A wide-angle view of CNC Foundations' rigid inclusion installation at the Riverchase Multifamily Development site in Nashville, TN. A large drilling rig and concrete pump truck are actively working in tandem under a clear blue sky, with the Nashville skyline visible in the background. Construction crews and vehicles are positioned around the site, indicating active soil stabilization work in progress.
Overhead drone view of rigid inclusion installation by CNC Foundations at Riverchase Multifamily Development in Nashville, TN. The image captures precise borehole placement, active equipment operation, and the surrounding gravel-filled worksite, showing the technical coordination involved in the soil reinforcement process.

RIGID INCLUSION INSTALLATION FOR RIVERCHASE MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT IN NASHVILLE, TN

  • Nashville, Tennessee

CNC Foundations (CNC) provided ground improvement services using rigid inclusions to support Riverchase, a 139,392-square-foot multifamily development located in Nashville’s McFerrin Park neighborhood. The project is part of a multi-phase revitalization initiative converting the former RiverChase apartments into a 1,150-unit mixed-use community led by Cypress Real Estate Advisors. This phase includes a 140-unit affordable housing building serving residents at 30–80% of the area median income, along with an Empowerment Heart center offering education and workforce programming.

To ensure long-term structural reliability across highly variable soils, CNC engineered a rigid inclusion system that increased bearing capacity, minimized settlement, and helped maintain construction momentum for this significant community-focused redevelopment.

Project Details

  • Owner: Holladay Ventures, LLC
  • General Contractor: Hardaway Construction
  • Structural Engineer: Genesis Engineering Group, LLC
  • Project Timeline: 39 Production Days
  • Project Size: 139,392 sq ft
  • Design Bearing Capacity: 4,000 psf
  • Service: Rigid Inclusions
  • Install Numbers: 1,200+ rigid inclusions at over 39,500 linear feet
  • Market Sector: Multifamily Development

CNC Foundations proposed rigid inclusions as a high-performance alternative to deep foundations – offering a faster, more sustainable solution with less site disruption and reduced material waste. This approach allowed for the use of shallow footings on otherwise unsuitable soils, eliminating the need for costly deep foundations while ensuring long-term structural support.

Subsurface conditions included: :

  • Soft lean clay with trace organics and remnants of topsoil down to bedrock depths varying from 25-50 feet below grade
  • Potential karst geology 

These compressible and highly variable clay strata lacked the uniform strength necessary for direct foundation support. Rigid inclusions were selected to penetrate through these weaker soils and transfer loads into deeper, more competent bearing layers while providing consistent performance across the full building footprint. In addition, the design and installation of the Rigid Inclusions were crafted to reduce long term risks associated with the karst geology at the site.

CNC Foundations installed over 1,200 rigid inclusions totaling over 39,500 linear feet using a reverse flight displacement auger, which laterally displaces soil rather than removing it. This method minimized spoil, reduced site disruption, and allowed for efficient installation across the constrained urban environment. Once grouted in place, the inclusions formed a uniform grid of high-stiffness elements, topped with a granular load transfer platform that evenly distributed structural loads to meet the required 4,000 psf bearing capacity.

The system delivered controlled settlement, improved overall subgrade stiffness, and eliminated the need for deep foundations or mass excavation. Work was completed on schedule, with performance testing confirming full alignment with design criteria and long-term structural expectations.