Hospital Settlement Failure

Hazard, Kentucky
Hospital Settlement Failure

The Project

Hospital facility located in the Eastern Kentucky Coal Fields with a five story central core for patient rooms and a single story perimeter facility for administrative, training, dining, utilities, and operating spaces. Structure utilized steel frame construction with a mixed foundation consisting of drilled piers for the central core and shallow foundations for the single story perimeter structure. The estimated construction cost is $20,000,000

The Site

The site is a relatively level former coal strip mine with uncompacted mine spoil fills to depths of 15 feet to about 100 feet.

The Problem

The south side of the single story portion of the building began to settle during the later stages of construction. The damages are the loss of the boiler room and the construction of a separate replacement building, and the required underpinning of the south portion of the building.

The Cause

Borings made by the geotechnical engineer failed to discover the ranges of depth of fill underlying the site. In addition, the use of a mixed foundation system resulted in differential settlements occurring over short distances.

The Resolution

The owner recovered a total of about $900,000 from the prime design professional through arbitration

The Attorney Client

For the Owner:

Murphy & Enlow
1850 Lexington Financial Center
Lexington, KY 40507
Mr. David T. Enlow
(859) 255-3371

For additional information concerning this case,
you may contact:

STOKLEY-CHEEKS AND ASSOCIATES, INC
P. O. Box 130
Nicholasville , Kentucky 40340-0130
Cheeks@RichardCheeks.com