CLIENT: Collins Construction
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI Engineering provided preliminary foundation design and pre-production field investigation services, including Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) testing, for an 8.911 MW DC solar project in Oromocto, NB. The scope encompassed subsurface investigation, comparative foundation testing, full foundation design, and production-phase mechanical verification. Deliverables included a comprehensive Geotechnical Investigation Report, a Foundation Design Report, two issued-for-construction foundation drawings (driven and remediation micropile foundations), and a General Conformance Letter.
CHALLENGE:
Establishing an appropriate foundation system required a thorough understanding of subsurface conditions before committing to a design. With both helical and driven foundation types under consideration, rigorous pre-production testing was needed to determine which system would perform best on-site. Ensuring long-term foundation durability and structural stability — including resistance to movement under load — was essential for a reliable, construction-ready solution.
APPROACH:
PRI advanced 40 helical probes and excavated 7 test pits to characterize subsurface conditions across the site. To evaluate foundation performance, 15 helical foundations and 40 driven foundations were installed, each with associated axial and lateral pre-production load tests. Although soils were found to be non-corrosive, protective coatings or increased material thickness were recommended as a precautionary durability measure. Specific embedment depths were determined based on test results, and load and stability checks were completed to confirm long-term strength and resistance to movement. The design was refined accordingly, and production mechanical axial testing was completed on 87 foundations to verify compliance and support QC/QA objectives.
OUTCOME:
PRI delivered a complete foundation design package — including issued-for-construction drawings for driven and remediation micropile foundations and a General Conformance Letter — supported by one of the most thorough pre-production testing programs for a project of this scale. The data-driven design gave the project team clear confidence in foundation performance through construction and beyond.