Challenge

The Fort Bend parking garage site presented significant geotechnical obstacles that threatened project feasibility and timeline. The southwest Houston location featured highly organic, clay-rich soil with excessive moisture—conditions that made traditional foundation systems impossible. The site was an old pasture with soil unsuitable for a drilled pier with a poured concrete foundation, which would require a three-to-five-year natural loading process to stabilize the ground before construction could begin. The substantial loading requirements of the multi-level parking structure also necessitated a robust foundation system capable of supporting significant loads on compromised soil.

Solution

Flintco and our geotechnical trade partner collaborated and implemented an innovative rammed-aggregate pier soil-stabilization system. Unlike drilled concrete piers, aggregate piers improve ground conditions by reinforcing weak soils rather than relying solely on deep concrete elements.

Installation began with predrilling at each pier location. A specialized vibratory probe was then lowered into the hole, and clean crushed aggregate was placed in controlled lifts. Each lift was compacted using repeated vibration and ramming, creating a dense aggregate column while simultaneously densifying the surrounding clay soils. This process formed stiff, high-modulus support columns that, in combination with the improved soil matrix, distributed structural loads, increased bearing capacity, and reduced long-term settlement.

The system eliminated the need for extended soil consolidation, allowing foundation work to proceed immediately. Installation sequencing and quality control measures ensured that the piers met the design performance criteria across the site.

Result

Despite the longer installation process of the rammed aggregate pier system, the project was completed on schedule. The result is a stable, high-capacity foundation built to support the parking garage for the long term.