A Conversation With… David Freed, P.E. – Geotechnical Engineering Services at GNCB

“A Conversation With” is a GNCB series in which one of our team members discusses a professional or technical topic in an area of their expertise. Today, we’re talking with Geotechnical Associate David Freed , to learn about his background and the benefits of in-house collaboration between geotechnical and structural engineering staff. GNCB has offered geotechnical engineering services to our Clients for over 20 years.

What drew you to geotechnical engineering?

Geotechnial engineering was a natural fit for me starting with my Northeastern University Co-op experience which allowed me to integrate 3, 6-month long internships into my undergraduate curriculum. Working in the field to handle foundation issues was fascinating and each project presented new challenges. My co-op experience laid the groundwork for my 45 year-career which has no end in sight.

Why did you bring geotechnical engineering services to GNCB?

I acted on the opportunity to bring geotechnical engineering services to a structural engineering firm - something that is not available at many engineering firms. The two disciplines are a natural team for designing the most efficient structure for our Clients. The combination of services allowed GNCB to enter new sectors, such as waterfront structures, while also increasing the availablity of subsurface information to our structural engineers on projects which might not routinely involve a geotechnical engineer, such as renovations or residential work.

How do Clients benefit from being able to obtain geotechnical engineering and structural engineering from the same firm?

There are three primary benefits to finding geotechnical and structural engineering support from one firm:

1.Clients have geotechnical support throughout design and construction. Too offten, owners contract directly for geotechnical engineering services and require only limited participation on an “as-needed” basis after the report is completed. This can leave the design team without geotechnical engineering support during the important final design or construction stages of a project.

2.Contract Drawings and Specifications can be enhanced with geotechnical information to ensure properly prepared soils and properly constructed foundations. Most geotechnical engineers may only provide a report for Clients, whereas GNCB offers our Clients geotechnical construction drawings. Putting geotechnical requirements on the drawings greatly reduces the possibility of the Contractor misinterpreting geotechnical report recommendations and therefore saves time and money.

3.Our structural engineers have a greater awareness and understanding of soils and foundations issues than would typically be found at a structural engineering firm. Their experience with the integration of both disciplines and the issues that arise on projects where GNCB does not provide both structural and geotechnical engineering services causes them to pay closer attention to the availability of subsurface information early on in design.

What are some of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on?

Over the past 10 years I have completed five Army Reserve Center projects in Connecticut and New York. The projects are large, 30-acre sites, with training center buildings, maintence shops, storage buildings and a variety of site structures.

The New London Fishers Island Ferry District’s New Administration Complex was another favorite. The project created over 32,000 square feet of land and space over water, along the west bank of the Thames River across from Groton’s Electric Boat. After driving about 700 linear feet of steel sheet piling over 30 feet of water, filling the cofferdam with crushed stone, and installing dead men anchors, friction piles were driven to support the new adminstration building. It was a very challenging and rewarding project.

What do you like to do with your free time?

I love traveling, following the stock market, and gardening. My recent travels have taken my wife Arlene and I to Costa Rica, Cabo San Lucas, Aruba, Budapest, the Rhine and Danube Rivers, and Prague.