Cefali& AssociatesContactSpecialty structural engineering
Temporary excavation support and permanent earth retention designed around neighboring structures, site access, and construction stages.
How it works
Shoring engineering addresses the ground beside an excavation and, where required, the earth retained by the finished project. Temporary support holds the cut while foundations and basements are built. A permanent retaining element remains to carry earth loads after construction. Soldier piles and lagging, tiebacks, rakers, soil nails, and internal bracing are possible parts of the system, depending on the site and the assigned scope.
The arrangement can change around one excavation. Depth and ground conditions affect the wall and support levels, while a nearby tunnel, basement, or property boundary may rule out an anchor at one edge. The design also has to preserve routes for excavation equipment and leave space to build the permanent foundations.
Site conditions
A deep basement beside a street, existing wall, or transit facility can need different support on each side of the excavation. Cefali & Associates designs temporary excavation support and permanent earth retention where the finished project requires it. The wall, anchors, and braces must carry the site-specific loads while leaving room to build the foundations and basement.
Engineering services
A support concept for bidding, detailed structural drawings and calculations, and engineering for a construction-stage change can be different assignments. The proposal identifies the work included. Design uses the project geotechnical recommendations; installation and construction methods remain the contractor’s responsibility.
We agree the drawings, calculations, and support during construction with you in the proposal.
Design considerations
The space a shoring system needs can affect the basement layout and construction plan. Anchors extend behind the wall; internal braces occupy the excavation. An early concept shows where that support could fit.
For a closer look at how excavation depth, access, and property limits affect a bid, read the Los Angeles deep-excavation guide.
In practice / Wilshire Grand Center
At Wilshire Grand Center, phased demolition of an existing basement had to advance with the shoring installation. Soldier piles, tiebacks, preloaded rakers, and movement monitoring were coordinated near Metro tunnels and a deep tower excavation.
See the Wilshire Grand Center projectRelated Companies hired Cefali to design the shored excavation at The Grand in Downtown Los Angeles. Short anchors kept the support clear of the active 2nd Street Tunnel. Along another edge, an existing retaining wall blocked drilling at some piles, so a multi-row waler system carried their loads to locations where tiebacks could be installed.
At Glendale Community College in Glendale, Cefali designed a permanent shoring wall to relieve earth pressure from a terraced hillside science building. The wall also held temporary excavation heights while drilled-pile foundations were built.
Related project work
See the systems, site conditions, and construction details from these projects.
Before you begin
The engineer reviews excavation geometry, geotechnical recommendations, neighboring structures, property rights, and the construction sequence. Those inputs determine which systems are practical for the site.
Yes. Changes in depth, access, or nearby structures can call for different support methods along the same excavation. The Wilshire Grand project is one example.
Temporary shoring holds the excavation during construction. Permanent earth retention carries loads from the retained ground for the completed project. A wall can have both roles when designed for each stage, as at Glendale Community College.
Excavation plans, geotechnical recommendations, and records of neighboring structures and utilities establish the site conditions. Property rights, equipment loads, and the contractor’s proposed sequence help determine which support systems can fit.
Discuss your project
Send the drawings, reports, and site information you already have, along with your schedule and the work you need help with. You do not need a complete design package to get in touch.