River Valley Co-op Construction Underway

GNCB Consulting Engineers, P.C. is providing geotechnical and structural engineering services for the new 19,000 sq. ft. River Valley Co-op grocery store in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Design work for the one-story pre-engineered steel-framed structure, with a partial mezzanine level, was completed in 2019 and construction has recently started. The 4-acre parcel was the former location of an auto dealership.

Based on GNCB’s two-phase geotechnical investigation, the firm recommended that building foundations consist of spread footing column and wall footings bearing on the suitable natural inorganic soils. The surface man-placed fill, which was typically less than 3 ft. thick, was considered suitable to support the building concrete ground floor level, but only after in-situ improvement by systematic re-compaction with a heavy vibratory roller. The solar array installer completed foundation design for the elevated support structure; GNCB recommended foundations consist of either spread footings or a drilled concrete pier.

GNCB’s structural engineering group completed foundation plans for the pre-engineered steel building. Additionally, GNCB designed a locally-sourced heavy timber frame canopy structure which will wrap about the south side of the building. The canopy will support additional solar panels.

River Valley Coop is anticipated to open in Fall 2020.

Architect: Thomas Douglas Architects, Inc.