Green construction! Buzzwords come and go, but the underlying concern has been consistent: our clients want to reduce construction impact on the environment and make cities more livable. They want to reduce bentonite and concrete use, reduce construction time and lower costs.

Many of these hot topics touch on foundation construction method choices. Steel retaining walls are the foundation of the circular economy!

The circular economy has another strong tie to the way we build our retaining walls and foundations. When we use steel for retaining walls, we reduce resource input and minimize emissions. Steel sheet piles of all types can be used and reused. When they reach the end of life they can be recycled and made into new steel. Even when used in permanent steel foundations (replacing bored pile foundations) for elevated highway constructions, we do make it possible to reuse the steel 50 or 100 years into the future when a structure’s design life is over.

What qualifies as a circular foundation:

U, Z Sheet pile walls

Combi wall PC

HUW

What is not a circular foundation method:

Diaphragm wall

Soil Mix Wall SMW

Secant pile wall 

Definition: Circular economy. A circular economy is a regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimized by slowing, closing, and narrowing energy and material loops. This can be achieved through long-lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and closed recycling loops.

Will you join us in using circular foundations?