Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 27

PROJECT

exteriors

ple, Darling noted that a concrete-hauling truck mak-

mal, there was one component of the project that was

worked with the vendor to develop a just-in-time deliv-

ing the round trip took six hours, mainly due to the

surprisingly uncomplicated. During the first season

ery schedule to be accommodated in a single trip up

sharp switchbacks and brittle, icy conditions. Through-

of construction, excavation for the new foundations

the mountain. "Once the Geofoam was on the top, it

out both building seasons, snow and ice were continu-

stretched across the site to the tram-structure's existing

was surprisingly easy to work with," he continued, re-

ally cleared from the road to avoid slide offs and many

foundation wall on the edge of the mountain. Built

marking that the large, dense blocks were moved into

of the switchbacks required drivers to back up in sec-

some 43 years earlier with CMU block, Yang and the

place by hand with just two laborers. His team also

tions where there wasn't sufficient turning radius.

designers at GSBS Architecture knew the tram's foun-

used a hot-wire cutter to customize blocks as needed.

A key to solving the logistical challenges for mate-

dation represented a possible vulnerability. Backfilling

Once the Foam-Control Geofoam was set in place it

rial hauling came during the pre-construction phase,

with the excavated soil would potentially expose the

was then covered with four inches of free-draining

when Layton took the unusual step of hiring their cli-

foundation's walls to lateral pressures caused by natu-

gravel and a concrete patio slab.

ent as a subcontractor on the project.

ral soil resettling after construction.

"Special considerations require special products,"

"Snowbird's drivers know the road and the moun-

"We didn't want any additional loading in the form

said Yang. "This was a special project for all of us for

tain far better than commercial drivers ever could,"

of settlement to be added to the tram's foundation

many reasons and we're all proud to have played a part

explained Darling. "It made a lot of sense to use their

walls as a result of the new building," says Yang. "We

in realizing Mr. Bass' dream." CA

people and equipment to get things to the top." Simul-

developed a structural barrier between the foundation

taneously, the tram carried most laborers to and from

and the mountain by filling the void with EPS Geo-

the summit each day and was also used on a more lim-

foam blocks from ACH Foam Technologies [West-

ited basis to transport construction materials. On a

minster, CO]. EPS Geofoam is a lightweight material

few rare occasions, the mountain road was impassable

with high compressive strengths and predicable per-

with snow, and a helicopter was used to get materials

formance." Builders, such as Layton Construction,

to the top.

often find the foam to be particularly well suited to
difficult circumstances where a lightweight structural

A COMPLICATED SITE

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fill is needed.

While the complexities of the site and situation made

"ACH Foam developed shop drawings for configu-

design and construction more complicated than nor-

ration of the Geofoam blocks," said Darling, who

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CIRCLE 211

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture September 2017