Category: Community

Welcome to Sacramento’s New Sports/Entertainment Center!

Post author By Victoria
Post date April 11, 2014

The Sacramento Entertainment and Sports Center (ESC) will be the home for the National Basketball Association (NBA) Sacramento Kings starting with the 2016 season. The ESC will also be host to other sporting events and a variety of family and cultural activities. Development of the ESC is expected to be a catalyst for redevelopment and revitalization of the downtown core.

The ESC arena project is located within the central-eastern portion of the Downtown Plaza development roughly within the area bounded by J and L Streets and 5th and 7th Streets in Downtown Sacramento. The existing Downtown Plaza development includes several two- to four-level retail/commercial buildings and two levels of subterranean parking.

Geocon is the Geotechnical Engineer of Record for the project and is providing geotechnical and environmental engineering services to the ESC project design and development team. Specific geotechnical challenges for the project include: soft, compressible silt soil within the top 25 feet, potentially liquefiable sand between 25 and 40 feet; and shallow groundwater. Given these constraints and the magnitude of structural loading, Geocon developed design and construction recommendations for low-vibration, drilled-displacement deep foundations to support the structure.

We have further provided assessments for potential soil and groundwater environmental contamination, performed pre-demolition structure surveys, provided asbestos/lead-paint/universal waste abatement specifications, and will provide engineering consultation and monitoring services during abatement, demolition, dewatering, mass excavation/earthwork, and foundation construction activities.

We are privileged to be part of the world-class design team and to be involved in this transformative and energizing project for the City of Sacramento.

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Community Our People

Sharing our Love of Geology at the Gem-o-Rama

Post author By Victoria
Post date October 25, 2013

In October, Mike Conkle & Gerry Kasman (Burbank office) led a group of over two dozen cub scouts and boy scouts to the annual Gem-o-Rama in Trona, California. Trona is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County located about 30 minutes east of Ridgecrest. The same collection of geologic forces which created the Searles Valley where Trona sits also created the natural resources of Searles Dry Lake, which contains rich deposits of chemicals, including dozens of minerals. The weekend trip included field trips out onto Searles Lake where the scouts could collect rare hanksite minerals from the mud, pink halite (salt) from the brine pools, and many more specimens. The purpose of the trip was to show scouts the fun (and dirty) side of geology.

Community Construction Inspection Environmental Sciences Geotechnical Engineering

Los Angeles River Revitalization Project

Post author By Victoria
Post date September 30, 2013

The Los Angeles River Revitalization Project is aimed at reconnecting and revitalizing the river’s neighborhoods by creating a network of trails, parks, habitat areas, recreational facilities, green streets, portals, and bridges. The City of Los Angeles adopted the long-range Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan in 2007 and is hoping that the project will create healthy and vibrant communities with more open space, better recreational facilities, and enhanced green infrastructure.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles, released a proposal to restore 11 miles of the LA River between Griffith Park and Downtown Los Angeles. Restoration measures include “creation and reestablishment of historic riparian strand and freshwater marsh habitat to support increased populations of wildlife and enhance habitat connectivity within the study area, as well as to provide opportunities for connectivity to ecological zones, such as the Santa Monica Mountains, Verdugo Hills, and San Gabriel Mountains.”

Alternative 13 or ACE (Arbor Corridor Extension) proposes to restore the channel along most of the 11-mile stretch, widen an 80-foot stretch along Taylor Yard, restore the historic wash at Piggyback Yard, increase the amount of restored habitat by over 100 percent, restore the connection to Arroyo Seco watershed, and add four miles of trails, a pedestrian tunnel and three bridges throughout the project area.

A Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (IFR), which includes a Draft Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report, is now available for a 45-day review period from September 20 through November 5, 2013.

