Observational Design Approach: Foundation Construction beneath the Philadelphia Museum of Art

摘要

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a major landmark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2000, the Museum of Art Board of Trustees' Facilities Master Plan outlined a number of improvements, including the "Core Project", that were initiated in 2012 and broke ground in 2017. The scope of work included a variety of complex geotechnical challenges. Many of these challenges could not be fully defined prior to construction, due to access constraints within the existing museum building. As a result, an observational design approach for both temporary and permanent earth support and foundation modifications was developed during design and implemented during construction. This paper discusses various geotechnical issues, construction related challenges, proposed solutions, and lessons learned upon completion of the project. Key takeaways included the importance of having proper coordination and protocols in place to address changes in the field, utilizing an observational design approach when working below this historic structure, and completing below-grade work while not impacting daily operations of the museum.