INNOVATIVE FOUNDATIONS SUPPORT TALLEST BUILDING IN FLORIDA

The Four Seasons Hotel and Tower is the tallest building on the southeast coast of the United States and it encompasses one full block of Miami’s Brickell Avenue Financial District. The mixed-use complex includes a 70-story tower surrounded by a 16-level podium, a 7-level parking garage and a banquet facility.

Specialized foundation systems were necessary due to the compressible nature of the south Florida geology, unprecedented loads of a 70-story structure, and the design requirements in the hurricane prone Biscayne Bay region. Langan performed extensive subsurface investigations to identify relevant soil, rock, and groundwater conditions. Recommendations were developed for drilled shaft foundations for the tower, and spread footings for the adjoining structures, to minimize differential settlements between high-rise and low-rise buildings.

Extensive testing and monitoring during construction confirmed the predicted foundation performance. Our unique foundation design allowed the tower and surrounding buildings to be built simultaneously, resulting in significant cost-savings.