distress that existed throughout the building and to identify the likely cause of the damage. This investigation was intended to be the first phase in developing a scope for remedial work to correct the existing damage and to prevent further damage from occurring in the future.
We visited the site to observe and document large cracks and spalling in exposed concrete slabs and masonry walls throughout the entire interior of the building. To determine behavioral patterns from the foundation system, we measured top of slab elevations using a water level and then composed a contour map of the slab elevations; slab differential elevations varied across the building by over 5 inches. The original geotechnical study indicated that the soils below the building pad are highly-expansive clays, so we immediately suspected soil movement may have been a possible source of the reported problems and contracted Raba-Kistner, a geotechnical and forensic engineering firm, to perform a new geotechnical study. Consistent with the observed cracking patterns, the new soil borings showed signs of water present below the slab.
A comprehensive report was prepared for Hays County describing the current state of damage and distress as well as potential solutions. We concluded that the floating slab in the middle of the building had likely settled due to saturated select fill under the building pad. We recommended four separate phases of discovery and retrofit work: first, that all water sources be eliminated and a drainage system and other water control measures be constructed; second, that water currently trapped below the building slab be drained; third, that the building then be allowed time to settle into its natural, water-free position; and fourth, once the soils below the foundation stabilized, to mud-jack the slab and repair the cosmetic problems in walls, ceilings and slabs.