Contractor Spotlight – HUB FOUNDATION
More and more project teams across the United States and Canada are selecting Ductile Iron Piles from DuroTerra to solve their deep foundation needs. Ductile Iron Piles continue to be used on projects to save time and money, while substantially reducing the risk associated with other deep foundations. This work is only possible through the efforts of a growing network of outstanding specialty geotechnical contractors who install the system. In this month’s newsletter, we’re highlighting one of these companies and the work they are doing to illustrate how Ductile Iron Piles from DuroTerra are Fast. Simple. Safe.®
Based near Boston, MA, HUB FOUNDATION has been installing deep foundation systems since 1966. The 100-employee company provides all deep foundation solutions including ground improvement throughout the Northeast including all of New England, NY, NJ and PA. HUB was acquired by Soletanche Bachy in 2025 bringing international backing to the company. “We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality and service in the industry,” says John McKinnon. “With 60 years of experience installing deep foundations in the New England area, HUB can help provide a performance-based solution to solve various geotechnical issues.”
As a part of their geotechnical experience, HUB often explores the use of Ductile Iron Piles (DIPs) on projects as an alternative to helical piles or micropiles. “With the simple installation, DIPs can be better utilized than helical piles in cases with dense soils or rock that make helical piles unfeasible. DuroTerra has a great understanding of where DIPs are the best solution and will provide an honest assessment of how they will perform based on specific project stratigraphy. In the past, they have been honest even when they felt their product was not the right fit.”
DuroTerra had the opportunity to work with HUB Foundation on two recent projects that were the right fit for Ductile Iron Piles. Read more about those projects below. Want to learn more about HUB Foundation, check out their website at www.hubfoundation.com.
PROJECT EXPERIENCE – CITY OF BOSTON EMS SEAPORT STATION
With significant redevelopment in Boston’s Seaport, a new 2-story Emergency Medical Services (EMS) station was planned to better serve the growing area. The new 3,400 sq ft facility will house EMS vehicles and provide meeting space, employee living quarters and storage. Column loads were up to 400 kips with some footings subjected to tension loads. Ground conditions at the site included up to 26 feet of urban fill underlain by 9 feet of peat and organic soils as well as very stiff marine clay extending to about 40 feet. Glacial till extended from 40 feet to 48 feet where rock was encountered. Low vibration Ductile Iron Piles designed for 50 tons (compression) were specified by Haley & Aldrich, Inc. for the constrained site to transfer loads through the unsuitable ground to the underlying competent glacial till and rock. HUB Foundation was the selected geotechnical contractor. Series 118/9.0 Ductile Iron Piles installed using a dry method (no exterior grout) were designed for all piles subjected to only compression loads. In locations subjected to tension loads of 15 kips, an exterior grouted DIP was installed using a Series 118/9.0 pile with a 270 mm diameter grout shoe to construct a 10.5-inch diameter grouted displacement pile. All piles were driven to achieve set on the rock at depths of 40 to 50 feet below grade. Production piles were installed in only 3 days. For more information, check out the project summary.
PROJECT EXPERIENCE – PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY BUILDING EXPANSION
Renovation of the Academy Building on the Phillips Exeter Academy campus required support for two new 19-ft by 27-ft shear wall mat foundations. Bearing pressures on the mats ranged from 3,000 psf for static conditions to more than 7,000 psf for transient (seismic) conditions. The mats were positioned immediately adjacent to the existing building. Soil conditions explored by S.W. Cole Engineering, Inc. consisted of up to 7 feet of sand fill underlain by loose to medium dense silt and sand to about 30 feet followed by soft to stiff clay and silt extending another 50 feet to where glacial till was encountered. As deep foundation options were evaluated for mat support, two DIP installation methods were load tested to establish the final design approach. The first was end-bearing DIPs installed to terminate in till/rock and the second was exterior-grouted friction DIPs bonding in the upper sand, silt and clay. The final design developed by McPhail Associates, LLC consisted of a pile-supported raft using an exterior grouted Ductile Iron Pile featuring a Series 118/9.0 with a 220 mm grout shoe. For more information, check out the project summary.
