Concrete Floor Repair via Slabjacking at Harvard Graduate School, Boston MA
Slabjacking project took place within basement of existing building. Grout had to be pumped through hoses inserted through a basement window. Great care was taken to minimize disruption to the Harvard Campus during work.
The Challenge
During renovation work at an existing Harvard Graduate School building, construction crews uncovered a significant void beneath the basement concrete slab. The affected area was scheduled to be converted into a conference room, and the discovery occurred late in the renovation process. With the project already on a tight timeline, the unstable slab posed a serious structural and scheduling risk. Any delay would have jeopardized the completion of the space and disrupted ongoing campus activities.
Project Considerations
A traditional concrete tear-out and replacement was not a viable option. Demolition would have been time-consuming, costly, and highly disruptive, especially within an occupied academic environment. The contractor needed a solution that could be executed immediately, completed within days—not weeks—and performed with minimal impact on the surrounding Harvard campus. Access was also limited, as all work had to be completed from within the building’s basement.
Our Solution
Engineered Foundation Technologies, LLC utilized slabjacking to stabilize and repair the basement concrete floor. Specialized grout was pumped through hoses routed through a basement window, allowing crews to work efficiently without disturbing other parts of the building. Small injection holes were drilled in the slab, and the grout was carefully injected to fill the void space beneath the concrete. This process restored full support to the slab quickly and precisely, all while maintaining a clean and controlled work environment.
Results & Benefits
The slabjacking repair was completed rapidly, allowing the renovation project to stay on schedule and the conference room to be delivered on time. The solution eliminated the void beneath the slab, restored structural integrity, and avoided the noise, debris, and downtime associated with demolition. Slabjacking provided a cost-effective alternative to replacement and proved ideal for a sensitive, high-profile institutional setting like Harvard.