Ralston Courtyards is a 108-unit apartment complex on a 3.5 acre site near the Ventura County Government Center. The site is underlain by expansive stiff clays and medium dense silts and lies in a liquefaction hazard zone.
Earth Systems showed by analysis that liquefaction was a minor concern, thus requiring no special mitigation. Hence, it was possible to build the project with conventional foundations enhanced just for the site’s expansive soil condition. Construction sequencing required flexibility during construction in which caissons were used in lieu of conventional foundations in some areas because utility conflicts prevented grading. Also, back-cut stability issues during construction of a near-properly line retaining wall were resolved by using the slot-cut method and building the wall in segments short enough to maintain back-cut stability.
Earth Systems provided a project geotechnical engineering report, monitored grading, special inspection, sampled and tested concrete, and consulted with the construction team.