Shoring and Trestle Engineering for Beaudry Tower
Nestled in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the Beaudry high-rise tower at 960 W. 7th Street represents the final phase of a decades-old master development plan. Spanning 64 stories and offering 785 residential units, this imposing structure is the crown jewel of a city block bordered by 7th and 8th Streets, Figueroa Street, and the 110 Highway. The development is part of Brookfield Properties’ effort to create a live, work, and play environment within LA’s financial district.
For the construction of Beaudry’s 9-level underground basement, Malcolm Drilling was awarded the contract to design and install temporary shoring systems and a large trestle platform that would allow excavation and construction in the constrained downtown environment. The site’s excavation required 49,000 square feet of shoring consisting of 180+ soldier piles, 400+ temporary tie-backs in 9 rows with lengths up to 85 feet, and various internal rakers. Due to grade differences, the narrow site, and the close vicinity of nearby developments like the Figat7th shopping mall, the shoring system was faced with several constraints. Malcolm used advanced coring techniques to drill through the existing foundation walls to install the temporary tie-backs. In addition, an existing vault was also supported by two large underpinning soldier beams, which were supported by unique “pop-out” braces tied back with skewed tie-backs.
To overcome the site’s logistics and access issues, Malcolm designed and built a 10,000 SF trestle platform to facilitate the construction of the 16-foot-deep concrete mat foundation. The platform provided the necessary space for material staging, concrete pumps, and excavation equipment and was supported by 13 pipe piles embedded in 75-foot-deep drilled shafts. Malcolm used Omega Beams and Girders to ensure a secure structure that can support heavy loads.
Due to the project’s limited space, the construction process had to be meticulously planned, involving the excavation of soil and its subsequent reuse to build equipment access ramps. By working closely with Webcor and the excavation team, Malcolm optimized the temporary shoring installation, ensuring the project remained on schedule.
“Building Beaudry: Bringing Trestles to Downtown LA.” Foundation Drilling, November/December 2024
