A transit tunnel beneath the street
At The Grand, the 2nd Street Tunnel restricted anchor length. An existing retaining wall blocked direct tiebacks at some piles, so walers carried those loads toward available anchor locations.
An excavation next to a tunnel, a retained basement, or an occupied street needs more than a standard perimeter wall. Earth retention has to carry soil and nearby structure loads while the new foundations are built.
Cefali & Associates has designed support for Los Angeles excavations with different boundaries on each side. At Downtown and Century City sites, existing walls, tunnels, and utilities changed where piles, anchors, and internal bracing could be placed.
Site conditions
Retention shaped by what is already beside the site
Existing basement walls
At Westfield Century City, portions of a four-level basement wall were kept in place during redevelopment. Tiebacks and strongbacks supported the wall around new decks, deep utilities, and a bridge pier.
Deep excavation near Metro
Wilshire Grand Center used multiple tieback levels and preloaded rakers near transit tunnels during phased basement demolition and excavation.
Published project work
Los Angeles projects behind this service
100 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Grand
Short anchors and walers supported a deep excavation beside the 2nd Street Tunnel and an existing wall.
900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Wilshire Grand Center
Tiebacks and rakers supported phased excavation near Metro tunnels.
10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067
Westfield Century City
Existing basement walls remained while strongbacks and tiebacks carried temporary earth loads.
Engineering scope
From local project to your site
These projects show how excavation depth, neighboring structures, access, and the permanent work can change the support design. Your site needs its own geotechnical criteria and structural design. The contractor determines installation and construction means and methods.
Read more about earth retention systems or explore other published work in Los Angeles.