Barr worked with M.A. Mortenson to construct a new battery storage facility in Chandler, Arizona, for AES Corporation. Barr conducted a geotechnical investigation and provided recommendations to support foundation design and construction for the site’s battery storage building, transformers, HVAC units, and other project infrastructure.
To assess subsurface characteristics, geotechnical borings were performed to document and sample the soils within the storage facility’s footprint, as well as collect samples for laboratory testing and further evaluation of soil strength and general classification. Field work also included electrical resistivity testing to support electrical grounding design.
Once testing and evaluation were completed, Barr developed a report that described the geotechnical investigation and testing performed, presented results, and provided analyses and recommendations for foundation design as well as construction considerations. Our foundation recommendations addressed design factors, such as bearing capacity, subgrade stiffness, foundation settlement, sliding friction, site seismicity, and shrink-swell, for shallow and deep foundations and slabs. Considerations for construction included recommendations for stormwater infiltration, site clearing, grading, and compaction.