Initial observations from the City of Abilene indicated that wall settlement had occurred and cracking in the masonry walls throughout were due to this settlement. BG Consultants, Inc. performed a structural assessment of the structure and determined that the building structure is settling around the Pump Room due to the construction being placed on 10 feet of fill. It was also determined that the cracks appearing throughout the masonry walls were due to the Pre-Engineered Metal Building Structure being solidly attached at masonry wall penetrations. The Pre-Engineered Metal Building was designed to deflect with wind loads imparted on the structure, however, the rigid connections to the metal building frame imparted stress directly into the masonry walls creating the cracks.

BG Consultants, Inc. stabilized the wall settlement utilizing (20) helical piers that penetrated grade down 40 feet. Cracks were mitigated by relieving the stress imparted into the walls by cutting the masonry wall away from the rigid frames and infilling with a flexible spray-foam.