We addressed the need for a safe and sturdy office facility for Gulf Winds Credit Union in Pensacola, Florida. The project confronted significant challenges including moisture-sensitive soils and limited natural drainage, which could have caused unplanned settlement and construction delays. We developed coordinated site, geotechnical, and structural designs for proper execution of the four-story office building.
Our final design included a four-story steel-framed structure supported by shallow spread footings bearing on compacted sandy soil. We placed the footings four to six feet below grade and sized them to safely support column loads ranging around 500 kips, with some reaching up to 700 kips. We provided strength and stability through reinforced concrete stairs, steel braced frames, elevator cores, and composite concrete floor slabs. We selected this structural system to reduce material weight while ensuring proper long-term performance.
Controlling groundwater and stormwater flow presented a major challenge due to near-surface silty sands that drain slowly and retain moisture. We implemented moisture-conditioned fill and strict compaction guidelines to address this issue. We designed a stormwater retention pond with a sand chimney drainage system to provide a designated discharge location. The pond contained soils that allowed drainage and acted as a vertical filter.
Our design decisions and strategies reduced construction risk, controlled settlement, and ensured long-term performance. The final design delivered a safe, sturdy, and efficient solution for the proposed development.