CREJ

MARCH 2017 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \

hen looking back at Denver’s real estate

history, we often talk about “land,” es-

pecially “developable land.” Developers,

contractors and the media use the term

broadly, but geotechnical engineers see beyond just

a parcel of land to the soil, rock and other unique

geological conditions that, in Colorado, can make de-

veloping a parcel challenging.

Most land in metro Denver is made up of expan-

sive soils, which, true to the name, expand when wa-

ter is added, resulting in building and infrastructure

movement. The Front Range’s coal mining history adds

further potential instability, as former underground ac-

tivity may result in subsidence that impacts construc-

tion. And at the deepest levels, expansive bedrock is tipped due to the

uplift of the Front Range, resulting in unusual heave in some areas

and the potential for significant movement that could damage roads

and building foundations if not properly mitigated.

During Denver’s initial building boom of the late 1970s and 1980s,

these geologic conditions wreaked havoc on developments in the form

of subsidence, expansion and heave, landslides and structural damage

legislation. Yet Denver’s unique geologic landscape also attracted some

of the best minds for solving these problems – geotechnical engineers

who have devoted their lives to mitigating geotechnical risks. These

experts have opened development on previously undevelopable land

and ultimately built foundations for where we live, work and play.

The techniques that made today’s growth possible started in the res-

idential sector. My mentor, and CTL|Thompson’s founder, Bob Thomp-

son identified new testing and mitigation techniques while conduct-

ing geologic and geotechnical investigations, earthwork observation

and concrete testing for housing developments that were popping up

in Golden, Applewood and Littleton.

Initially, Thompson developed advanced soil testing that included

drilling more borings per acre and to a greater depth than previ-

ous industry standards dictated. The new tests delivered knowledge

that informed innovative building methods such as deep-drilled pier

Marc

Cleveland, PE

Vice Presi-

dent, CTL|

Thompson