E21: Building on Solid Ground: Insights from Alex Nikolic on Foundation Reuse

Welcome to The Ground Investigation Podcast! Get your ski gear ready because today we're hitting the slopes with Alex Nikolic! When he's not carving through fresh powder, Alex is the Director of A-squared Studio, a niche geotechnical and structural engineering consultancy. With a passion for skiing and engineering, Alex brings the same precision and thrill-seeking attitude to both his runs and his projects. So, whether he's navigating black diamond slopes or complex substructure schemes, Alex is always ready for an adventure. Let's strap in and explore the exhilarating world of foundations and geotechnical engineering!

 

Topics Covered in this Episode:

 

Foundation Reuse:

• Evolution of "substructure reuse"
• Challenges and considerations with superstructure reuse
• Balancing client/architectural aspirations with technical and commercial aspects

 Industry Evolution:

• Evolution of the industry over the past two decades
• Opportunities for growth
• A-squared Studio's transition to a one-stop-shop approach

 Foundation Reuse Lifecycle:

• Phased approach from project conception to detailed design
• Integration of new foundations with existing ones
• Navigating liability and warranties

 Transition in Design Approaches:

• Shift from permissible stress approaches to limit state design
• Adoption of partial factoring and serviceability assessments
• Notable improvements in project outcomes with shallow foundation systems

 One-stop Shop Approach:

• Streamlining collaboration between parties
• Impact on project timelines
• Challenges and successes in transitioning to an in-house approach

 Project-specific Foundation Reuse Lifecycle:

• Flexibility of a customized approach
• Unexpected positive outcomes and innovative solutions
• Adaptability of the foundation reuse strategy report

 Mixing and Matching Foundations:

• Effectiveness in enhancing overall structural capacity
• Role of advanced analytical methods
• Advice for professionals hesitant to embrace this approach

 Liability and Warranties:

• Proactively addressing issues during project development stages
• Criticality of early attention to liability and warranties
• Lessons learned in ensuring clarity and fairness in agreements

 

Subscribe to the show to join our host, Michael Taylor, as he continues to explore the intricacies of running a business in the ground investigation industry, bringing geological experts to share their wisdom, insights, and plans for the future, and shedding light on what they believe will enhance the ground investigation industry moving forward. Don't forget to stay connected by visiting https://girec.co.uk/.

 

Links from the show

https://www.a2-studio.com/urban-redevelopment

https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-squared-studio/