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Benjamin Banneker High School
School Demolition and Reconstruction
Services: Construction Materials Testing and Special Inspections
Completed: Summer 2021
Location: Shaw, NW Washington, DC
GFA: 178,000 SQF
Project Overview
As part of a major modernization initiative by DC Public Schools, Shaw Junior High School was demolished to make way for a new four- story high school facility. Designed to support next-generation learning for 800 students, the new building features updated classrooms, labs, and student amenities. MTI Engineering and Testing was engaged to provide comprehensive construction materials testing (CMT) and special inspections (SI) throughout the construction effort.
Challenges
This complete reconstruction project several challenges that required special attention, including the following:
- Unsuitable Soils: Large areas of the construction site were underlain by unsuitable soils, posing a risk to foundation stability.
- Underground Water Presence: Underground water encountered during foundation work created concerns about achieving proper bearing capacity.
- Wide Testing Scope & Coordination: The full new construction required a broad range of materials testing and inspections across multiple building systems, demanding continuous field presence and coordination to keep pace with the construction schedule.
MTI’s Approach
MTI provided the following expert testing and inspection services to overcome these challenges:
- Soil Remediation & Compaction Testing: MTI recommended the undercut and replacement of unsuitable soils with engineered fill using recycled, demolished material to avoid expensive fill solutions and conducted compaction testing to confirm compliance with design specifications.
- Underground Water Management: MTI observed and inspected the installation of deep sump pits, aided in identification of suitable soil-bearing subgrade, and inspected immediate concrete placement to seal sub-grade soil that met design specifications.
- Responsive Field Testing & Coordination: MTI delivered timely, high-quality testing and inspections for all major structural components, including foundation columns and footings, masonry, slab-on-grade, elevated slab, structural steel, and more. Our active on-site presence allowed us to flag and resolve deficiencies, contributing to an on-time and under-budget project completion.
Outcome
MTI’s active role in field decision-making allowed the project to overcome complex subsurface challenges—including unsuitable soils and underground water—without compromising schedule or structural performance. Our quality assurance services helped ensure the successful on-time and under-budget construction of a state-of-the-art, Net Zero Energy magnet school in the heart of the Shaw neighborhood.
