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The Triumph – Ward 8 Short-Term Family Housing
Government Transitional Housing Facility Development
Services: Geotechnical Engineering, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
Completed: Fall 2018
Location: Washington Highlands, SE Washington, DC
GFA: 36,000
Project Overview
Completed in Fall 2019, The Triumph is a 36,000-square-foot, six-story short-term family housing facility located at 4225 6th Street SE. Developed through a partnership between the DC Department of General Services and the DC Department of Human Services, the project was part of a citywide initiative to replace overcrowded emergency shelters with smaller, community-based facilities in each Ward. MTI Engineering and Testing completed a Geotechnical Engineering Evaluation to provide design related recommendations as well as a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment due diligence to document possible environmental contamination on the subject property or adjacent properties.
Challenges
The geotechnical evaluation for The Triumph faced the following challenges:
- Unsuitable Existing Fill: The project site contained existing fill materials inadequate to support conventional shallow foundations.
- High-Plasticity Soils: Native soils in the area exhibited high plasticity, creating challenges for maintaining stable bearing conditions and controlling long-term settlement
MTI’s Approach
MTI addressed these challenges through:
- Replacement of Existing Fill: MTI recommended the removal and replacement of two feet of existing high-plasticity fill beneath the proposed floor slab with non-plastic, compacted soil to ensure slab stability and reduce future settlement risk.
- Mitigation of High-Plasticity Soils: To limit the effects of moisture variation on foundation performance, MTI advised lowering the footing elevation to four feet below final exterior grade, where more stable conditions were present.
- Accounting for Design Unknowns: As final building plans were not unavailable during geotechnical evaluation, MTI proactively included guidance for potential underpinning of adjacent structures, helping project teams prepare for possible site constraints.
- Extensive Environmental Research: MTI performed extensive research of the project site via site reconnaissance, government agency and other source records reviews, and stakeholder interviews to assess possible environmental contamination.
Outcome
MTI’s Phase I Environmental Site Assessment found no previous contamination from on- or off-site sources and its geotechnical recommendations were fully implemented during construction, contributing to the successful completion of The Triumph Short-Term Family Housing Facility. The development contains 50 family units across five residential floors, with laundry, study areas, and common rooms, as well as a computer lab, dining facility, health clinic, and multipurpose spaces on the ground floor. The project now stands as a vital community asset in Ward 8, providing 24-hour support services to help families transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
