Project Spotlight: TWN Soccer Fields, North Vancouver

We supported a new artificial turf playfield and field house on a sloped site with an existing berm. Our scope included slope stability analysis, retaining wall design for large tiered walls, drainage guidance, and construction‐phase field reviews to keep the works on schedule and within safety requirements.

Site and constraints

The concept cut into an existing north berm to create field grades, then stepped the grade back with tiered retaining walls and controlled slopes above, while coordinating a nearby field house and utilities.  The issued wall drawings show the tiered wall locations, typical sections, and geogrid zones that tie the system into dense native soils.  

What we did

• Slope stability and wall design: We analyzed critical sections through the berm to set geotechnical design parameters for global stability under static and seismic loading, then detailed geogrid-reinforced walls with materials, compaction, and drainage requirements suitable for the site’s till-like native soils.  
• Construction reviews and safety: We provided WCB slope safety guidance for temporary cuts and verified that staged excavations and covers met the intent of WorkSafeBC requirements for manned entry.
• Subgrade and backfill verification: We reviewed wall subgrades, monitored geogrid placement for length and flatness, and completed in-place density testing on structural backfill, achieving at least 95% of MPMDD before authorizing subsequent lifts and geogrid layers.  
• Field house area: We confirmed very dense native subgrade or compacted structural fill beneath the field house footings and provided allowable bearing pressures with test results to support construction.  

Results

The tiered retaining walls and slopes met stability targets with practical construction details, temporary cuts were maintained safely, and wall backfill advanced efficiently with clear acceptance criteria and density testing records. The field house subgrade and utilities progressed on verified bearing soils.  

‍