School Must Go On: A Case Study on the Stabilization of the Many Farms High School Using Compaction Grouting-PPT Presentation

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Many Farms High School in northeastern Arizona experienced ongoing ground fissures and excessive settlement. Dissolution of gypsum and moisture-sensitive fine-grained soils contributed to the problem; building damage included broken water pipes, cracked walls, and doors and windows that no longer functioned. Some original buildings had been demolished because of serviceability issues.<br /><br />Completed in 2019, the design-build project paired YeDoma as civil design lead with Keller as specialty compaction-grouting contractor. The work included approximately 1,500 grout-injection points, installed during and between school operations.<br /><br />Compaction grouting stabilizes ground by injecting low-mobility aggregate grout in stages. The grout forms bulbs that displace and densify surrounding soil, with primary, secondary, and tertiary injection points sequenced to provide coverage. Installation involved drilling or driving casing, then injecting grout—typically from the bottom upward—while controlling pressure, volume, and injection rate. On-site batching, monitoring for ground heave, and recording drilling and grouting data supported quality control.<br /><br />Project design also included sitewide drainage improvements to direct water away from buildings. The approach aimed to limit the need for structural connections and minimize disruption to the school. A test strip was used to assess grout takes and establish a site-specific improvement factor.<br /><br />Quality and building protection measures included extensive baseline surveys, careful site preparation to protect floor tiles, instrumentation and monitoring before, during, and after construction, contractor logs, and grout quality-assurance testing.

Keywords

Many Farms High School

ground fissures

settlement

gypsum dissolution

compaction grouting

specialty contractor

drainage improvements

soil stabilization

quality assurance

Arizona