The Benefits of an Early Contractor Involvement For A Mega Project In San Francisco-Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The presentation describes how early contractor involvement benefited a $2 billion upgrade to San Francisco’s Southeast Treatment Plant. Malcolm Drilling was selected as a foundation core trade partner in 2018, allowing it to collaborate with the owner, construction manager, and designers well before construction. Its input shaped logistics, permitting, dewatering tests, and value engineering—including demonstrating that CFA piles could perform comparably to drilled shafts.<br /><br />Brierley Associates designed a 160-foot-deep diaphragm wall for a 42-foot excavation beside an active railroad. The wall extended into low-permeability Old Bay Clay to control groundwater. Design challenges included soft soils, strict movement limits, existing utilities and piles, and tiebacks installed below the water table. BIM and extensive monitoring supported coordination and performance.<br /><br />Construction included slurry-supported panel excavation, three rows of tiebacks, dewatering wells, and more than 500 tie-downs beneath the digesters. The shoring performed as designed, and the project was reported on schedule and under budget.

Keywords

early contractor involvement

San Francisco Southeast Treatment Plant

foundation core trade partner

diaphragm wall

tiebacks

dewatering