--- title: Cornell University - STELCOR® DDM for Increased Column Loading In The Historic Rand Hall - IDEAL Foundation Systems description: "OVERVIEW: The 100-year-old Rand Hall at Cornell University is undergoing significant changes.   The top two floors of the building are set to become the home of the new Mui Ho Fine Arts Library.  The new called for the column loads to be increased but it was also imperative that the structure of the building be […]" image: https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC01761-web.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/cornell-university-stelcor-ddm-increased-column-loading-historic-rand-hall#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/learning-center/) # Cornell University – STELCOR® DDM for Increased Column Loading In The Historic Rand Hall March 21st, 2018 1 min read By [Bruce Stroyer](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/author/bruce-stroyer) ![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC01761-web.jpg?width=872&height=583&name=DSC01761-web.jpg) **OVERVIEW:** The 100-year-old Rand Hall at Cornell University is undergoing significant changes. The top two floors of the building are set to become the home of the new Mui Ho Fine Arts Library. The new called for the column loads to be increased but it was also imperative that the structure of the building be preserved. ![Stelcor Drilled-In Displacement Micropiles at Cornell University](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC01761-web.jpg?width=872&height=583&name=DSC01761-web.jpg) **CHALLENGE:** Access to the interior of the building would have been more of a challenge were it not for a hole which was left in the side of the building in 2015 after “A young driver failed to navigate the curve.” Once inside, however, low headroom and close column spacing were two of the biggest challenges encountered by anybody working on the site. [![Stelcor Drilled-In Displacement Micropiles at Cornell University](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/grout-close-up.jpg?width=872&height=547&name=grout-close-up.jpg)](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/grout-close-up.jpg) **SOLUTION:** With value-added engineering and STELCOR® DDM, CMI (cmistructural.com) presented an alternate foundation solution. As previously mentioned, the installation team was restricted by low headroom and close column spacing. It’s in situations like this where STELCOR® really shines. To allow for more space to operate equipment in the building, the high-shear grout mixer was set up outside. Freezing temperatures are not an issue with the type of grout used with STELCOR®. All piles were installed to approximately 30’ below the finished floor and embedded into the dense glacial till. A bare shaft helical pile was used as a pilot drill to loosen the dense soil so the STELCOR® piles could be installed more easily. STELCOR® saved time and money, met the unique challenges and requirements presented, and caused no damage to the foundation of the historic building.   **INSTALLER:** CMI Structural Solutions www.cmistructural.com **LOADS:** 45 kips compression allowable 45 kips tension allowable 10 kips lateral **PILE DETAIL:** STELCOR® 1200 14” tip or drive plate 12” corrugated grout column 9” solid grout column 8” reverse auger 5.5” O.D. X 0.361″ W.T. – 80 ksi central shaft **SOILS + EMBEDMENT DEPTH:** Dense soil layer at 5’. Piles installed to 30’ below the finished floor and embedded into the dense glacial till. Topics: [ Limited Access ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/topic/limited-access) [ Low Headroom ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/topic/low-headroom) [ Case Study ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/topic/case-study) [ Drilled-In Displacement Piles (DDM) ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/topic/drilled-in-displacement-piles-ddm) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Baltic%20St_.png?width=713&height=401&name=Baltic%20St_.png) ### STELCOR Supports a Complex Development Site in Brooklyn’s Gowanus Neighborhood May 18th, 2026|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/stelcor-supports-a-complex-development-site-in-brooklyns-gowanus-neighborhood) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/86%20DELANCEY%20web(16)--jpg.jpeg?width=720&height=471&name=86%20DELANCEY%20web(16)--jpg.jpeg) ### NYC - 112 STELCOR® Piles to 30' for a 12-Story Mixed-Use Rental Building June 23rd, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/nyc-112-stelcor-piles-to-30-for-a-12-story-mixed-use-rental-building) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/brokk_drillingserviceco_1.jpg?width=1267&height=950&name=brokk_drillingserviceco_1.jpg) ### REMOTE-CONTROLLED DEMOLITION EQUIPMENT SOLVES CHALLENGING HELICAL PIER INSTALLATION March 10th, 2023|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/remote-controlled-demolition-equipment-solves-challenging-helical-pier-installation) [![STELCOR® DDMS TOUCHING DOWN AT JFK AIRPORT](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/20220617_140517-WEB-scaled.jpg?width=2560&height=1920&name=20220617_140517-WEB-scaled.jpg) ### STELCOR® DDMS TOUCHING DOWN AT JFK AIRPORT October 31st, 2022|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/stelcor-at-jfk) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/FNC-rendering-web-150x150-1.png?width=150&height=150&name=FNC-rendering-web-150x150-1.png) ### STELCOR For The First National Center August 10th, 2020|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/stelcor-for-the-first-national-center) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/malt-house-new-rendering.jpg?width=736&height=552&name=malt-house-new-rendering.jpg) ### NYC – Stelcor® in the Manhattanville Factory District for the Malt House Building May 29th, 2020|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/nyc-stelcor-manhattanville-factory-district-malt-house-building) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5299F445-web.jpg?width=864&height=648&name=5299F445-web.jpg) ### STELCOR Seals of Approval – 150,000-Gallon Harbor Seal Exhibit in Norwalk, CT April 2nd, 2020|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/seals-of-approval) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/NYHC-awards_DraperHall_image4-910x1024-910x1024-1.jpg?width=910&height=1024&name=NYHC-awards_DraperHall_image4-910x1024-910x1024-1.jpg) ### 295 STELCOR® DDM for the new 16-Story Gilbert in NYC March 9th, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/its-gonna-be-a-gilbert) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/web-thumbnail-dhl-jfk-stelcor-1024x664.jpg?width=1024&height=664&name=web-thumbnail-dhl-jfk-stelcor-1024x664.jpg) ### NYC – STELCOR Piles For The DHL Warehouse At JFK Airport February 12th, 2019|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/dhl_jfk_nyc_stelcor) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/86-DELANCEY-5.jpg?width=600&height=800&name=86-DELANCEY-5.jpg) ### A Boring Story – How to Save 6 Weeks, 50 Foot, and $500,000.00 August 3rd, 2018|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/1972-2) [![](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DC-SEWER-2-1024x576-2.jpg?width=1024&height=576&name=DC-SEWER-2-1024x576-2.jpg) ### Keeping it Clean in Washington D.C. With STELCOR February 2nd, 2018|1 min read ](https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/keeping-it-clean-washington-d-c-stelcor) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Bruce Stroyer", "url" : "https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/author/bruce-stroyer" }, "dateModified" : "2024-11-20T17:26:01.822Z", "datePublished" : "2018-03-21T19:37:24.000Z", "headline" : "Cornell University - STELCOR® DDM for Increased Column Loading In The Historic Rand Hall - IDEAL Foundation Systems", "image" : [ "https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC01761-web.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/blog/cornell-university-stelcor-ddm-increased-column-loading-historic-rand-hall", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.idealfoundationsystems.com/hubfs/ASSETS/logos/Ideal-Logo.png" } } } ```