Aerial view of CNC Foundations performing aggregate pier installation at a construction site in Appleton, WI. A Komatsu excavator with a vibratory probe creates uniform pier locations for warehouse foundation stabilization.
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Top-down drone shot showing CNC Foundations equipment installing aggregate piers across a gridded foundation layout in Appleton, WI. Compact machine placement ensures precise ground improvement for upcoming warehouse facilities.
Close-up view of a CNC Foundations operator standing next to a Komatsu excavator-mounted vibratory rig installing wick drains at the Appleton, WI jobsite. Used for soil consolidation and foundation support of warehouse structures.
Side view of CNC Foundations' Komatsu rig driving wick drains into the ground under clear blue skies in Appleton, WI. The project supports two large-scale warehouse developments with ground improvement systems.

WICK DRAIN & AGGREGATE PIER INSTALLATION FOR TWO WAREHOUSE FACILITIES IN APPLETON, WI

  • Appleton, Wisconsin

CNC Foundations (CNC) designed and installed a combined wick drain and aggregate pier ground improvement program to support two new warehouse facilities in Appleton, Wisconsin. The site presented challenging soil conditions, including soft, compressible clay and deep fill placed to raise finished floor elevations. CNC’s solution accelerated primary consolidation, increased bearing capacity, and ensured long-term foundation performance — enabling vertical construction to proceed on schedule while maintaining full structural reliability for both buildings.

Project Details

  • Owner: RGL Logistics
  • General Contractor: Alliance Construction & Design
  • Project Timeline: 45 Production Days
  • Project Size: 450,000 SF
  • Design Bearing Capacity: 3,000 psf
  • Service: wick drains & aggregate piers
  • Install Numbers: 
    • 17000+ wick drains over 764500 linear feet 
    • 1000+ aggregate piers over 31800 linear feet
  • Market Sector: Manufacturing and Industrial

The project required a foundation system capable of supporting commercial loads on a site with 37 feet of existing fill, including fat and lean clay, clayey gravel, and gravel. Without treatment, the site faced significant risk of long-term settlement and schedule delay.  CNC was tasked with delivering a solution that could penetrate through the fill and anchor into competent bearing strata, all while minimizing disruption to surrounding businesses and infrastructure.

The site consisted of 2–8 inches of topsoil underlain by 2.5–13.5 feet of engineered fill composed of sand with gravel, clay with silt, and mixed silty materials. Below the fill, natural soils included soft silt and clay with variable sand and gravel content. These compressible materials required engineered consolidation and reinforcement to provide uniform, long-term support for both warehouse pads.

CNC Foundations installed more than 17,000 wick drains (totaling 764,500 linear feet) to accelerate settlement under surcharge loading to expedite the settlement period, supplemented by over 1,000 aggregate piers (31,800 linear feet) in areas requiring improved bearing capacity under building foundations.

This hybrid ground improvement program accelerated settlement to keep construction on schedule while delivering a stabilized subgrade capable of supporting warehouse slab and rack loads. By combining wick drains with aggregate piers, CNC minimized long-term settlement risk in deep fill zones, preserved detention ponds and stormwater areas, and enabled uninterrupted construction sequencing. Continuous coordination with design and field teams ensured the system adapted to grading changes, slab requirements, and evolving load demands without delay.