St. Kitts Southeast Peninsula Development

A project team led by Charleston Geotechnical Department provided geotechnical exploration and engineering services to Kiawah Resort Associates (KRA) for development on St. Kitts in the West Indies.

The site comprises approximately 1,700 acres of the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts. The main components of the project included two luxury hotels; a mega-yacht marina and village; a utility compound (power plant, water treatment plant, and wastewater treatment plant); a golf course; residential lots; and associated roads, utilities, and amenities.

S&ME performed a Preliminary Geotechnical Exploration with test pits and geophysical testing. In addition, the team performed the Design Exploration Program, which consisted of over 120 soil test borings and Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) soundings and geophysical testing performed over water, on land, and in rugged mountain areas. S&ME mobilized our CPT drill rig to the site with a subcontractor who performed soil borings and over-water barge work under our direction. We used significant local resources at the request of the client and the St. Kitts government for land clearing, logistical support, and laboratory testing.

The engineering effort included analysis and design for excavations, fills, foundations, slopes, retaining structures, and other components in geology that ranged from hard rock to very soft alluvial soils in a seismically active area. The project was a true S&ME team effort with resources from Charleston, Raleigh, and Charlotte participating.