Boston Children’s Museum

GEI Consultants is providing integrated environmental and geotechnical services for the Boston Children’s Museum for their addition and renovation project on the Fort Point Channel in Boston.

The Museum is updating and renovating their existing building, adding an approximately 10,000 SF addition, and developing a landscaped outdoor recreation and exhibit area. Construction began on the project in 2006. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2007 at a cost of approximately $47 million.

As part of the redevelopment, GEI designed new foundations and lightweight fills for landscaped areas, monitored construction of the new building foundations and lightweight fills, and managed the off-site disposal of excavated materials. GEI also performed vibration monitoring at surrounding properties, and observed construction of geomembrane root barriers for landscaped areas.

Challenges included evaluating the timber piles that supported the existing building, designing and installing pile foundations adjacent to an historic seawall, and designing and installing lightweight fills to prevent settlement of outdoor exhibit areas and architectural pavements.

GEI performed an integrated geotechnical and environmental precharacterization program. The environmental components included identifying contaminant conditions that could impact construction schedule, sequencing and cost. We generated plans and specifications that reflected the site constraints that precluded stockpiling the bulk of the materials at the site.

The construction includes soil excavation and disposal, and dewatering. We prepared documentation for these activities, reviewed contractor submittals, and are tracking these costs on behalf of the owner. We are representing the owner’s interests in cases where the contractor has claimed changed conditions that affect the bid prices. Licensed Site Professional services included a review of the soil and groundwater chemical testing results and preparing a Release Abatement measure. The project included three parcels: the main site with no MCP encumbrances; the parking lot with an RAO with an AUL; and the MBTA’s property that is in the MCP process that will eventually have an RAO with an AUL.

Based on our review of the parking lot RAO, we will be revising the RAO, and removing the AUL that will not be necessary to maintain a condition of No Significant Risk.

We prepared a RAM for the construction on the MBTA’s property, and are currently working with the MBTA to review their proposed RAO and the conditions of the AUL to ensure that the provisions are compatible with the Boston Children’s Museum’s proposed use of the property.