Case History: Harbor Point Baltimore Evolution of Deep Foundations over 40 years-Paper

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Harbor Point in Baltimore evolved from a shipbuilding and chrome-processing peninsula into a remediated brownfield and mixed-use waterfront neighborhood. From 1985 onward, cleanup and redevelopment required coordinated geotechnical, groundwater, and foundation solutions across soft marine sediments, organic clay, uncontrolled fill, and weathered bedrock.<br /><br />The environmental remedy, constructed in phases between 1989 and 2002, combined a stone perimeter embankment, a deep soil-bentonite hydraulic barrier, groundwater monitoring and pumping, and a multimedia cap. The embankment stabilized the shoreline after dredging soft sediments; temporary pile supports and monitoring helped protect existing bulkheads during construction. Aquifer testing and MODFLOW modeling showed that a low-permeability barrier keyed into bedrock was needed to maintain groundwater flow inward. The roughly 2,800-foot-long barrier was built in a trench up to 85 feet deep, with quality-control testing confirming very low hydraulic conductivity. Surcharge fill and wick drains addressed settlement in compressible deposits, while the cap limited infiltration and directed drainage.<br /><br />Redevelopment within the capped area presented additional constraints: intrusive work required environmental controls, and groundwater and excavated materials were costly to manage. Driven pipe piles proved more practical than drilled foundations. Load testing justified higher allowable capacities for 16- and 18-inch piles, reducing the number required while supporting high-rise construction. Construction practices also evolved to limit stormwater entering excavations and becoming contaminated contact water.<br /><br />One parcel remains to be developed, with dense abandoned foundations and highly variable, aggressive groundwater chemistry. Proposed plans include reusing existing foundations as ground improvement and designing piles for cantilevered floors. The case illustrates how investigations, modeling, testing, and construction monitoring helped adapt foundation engineering to environmental requirements and enable waterfront revitalization.

Keywords

Harbor Point

Baltimore

brownfield redevelopment

waterfront neighborhood

soil-bentonite barrier

groundwater remediation

multimedia cap

driven pipe piles

geotechnical engineering

foundation design