Story

The ground this building sits on is considered 'fat' clay, with some of the highest plastic index values for clay in the entire state of Michigan.  To prevent the building and parking lot from eventually sinking, the entire site was lime stabilized.  Lime was tilled into the top 18 inches of the subgrade, changing the soil chemistry by substantially lowering the plastic index and liquid limits and creating a surface capable of supporting heavy loads.  This is a unique process for the Upper Peninsula.