At the Camas Hilltop House, one of the earliest challenges was a 14-foot-high foundation wall, unusually tall for a residential project.

The architectural design came from Marty, and the structural and geotechnical engineers determined how to make the tall foundation wall stand up to the demands of the site. The geotechnical engineer began by pulling soil samples to test the carrying capacity of the native soils. Once that data was in hand, the structural engineer designed the details of the wall: the footing size, wall thickness, and rebar layout to ensure the structure could safely transfer the loads of the home into the ground below.

Their plan called for 12 inches of compacted gravel beneath the footing to improve bearing capacity to around 2,000 pounds per square foot (psf). The wall was designed with a massive footing, 8 feet 3 inches wide by 15 inches deep, supporting a 10-inch-thick concrete wall tied together with heavy reinforcement. Every bar of steel had a purpose, resisting the pressure of earth on one side and the weight of the home on the other.

Our role is to see that this engineering makes its way into the field. That means coordinating excavation, gravel placement, formwork, and rebar installation, then checking at every step that what is built matches what was designed.

For our clients, the terminology of soil tests and rebar schedules may not be the focus, but this is where the stability of the home begins. It is a process built on collaboration: architect, engineers, and builder each playing their part. The result is a foundation that can be trusted for decades to come.