Block 185

Austin, Texas

Block 185 is a 37-floor building with six basement floors below ground surface, which is below groundwater. The project is within 300 feet from the Colorado River, requiring a support of excavation that acts as a cut-off wall. Malcolm designed and built the support of excavation for the basement, utilizing the structural slurry diaphragm wall technique. The diaphragm walls serve multiple functions for the project, acting as the basement walls, supporting excavation to extend 65 feet below grade and approximately 40 feet below the groundwater level, and also serving as a cut-off wall, allowing mass excavation without major dewatering.

The slurry diaphragm wall was completed ahead of schedule with the highest quality.