Introduction

The Festival Walk, situated on a 21,000 sq m site on a stump of a small hill

at the base of Beacon Hill in Yau Yat Chuen, is one of the most difficult
building construction job in recent Hong Kong. The project exhibited a
lot of complications during the course of its construction, basically
inherited from the special nature of the job such as its unfavorable
topographical and geotechnical environment, working within the railway
and tunnel lines of two very busy railway networks, the requirements of
constructing a very large building with exceptionally deep basement, the
involvement of very high ceiling headroom and long span structures, as
well as some access problems which is again quite common to sites of this
size, complexity and scale in Hong Kong.
Introduction
1. Topography and Geology of Site
The site is situated on a narrow terraced strip of land along the Tat Chee
Avenue, which measured about 290m x 80m in size. The existing ground
levels vary from +29mPD to +36mPD along the west boundary on Tat
Chee Avenue side, and from +19mPD to +26mPD along the east boundary
on the Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR) Kowloon Tong Station side.

In order to cope with the aerial height restriction requirements and to

achieve the development potential allowed under the condition of sale of
the site, there is four levels of basement and three levels of semi-
basement in the development, with the deepest level being some 36m
below Tat Chee Avenue. As a result, a very large amount of soil and rock
had to be removed to give way for the construction of the basement.
Introduction
Sub-soil conditions were in general not too favorable for the Festival Walk
project. Completely decomposed granite was encountered at ground
level, with the presence of many corestones. Rockhead on the Tat Chee
Avenue side varied between 6m to 65m deep (refer to Figure xx). At the
northern portion of site, bedrock was very close to the surface, but
sloping downward to about 60m deep near the KCR Kowloon Tong
Station. Ground water level varied across the site, with a flow consistently
to the southeast or downslope direction.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) tunnels run directly through the centre
of the site, thus confined the geometrical design of the sub-structure. As
a result, the lowest excavation levels to the north and south of the tunnels
are at -1mPD and +8mPD respectively, with the section above the MTR
tunnels not exceeding +13mPD so as to ensure at least 3m cover above the
tunnel structures.
Introduction
2. Site Formation and diaphragm wall construction
The site formation contract required the contractor to excavate and remove the
soil material on the terraced site from averaged +34.5mPD on Tat Chee Avenue
side down to +19.5mPD on the Kowloon Tong Railway Station side. This involved
initially a total of about 180,000 cu m of excavation in volume.

To support the sides of the excavation, a 1.2m thick diaphragm wall was
constructed around the site perimeter as well as along the MTR tunnels as a cut-
off wall between the basement and the tunnel structure. The walls generally
extended to the rockhead, which varied between 6m and 65m below ground level.
Besides using rather traditional ways to form the diaphragm walls by grabs and
chisels, part of the walls were constructed using the Hydrofraise, or the reverse
circulation trench cutting machine. With a system of built-in inclinometers and
guides, the hydrofraise had shown itself very efficient for excavating moderately
to completely decomposed granite and ensured excellent verticality. Besides, the
lack of vibration made the machine ideal for the carrying out of ground works
close to sensitive structures such as the MTR tunnels. Meanwhile, grabs and
chisels were still being used extensively in locations where hard rock was
encountered.
Introduction
Mini-piles were being installed to support the inherent weight of the load-bearing
diaphragm walls and to provide lateral restraint at toes where insufficient passive soil
resistance is expected. Before the installation of the mini-piles, the rock below was grouted
to seal any fissures and prevent water ingress during excavation of the basements. Due to
the shallow-laying of bedrock, the toe of the diaphragm wall in many locations were formed
well above the final formation level of the basement. Underpinning works to extend the wall
down to the final level were thus required, which would be carried out in parallel with the
construction of the top-down basement in the following contract.

Since chiseling was not allowed within 10m of MTR tunnels, "stitch drilling" was being used
to overcome underground obstructions before the forming of the cut-off diaphragm walls.
This was done by drilling a series of 450mm diameter holes in row, so that any boulder or
corestone could later be cut into fragments small enough to be removed by grab.

Site formation works were in general phased from the north to south, or from the up-hill to
down-hill direction. The main reason was to maintain as long as possible an entrance/exit
point, which situated at the south-western corner of the site, for the removal of the overall
460,000 cu m excavated spoil efficiently during the course of the site formation and
basement construction processes.
Introduction
3. Phasing and Removal of Spoil

