Selected Technique:
Controlled Modulus Columns (CMCs)
Treatment Area:
2,500 m²
Danis Construction mandated Menard Canada to provide ground improvement works for the future Contrecoeur fire station, including the soil for the foundations and the slab under the building.
Ground Conditions
A simplified stratigraphic profile was developed for modelling purposes based on Cone Penetration Tests (CPT).
The soil profile was as described below:
- Deposit of sandy silt to silty sand fill up to about 7 m below the original grade, followed by silty clay to clayey silt up to 28 m below grade.
- The above was further underlain by glacial till, approximately between 28m and 29m.
- Lastly, bedrock extending greater than 29 m below grade.
Menard Canada Solution
Menard Canada carried out ground improvement for this fire station project site using an excavator to densify the granular soils to a thickness of 7 meters. A bearing capacity of a minimum of 125 kPa ELS for the conventional foundations of the building, according to the foundation plan transmitted.
- Factored design ultimate bearing capacity (ULS): 350 kPa
- A liquefaction potential treated according to a replacement rate of 8%
The five drillings with Piezocone Tests and the associated calculations showed that the criteria were met.

Ground Improvement Being Conducted in Contrecoeur, Quebec