Owner: The Hanover Company
General Contractor:
Architect:
Civil Engineer: VIKA
Structural Engineer: SCA, Inc

The Domain at College Park, located near the University of Maryland, applied innovative geotechnical solutions to optimize both foundation support and project costs. The five-story, 408,000-square-foot LEED Silver-certified building includes four residential levels above a two-level parking garage and retail space. To address the soft and loose Cretaceous-age Potomac Group soils present at the site, DWK recommended the use of Geopier Impact Rammed Aggregate Piers® (RAPs) to reduce potential settlement under the heavy building loads.. These aggregate piers were successfully installed in challenging conditions of high groundwater and caving soils, enhancing the stiffness of the onsite soils through a high-energy ramming technique. This improvement allowed the use of conventional spread footings, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional deep foundation systems.

The ground improvement system also utilized open-graded aggregate, a more sustainable material with a lower carbon footprint compared to deep foundations reliant on concrete. This project exemplifies the seamless integration of geotechnical engineering and sustainable design to address site-specific challenges. By utilizing RAPs as an innovative and cost-effective solution, DWK provided an alternative to deep foundations, significantly reducing foundation costs while effectively managing complex subsurface and groundwater conditions and minimizing settlement risks.
These innovative measures supported the construction of a stable, environmentally conscious infrastructure that serves the University of Maryland community and contributes to sustainable urban development. The project highlights how DWK’s advanced geotechnical solutions can enhance performance, reduce costs, and promote sustainability in modern construction.