SME worked with Western Michigan University (WMU), the HarleyEllis and Rossetti Architects team, The Christman Company, and Carl Walker, Inc. during the design and construction of a new campus complex. The project included the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Building, Paper and Printing Pilot Plant, a power plant and two parking structures.

Our geotechnical services for these projects included recommendations for subgrades, earthwork, foundation design, retaining walls, slabs, embankments, and pavements. Foundation design for the College of Engineering and the parking structures included spread footings using a relatively high bearing pressure of 10,000 psf.

Hayward Baker performed a unique vibrocompaction procedure recommended by SME to significantly improve the existing granular soils below proposed foundations to achieve the high design bearing pressure.

Fred Schulz, Construction Administrator at Western Michigan University stated, “SME has provided WMU with a wide range of services on numerous projects over the past 15 years. It has been a big benefit to have SME provide us with timely services to meet impossible schedules.”