Geocon is currently performing environmental consultation, as well as geotechnical and materials testing and inspection services, for the construction of the Taylor Yard Transit Village, a mixed-use, transit-oriented development by McCormack Baron Salazar. This development is situated on a 247-acre former rail yard with over two miles of river frontage located near Downtown Los Angeles, opposite of Elysian Park. The planned development consists of a transit station, apartment buildings, town homes, mixed-use and retail structures. This will be an exciting new addition to the developing mixed-use and transit-oriented living scene and presents extraordinary opportunities for river restoration, stormwater detention, recreational resources, and economic revitalization.

Useful Links:

Los Angeles River Revitalization Homepage

Draft Integrated Feasibility Report

LA River Corp

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Community Geotechnical Engineering

Geocon Part of Award Winning Team for the Lopez Adobe Rehabilitation Project

Post author By Victoria
Post date March 15, 2013

The Los Angeles Conservancy is awarding the Lopez Adobe Rehabilitation project the Preservation Award for outstanding achievements in historic preservation. The Lopez Adobe is one of the oldest private residences and the first two-story adobe built as a residence in the San Fernando Valley. It was built by the Lopez family, who operated the first general store, English language school and post office in the San Fernando Valley. The first local newspaper, the San Fernando Times, was also printed in April 1889 at the Adobe. The Lopez Adobe has been recognized as an important historical site from both a State and National level. It is dedicated as a State Historic Landmark, registered with the State of California Office of Historic Preservation and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

The Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award is the second award the Lopez Adobe project has received. It was also awarded a Governor’s Historic Preservation Award in November 2012. Geocon was part of the Spectra Company’s team that aided in the restoration of the project. We prepared a geotechnical investigation report to provide design recommendations for improvements to the site including the relocation of the existing fountain, construction of a new utility building, relocation of the Adobe Villegas house to the site, and improvements to landscaping and drainage.

For more information about the Lopez Adobe Rehabilitation project, visit Spectra Company.

Community Construction Inspection Geotechnical Engineering Our People

CalGeo Cal Poly Student Recreation Center Field Trip

Post author By Victoria
Post date March 7, 2013

Students from CalGeo’s Cal Poly Pomona student chapter were invited to attend a technical presentation and construction jobsite walk at the new Student Recreation Center site. Rod Mikesell (Geocon San Diego) and Neal Berliner (Geocon Burbank) educated students about the geotechnical challenges associated with the deep foundation system being installed for support of the structure. Students watched the installation of CIDH piles, were able to peer into the boring excavation, and were taught about groundwater, casing, concrete placement, and gamma-gamma testing for pile integrity. Ronald Pacheco (Geocon Burbank), Special Inspector and lead inspector on this project, educated students about the required inspection and testing requirements during construction. 24 students and 1 professor were able to join us for an educational day on the site!

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Community Environmental Sciences Our People

A day at Millennial Tech Middle School

Post author By Victoria
Post date January 4, 2013

Earthlab operates a 5-acre parcel of land adjacent to Millennial Tech Middle School in the Chollas View area of San Diego. The middle schoolers at Millennial are currently studying contamination associated with heavy metals. Joe Vettel presented the 120 twelve- and thirteen-year-olds with Phase 1 environmental site assessment documents related to the Earthlab site including air photos, topographic maps, air photos, geologic maps and database search information for a nearby site used to find the Earthlab site and evaluate possible past uses. Then the kids hand augered and collected samples within Earthlab near the adjacent State Route 94 and in a nearby park that was formerly a citrus orchard. Advanced Technology Laboratories performed two tests pro bono (near surface and at depth) for lead (freeway samples) and two for copper (park samples) given the possibility of fungicide use.

Community Construction Inspection Engineering Geology Environmental Sciences Geotechnical Engineering Our People

Geocon Instrumental in Completion of Award Winning Gold Run Pipeline Replacement Project

Post author By admin
Post date November 19, 2012

Geocon was awarded CalGeo’s 2011 Outstanding Project of the Year Award for our work on the Placer County Gold Run Pipeline Replacement Project. Jeremy Zorne, Geocon Project Manager, received the award on behalf of the Company and Placer County Water Agency. The project also won Utility Project of the Year from the Sacramento Section of ASCE.