Atlas Piers of Atlanta: 2025 Commercial Project of the Year Finalist
Atlas Piers of Atlanta Stabilizes Shepherd Center Parking Deck with ECP Helical Piers
Atlas Piers of Atlanta recently completed an impressive structural repair project for the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia—a nationally recognized private, non-profit hospital specializing in spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, and neuromuscular research and rehabilitation. This parking deck foundation repair was submitted for 2025 Project of the Year.
When the hospital discovered that the lowest level of its parking deck slab, built in 2006, was settling due to unsuitable and uncompacted subgrade material, Choate Construction brought in Atlas Piers of Atlanta to engineer and install a permanent structural solution.
Project Overview: Correcting a Failing Parking Deck Slab
The initial concept, developed in collaboration with Choate Construction, involved installing a structural slab on grade beams supported by 174 ECP 2-7/8″ helical piles equipped with 8″, 10″, and 12″ helices. The design was reviewed and officially approved by Bob Turton, P.E. of Oakhurst Geotechnical Services.
However, as planning progressed, the design team refined the project parameters to better accommodate site conditions. The grade beams were ultimately replaced with concrete capitals, offering improved functionality within the constraints of the existing parking structure.
Final Scope of Work
Atlas Piers of Atlanta completed the job with:
- 190 ECP Helical Piers with new construction caps
- 6 additional piles with footing support brackets to reinforce a CMU masonry wall near the electrical room
- Average installation depth: 28 feet
- Installation crew: 4 installers
- Total installation time: 7 working days
- Total project duration (demo to pour): 30 days, with Choate Construction forming and pouring the new slab immediately after pile installation
The team members who executed this project included Hollis Myers, Gavin Sarver, David Sanchez, and Alan Garcia—a four-man crew that completed all 190 pile installations working eight-hour days.
Overcoming Unique Jobsite Challenges
This project required not only technical expertise but also exceptional jobsite strategy. The lowest level of the parking deck posed several logistical and environmental challenges:
Congested Utility Networks
The subgrade was filled with buried utility banks—including gas, power, and water lines.
To mitigate risk, Atlas performed a thorough utility locate before mobilizing and developed a contingency plan for relocating pile positions on the fly. This plan ensured that any unexpected conflicts could be addressed immediately without delaying progress.
Limited Access
With only a single entrance and exit—and active use of the parking deck by hospital patients and visitors—equipment and materials had to be staged strategically. ECP delivered all helical piles directly to the site, where the Atlas team organized them into pods:
- 50 leads
- 150 extensions
These were staged in predetermined areas to keep workflow efficient and the site clear.
Buried Rock and Debris
Unexpected rock, cobbles, and construction debris required creative installation solutions. Atlas predrilled select pilot holes to break through rock-laden soil where necessary, ensuring smooth pile advancement and proper torque achievement.
On-the-Fly Adjustments
Because of ongoing challenges, Atlas Piers was given full creative control to adjust pile locations without seeking approval for each change—so long as minimum and maximum engineered spacing requirements were maintained.
This freedom dramatically improved installation speed and responsiveness to jobsite conditions.
Exceptional Execution Under Pressure
Despite the complexity, Atlas Piers of Atlanta performed the installation efficiently, professionally, and within the tight project timeline. Their precise workflow and ability to adapt in real time ensured the Shepherd Center’s parking deck received a durable, engineered foundation solution that will perform for decades.
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