Construction of the new Gulf Shores High School has reached a key milestone with the completion of deep foundation work supporting multiple academic and athletic facilities. Morris-Shea finished installing the foundation system for the campus, providing structural support for several multi-story buildings while completing the work on schedule.
Morris-Shea installed 1,862 DeWaal drilled displacement piles for the new high school in Baldwin County, Alabama. The 14-inch-diameter piles were constructed to depths ranging from 30 to 50 feet to support two-story and three-story classroom buildings, performing arts facilities, and athletic structures.
Foundation construction began in late April and concluded in mid-July. Two drilling rigs were deployed to complete the installation program.
The project team selected the DeWaal Pile System in place of the originally specified augercast piles after determining it would provide a more efficient installation process. The drilled displacement system reduced spoil generation and eliminated the need for spoil handling and off-site disposal during construction.
To support foundation design and installation, Morris-Shea conducted Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) across the site to identify variations in the elevation of the dense sand layer that serves as the bearing stratum for the piles.
Deep foundation systems play a critical role in supporting large educational facilities, particularly where subsurface conditions require specialized engineering solutions. For construction owners, developers, and contractors, the project demonstrates how alternative foundation methods can improve installation efficiency, reduce site impacts, and help maintain construction schedules on institutional building projects.
Source: Morris-Shea.
