The Northlake Commerce Center project consisted of the new construction of a 152,000 SF industrial building located on approximately 15 acres in Northlake Park in Ashland. The building is a state-of-the-art distribution facility featuring 32′ ceilings, 7″ floors, 29 door docks, and two drive-in doors.

Hillis-Carnes was contracted to provide Construction Materials Testing and Inspections for this Hanover County project. The scope of work consisted of the testing and inspections of mass grading/fill placement, utilities, modular/segmental retaining wall monitoring, cast-in-place concrete for foundations, tilt-up wall panels and aprons, reinforcing steel, floor flatness and levelness, and structural steel. In addition, Hillis-Carnes worked and coordinated with VDOT and the site contractor to perform the proofrolling and field density testing for right-of-way (ROW) subgrade and pavement areas, consisting of the turn-lanes and adjacent roadways.

Due to the wet fall and winter conditions prior to the start of this project and the saturated clay in that area, it made drying soils nearly impossible. Hillis-Carnes worked with the owner and ultimately determined that the most cost-efficient solution for the sub-parking areas and building areas was to provide in-situ chemical treatment of the soils using calciment. In doing this, the contractor was able to save the Owner money and time during the construction process. Hillis-Carnes also performed the Geotechnical Engineering services for this project.