Deep Foundations - Norland Limited

150 Robson St Facade Retention

12 January 2026
by Alexandra Weirich

Scope of work

This project required careful project management and close coordination between Pacific Demolition, BelPacific, and KWH Constructors to sequence demolition, excavation, and shoring around existing structure supports, dense buried utilities, and variable ground conditions. The teams worked together with project engineers to plan and execute each phase safely and efficiently.

Historic Façade Support

A key element of the project was preserving and stabilizing the building’s historic masonry façade throughout demolition and excavation.

Planning and design of the façade retention system were completed in collaboration with KWH Constructors and project engineers to maintain façade integrity during all stages of construction.

Steel façade retention frames and micropile supports were installed before demolition to hold the façade securely in place.

Continuous monitoring and engineering reviews ensured that loads and movements remained within safe tolerances as demolition and excavation progressed.

During foundation removal and excavation, the façade was temporarily supported on micropiles and monitored in real time while heavy structural elements beneath it were removed.

Once excavation and shoring were completed, the façade supports were carefully dismantled in coordination with the construction of the new permanent structure.

Building Demolition

Hazardous materials abatement and complete building strip-out to expose the structural frame.

Installation of building shoring and sawcut separation of the façade walls from the interior structure.

Demolition of the interior structure section by section to avoid impacting the supported façade.

Coordination with BelPacific for the safe removal of foundation elements during excavation.

Excavation & Shoring

Sequenced work with Pacific Demolition to remove the remaining parkade structure section by section.

Excavation to a depth of 80 feet for a new underground parkade.

Monitoring and protection of micropiles supporting the suspended façade during all drilling and anchoring work.

Anchoring around dense buried utilities and existing façade support structures.

Management of silty sand and glacial till at the excavation base and remediation of contaminated soils.

Together, Pacific Demolition, BelPacific, and KWH Constructors executed a highly coordinated demolition, façade retention, and deep excavation operation, ensuring the safe preservation of the historic structure and the successful preparation of the site for redevelopment.

Overall Impact

Combining project management, demolition, excavation, and shoring expertise under Norland’s group of companies simplified coordination and minimized schedule risk.

Key outcomes

Streamlined project management through shared planning and logistical support.

Safe, on-schedule delivery of a technically demanding project in a congested urban setting.

This project demonstrates how Norland’s integrated approach and experienced teams like Pacific Demolition and BelPacific help clients to execute large-scale, technically complex work safely and efficiently.

767 Douglas Street

14 August 202420 December 2024
by Kaelan

Scope of Work:

The 767 Douglas Street project in downtown Victoria was a complex undertaking for Copcan. The project required the demolition and removal of an underground parkade and the historic Empress Hotel Boiler rooms, involving the careful handling of asbestos and heavy metals. Given the project’s location right on the property line and its proximity to the ocean, several specialized shoring techniques were employed to ensure stability and safety.

For the waterfront side of the site, secant piles were installed and tied back with walers and rock anchors. This method was crucial for sealing groundwater and supporting the excavation near the ocean. The design and engineering of these walers were a critical part of the shoring scope, ensuring that the structure could handle the unique challenges posed by the waterfront location.

On the deeper excavation walls further from the water, soldier piles were used in combination with tieback rock anchors and shotcrete. This combination allowed for safe and effective vertical excavation along the property line, providing the necessary support for the excavation without compromising the adjacent structures or the stability of the site.

Overall, the project required a coordinated approach to shoring and excavation, incorporating advanced techniques to address the challenges posed by the site’s location and existing conditions.

Challenges & Solutions:

There were a few technical challenges faced during the construction of this project. Some of the major challenges and solutions were:

Demolition and Asbestos Abatement: The removal of the existing underground structures, including asbestos and heavy metals, posed environmental and safety risks. Proper abatement procedures and hazardous material handling protocols were implemented to ensure safe removal and disposal.
Proximity to Waterfront: The excavation footprint was close to the ocean, necessitating specialized shoring methods due to potential groundwater issues and structural stability concerns. The use of secant piles, tieback anchors, and walers for shoring, designed to seal off groundwater and provide structural support, is especially crucial for waterfront-facing excavation.
Adjacent Building Support: Supporting the adjacent 12-storey Aria building during excavation without compromising its structural integrity. The integration of the Aria building’s existing underground parkade into the shoring system until the excavation depth required independent support, ensuring safety and stability.
Contaminated Soil Management: Soil contaminated with metals and hydrocarbons from creosote timber piles required careful handling and disposal. The solution was hauling, and disposal of approximately 27,000m³ of contaminated soil at certified facilities, adhering to environmental regulations.
Foundation and Excavation Depth: Building foundations required precision and careful excavation, especially with depths ranging from 7.6m above sea level to -8.9m below sea level. The use of concrete secant piles and precise blasting techniques designed in-house to meet safety and structural stability requirements during deep excavation.
Traffic Management: Managing traffic flow on busy roads like Government St and Humboldt St, including maintaining access for cyclists on dedicated bike routes. Comprehensive traffic management plans are implemented to minimize disruption, prioritize cyclist safety, and ensure efficient excavation operations.

Overall Impact:

Construction began in June 2022 and was completed in July 2024. Although there were some delays and construction took longer than expected, overall the project progressed smoothly and was completed on the agreed time with the owners.

Southwest Rapid Transit

18 June 202428 October 2024
by Ellie Elmi

The first phase involved two circular cast-in-place concrete cofferdams to act as wet wells for pump stations. This was followed by 10 – 1200mm diameter steel cased, rock socketed caissons to support a highway overpass. These steel casings were advanced up to 13.2 meters into bedrock. Extreme care and diligence was required as the work was performed directly adjacent to an active highway.

The final phase of the project involved a retaining wall made of both steel beam reinforced CIP soldier piles in various configurations as well as steel sheet piles.