Deep Foundations

Highlands School Addition

Taproot Construction was chosen to install 168 helical piers as part of a multi-phase expansion at Highlands School, a K–12 campus nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. The foundation support provided by Taproot played a key role in several new structures, including a middle school addition, a covered outdoor classroom, and two canopies.

The site presented a range of subsurface challenges that required a strategic approach. In several areas, shallow refusal limited the depth available for standard installation, requiring precise monitoring of torque and embedment to confirm capacity. Complicating matters further, numerous existing utilities, some of which were unmarked, had to be carefully avoided during drilling. Taproot worked hand-in-hand with the design team to evaluate conditions in real time and adjust the pier layout as needed, including the addition of supplemental piers in areas where bearing conditions or loading requirements demanded extra support.

Throughout all three phases, Taproot maintained a flexible approach, sequencing work around school operations and other trades while maintaining production goals and quality standards. Our ability to pivot quickly and communicate proactively was critical to keeping the project on track and aligned with Highlands School’s broader mission of expanding educational spaces that are safe, modern, and built to last.

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