SKS Development Projects, San Francisco, California
Fugro is providing environmental and geotechnical services to SKS Investments on several high-profile development projects in San Francisco's multi-media gulch, Upper Mission, and South of Market areas. Fugro is SKS Investments' preferred provider because the firm responds rapidly and proactively during the demanding time constraints of property transaction and development construction.

For example, at 475 Brannan Street, negotiations with the City caused the original foundation design to be substituted with a higher cost alternative. Fugro worked closely with the structural designer to develop an alternative design that met project requirements and substantially reduced construction costs. Fugro's environmental evaluation of 350 Rhode Island Street, a 100-year-old recycling and waste transfer property, ultimately allowed SKS to purchase this prime property with assurances that the high chromium and nickel concentrations discovered by another consultant were actually naturally-occurring in the serpentine bedrock below the site.

The new Bryant Square commercial center covers an entire city block in San Francisco. A new 5-story commercial building with a 3-level basement parking garage will replace an existing building. The garage extends over 20 feet below adjacent grade and below the water table. Adjacent buildings will remain, requiring underpinning prior to construction of the garage.

As part of the project, an existing 3-story building will be seismically upgraded and renovated using propped shear walls or braced frames inside the building. Fugro designed micro-pile foundations for the seismic upgrade to support a structural frame installed within the building, and designed a mat foundation for the parking garage. Fugro also made recommendations for underpinning, temporary shoring, and dewatering for the deep excavation.

Fugro's environmental services included performing soil and groundwater investigations to evaluate construction disposal options, closing three underground storage tank sites, disposing of hazardous materials from utility trenches, and providing consultation on environmental issues during sales of live/work units.