Experts recommend bored pile works for city hall project
Bored pile construction is highly recommended by the W.V. Coscolluela & Associates in the foundation works for the construction of the proposed seven-storey city hall building in Plaza Libertad.
This, as the construction site is "soft" based on the soil boring test conducted on the ground.
In yesterday's presentation made by a pool of experts from the Coscolluela & Associates, Engr. Romeo S. Caparros explained the bored pile works is expensive when compared to the pile driving method. However, he said, bored pile is appropriate for the proposed seven-storey city hall building.
Caparros of the R.S. Caparros & Associates is the assigned structural engineer for the proposed construction of the city hall building. "When something happens to the building, it is our responsibility to the city officials and all the people who might get hurt," he said.
The issue on the use of bored pile works or pile driving was raised by the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP). The UAP preferred to use the pile driving works for the proposed construction of the city hall building which is contrary to the idea of the WV Coscolluela & Associates.
There is a difference of 20-30 percent in the cost of the building construction if done with bored piling works as the materials are only available in Manila.
In the proposed construction of the P465,039,000 seven storey building, the bored pile works reached to P78,387,000.
The team of experts from the W.V. Coscolluela & Associates arrived in the city yesterday to discuss the design of the building, construction cost and other related issues on the proposed construction of the city hall building.
Caparros, Architect Willie Coscolluela, Pacific-Orient Consultants & Management Co. General Manager Conrado Goco and Leonardo Viado, project manager gave insights of the project to Mayor Treñas and members of the legislative body.
Coscolluela was invited by the council to appear today (Wednesday) at the session. However, he has more pressing concerns to take care today. He said, he is willing to face the body if his schedule allows him to do so.
Caparros explained a building erected though bored-piling can withstand soil "liquefaction." It is a behavior of loose saturated unconsolidated soils such as loose sands which go from a solid state to have the consistency of a heavy liquid. Strained-softened soils can trigger a collapse of the building.
He further said, the recommendation to use the bored pile works is in accordance with the study of Dr. Mark Zarco on what type of foundation is appropriate on the type of soil condition at the Plaza Libertad. "The cost is important to the owner but the safety is something that can not be compromised."
Caparros said they can adjust the structural design of the building if the mayor wanted to use the pile driving works for the construction of the city hall. There are things to be considered in opting for the pile driving works. The structural design of the proposed city hall building was based on the bored pile works.
He added, aside from the safety and service of the building, they also want to avoid the pile drive works as it could destroy the adjacent building. The decision rest on the owners to push with the pile drive works provided the owners handle all the legal suits from the building owners when the adjacent property is destroyed in the course of the construction.