16 APRIL 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® www.starironworks.com 257 Caroline Street Punxsutawney, PA 15767 800-927-0560 • 814-427-2555 Fax: 814-427-5164 Serving the Construction Industry Silent Micropiles Aid in Highland Hospital Project Adapted from Information by IDEAL Foundation Systems The Highland Hospital Patient Tower Project in Rochester, New York, will add five stories to the existing two-story southeast wing, creating a unified seven-story structure for the south and southeast wings. This $70 million expansion will add 58 patient rooms, enabling nearly all patients to have private rooms. Additionally, the project will provide space for advanced clinical programs and the necessary mechanics to support the new facility. The project’s most significant challenge was adhering to a zero-tolerance policy for vibrations and noise due to the installation area’s proximity to patient rooms, as well as the critical nature of the hospital’s medical procedures, which allowed no disruptions. The hospital’s location, within a residential neighborhood, required careful minimization of noise, mess, and large machinery, as well. Restricted access on the hospital grounds created another obstacle, as the installation of most piles was limited to a narrow 15-foot-wide area between the two wings, and bulky installation equipment could not be used. CMI Structural Solutions, the installer, presented STELCOR drilled-in displacement piles (DDMs) as a value-engineered option. STELCOR installation is relatively quiet compared to other piling methods, and its piles are driven into the ground using an excavator and hydraulic-powered rotary drive head, making it a suitable choice for the project. Vibrations monitoring during the pile installation showed extremely low and nondisruptive levels, posing no disturbance to the hospital or nearby residential community. To install the foundation, a 25-ton excavator was the largest piece of equipment needed. A colloidal grout mixer was kept in a remote location while a track loader was used to transport pile sections to the site when needed. A total of 93 STELCOR DDMs were installed to support the new building, allowing the CMI team to reduce costs and maximize limited site space by utilizing compact machinery for pile installation. Through value engineering and standardized installation equipment for all foundations, the project achieved substantial savings in both time and money for all parties. CONST
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