CNC Foundations crew performing rigid inclusion installation using a Soilmec SR-45 drill rig and concrete pump truck for fuel storage infrastructure. Wide site view showcasing heavy equipment setup and team coordination on compacted soil pad.
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Close-up view of CNC Foundations team operating Soilmec SR-45 rig during rigid inclusion drilling. The auger tool penetrates soil as part of ground improvement for a fuel canopy foundation.
CNC Foundations operators and engineers monitor rigid inclusion installation using Soilmec SR-45 equipment. Cementitious material is placed to reinforce subgrade beneath future fuel canopy.
CNC Foundations technician checks drill positioning while operator controls SR-45 rig during rigid inclusion ground improvement for petroleum canopy site. Concrete mix is visible around borehole.

RIGID INCLUSION INSTALLATION FOR FUEL STORAGE & CANOPY INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Elgin, Illinois

CNC Foundations (CNC) delivered ground improvement services using rigid inclusions to support the construction of the Airport Road Industrial Development, a 25,000-square-foot facility in Elgin, IL, designed for fuel canopies and fuel storage tanks. The site’s variable fill soils and heavy load requirements demanded a reliable, high-performance foundation system. CNC proposed Rigid Inclusions as a cost-effective solution that minimized excavation, reduced vibration, and enabled shallow foundation construction. Installed across three coordinated phases, the solution provided the structural stability needed for heavy industrial operations while supporting efficient progress on a complex, high-sensitivity site.

Project Details

  • Owner: Speedwagon Capital Partners
  • General Contractor: Principle Construction
  • Structural Engineer: IMEG Corp.
  • Project Timeline: 3 Phases – 15 Production Days
  • Project Size: 25,000 sq ft
  • Design Bearing Capacity: 3,000 psf
  • Service: Rigid Inclusions
  • Install Numbers: 500+ rigid inclusions at over 15,200 linear feet
  • Market Sector: Fuel Canopies / Fuel Storage Tanks

The developer needed a reliable foundation system to support fuel-related infrastructure on a site with highly variable soils, including fill material, clayey layers, construction debris, and cobbles. Traditional deep foundations were not cost-effective, and the project required a solution that could meet strict performance tolerances, minimize vibration, and accommodate phased construction. 

CNC Foundations proposed rigid inclusions as a strategic alternative, offering a fast, sustainable, and low-disruption solution that minimized spoil generation while delivering the stiffness and load transfer characteristics needed for heavy industrial loads.

Subsurface investigation revealed a mix of fill and native soils, including:

  • Variable organic fill with debris
  • Dark brown clayey sand with gravel, and cobbles,

These highly variable, compressible soils posed challenges for settlement control and structural uniformity. To meet performance requirements, a ground improvement solution was needed that could penetrate through weaker layers and effectively transfer loads to deeper, more competent strata.

CNC Foundations installed over 500 rigid inclusions (over 15,200 LF) using a reverse flight displacement auger, forming a grid of grout-filled columns to support phased construction at the Airport Road Industrial Development. A granular load transfer platform was placed above the inclusions to distribute building loads evenly across the improved ground. The system increased allowable bearing capacity, controlled settlement, and allowed for low-vibration, low-spoil installation, supporting all three construction phases without disruption. The project was completed on schedule, with post-installation testing confirming full compliance with structural and geotechnical requirements.