Volvo Car Manufacturing Facility

volvo car manufacturing facility

S&ME performed geotechnical, construction materials testing, and cultural resource services for the Volvo Car Corporation manufacturing facility on the Camp Hall site in Berkeley County, SC. Phase I of the project comprised a roughly 2½-million-ft2 manufacturing facility located on an approximately 1,600-acre parcel in the southeast portion of the Camp Hall tract. The project site is located within the Atlantic Coastal Plain Physiographic Province. The Camp Hall tract is located in the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Interstate 26 and State Highway 27 in Berkeley County, South Carolina

Geotechnical Services:

The Phase 1 area was explored with 329 cone penetration test (CPT) soundings, dilatometer (DMT) soundings, soil test borings, and test pits. The test locations were established in the field by S&ME personnel using handheld GPS equipment. The split-spoon and bulk samples were transported to our Mt. Pleasant and Spartanburg laboratories.

Site preparation included the removal of surface materials. We suggested that a 6-in.-thick layer of crushed stone be used to cover prepared subgrade soils to provide a good working surface and help reduce delays during wet weather conditions.

The buildings were procured using a design-build approach. The exploration indicated the site was adaptable for the plant. Foundation recommendations were provided for shallow and deep foundations.

The water tank and pump station sites were within the Volvo Phase 1 development area on the Camp Hall tract in Berkeley County, South Carolina. The Water Tank site was explored with two cone penetration test (CPT) soundings and one soil test boring.  The Pump Station site was explored with one CPT sounding.

S&ME also provided a geotechnical exploration for the State Highway 27 (SC 27) at Interstate I-26 Exit 187 Improvements. The field exploration consisted of soil test borings (STB), cone penetration test (CPT) soundings, seismic cone penetration test (SCPT) soundings, dilatometer test (DMT) soundings, manual auger borings with dynamic cone penetrometer testing (HA), bulk soil (BS) sample collection, and Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) testing.

Cultural Resource Services:

S&ME provided a cultural resource survey of the approximately 186 foot wide and approximately one mile long project area. As a result of the investigations, 11 historic structures and no archaeological sites were identified along the project area. The structures ranged in date from the 1920s to the 1960s and were primarily residences; these structures were recommended not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and did not be effect the proposed project.

Construction Materials Testing Services:

Construction Materials Testing services were provided for mass grading and roads.