Site formation works were carried out in roughly 6 phased, unsymmetrical sections,
according to the convenience of cutting and dividing of the complicated building layout
with construction jointings. The main strategy in the scheduling of site formation was to
have the northern portion completed as the earliest possible, so that it could be handed over
to the main contractor for the construction of the basement and superstructure on this
portion. The reason was in fact straight forward, a circular ramp leading to the basement
carpark would be located here. With the circular ramp completed, it could be used as the
access for vehicle to enter into the basement which constructed using top-down method.
This would be critical, for without which, the last phase of formation on the southern tip of
site could not be carried out in full scale. As by that time, the only entrance/exit into the site
was still in the southern tip.
Introduction
4. Foundation Systems
The entire structure of Festival Walk was founded on some 150 bored piles with diameters
ranging from 1.8 to 2.65m, which were being drilled from ground level at the same time with
the site formation work to the rock level below the final basement. Bell out were formed at
the base of the piles to bear on rock with allowable bearing capacity of 5 or 7.5 MPa. The
cut-off level for each pile was just below the lowest basement level, with permanent casing
installed on top. Due to the shallow-laying rockhead, up to 25m of hard rock had to be
drilled to form the piles, although the concreted length could be as little as 3m in some
areas. the deepest record it made for pile in the site was 75m. Piling works were being
carried out in traditional way: steel casing driven to the rockhead, soil removed by grabs,
obstacles broken by chisels, and finally the reverse circulation drill was used to penetrate
the rock and form the bell out. Casing was generally driven by large top-mounted vibrators,
or by the use of oscillator and rotator to reduce vibration where worked close to the MTR
tunnels. Some piles are being installed between the two MTR tunnels, at a separating
distance of slightly more than 3m.
In the northern part of site where an office block was to be constructed above the podium
structure, hand-dug caissons of 3.25m diameter were employed, so as to produce a series of
large diameter piles to take up the huge superimposed loads. Steel stanchions were later
installed onto the top of piles as support to the basement structure during its construction
using the top-down method.
Introduction
5. Construction of the Basement Structure

Based on the initial formation level on +19.5mPD, there are 4 levels of full basement below, 3
levels of semi-basement above with one side leaning to the diaphragm wall on Tat Chee
Avenue and the other side open to the KCR direction, to be constructed. As for all top-down
basement construction, the first floor plate to be constructed is important for it signifies the
commencement of the basement work by providing the separating plate and lateral tie such
that basement excavation can be started from there on. For the Festival Walk project, this
first plate was on the +19.5mPD level.

The basement construction also followed the 6-phased arrangement in conjunction roughly
with the site formation sequences. Instead of working with the basement and
superstructure at the same time as most top-down construction do, in this project, the
superstructure was constructed in an advanced stage from the 1st and 2nd portions in
staggered section onwards. This was to accommodate enough working room until the
basement excavation could be started in a more efficient manner, as well as to allow the
additional weight of the upper structure to balance the buoyancy effect during the
excavation. With the first two to three levels of the top structure being maintained at its
typical cycle, an entrance point to the basement below was then formed at the edge of
position between portion 2 and 3.
 Introduction
From this entrance point, excavation to the basement and the construction of the semi-basement
structure above the +19.5mPD plate proceeded simultaneously according to the preliminary 6-
phased arrangement, again, in staggered sections that joined with carefully located construction
jointing. For the lowest 4 levels of basement with headroom averaged at 3.1m that used as parking
spaces for private car, part of which were excavated and constructed using a "Double Bit" method.
This could produce a higher headroom such that excavation could be done using normal-sized
excavating machines, as well as to allow the entrance of dumping vehicles for removal of spoil.

To provide the required protection to the MTR tunnels and to prevent heaving while large volume
of soil were being removed, some of the basement slabs, especially those around the MTR
tunnels, were deliberately thickened for the purposes. In views of large amount of structural
jointing were required, this made the casting process rather complicated and time-consuming.

There were some locations where the progress of the basement construction works had been
significantly interrupted. At the northern edge and the adjoining corner along the Tat Chee
Avenue where the rockhead was laying shallowly well above the final formation level of the lowest
basement, the toe of the diaphragm wall panels had to be extended further downward until it
reached the final level below the lowest basement. This was done by in-situ underpinning
method. Sections of the diaphragm wall panels were constructed after the removal of the bedrock,
layer by layer, with vertical junctions being connected by the provision of steel couplers.
Introduction
In order to minimize the delay caused by the cutting of large volume of hard rock
and the associated underpinning works to the diaphragm wall, a section of
basement which measured about 100m x 15m along the mid-northwestern corner
of Tat Chee Avenue, was being isolated as the 7th portion in the basement
construction process. To allow for the continual progress to the upper structure
and to stabilize the effect of isolating this part of the basement structure, a row of
structural steel strut was erected, which provided the lateral support between the
diaphragm wall and the base plate at the +19.5mPD level.

The third area of interruption came from the works around the MTR pedestrian
entrance and ventilation shaft. This sensitive structure of the MTR was initially
protected by a row of in-site bore piles. A 4-layered temporary steel strut and
shoring system was erected to stabilize the structure while excavation proceeded.
01. Forming of the Large-Diameter Bored-Pile

The overall layout of site as seen in September 1994 when the site formation and
foundation contract had just commenced.
01. Forming of the Large-Diameter Bored-Pile

Forming of the 2.5m diameter bored-pile using usual grab and chisel method.
 01. Forming of the Large-Diameter Bored-Pile

Another way of forming the bored-pile by the use of Reversed Circulation Drill. The
equipment on the ground called an oscillator, which is used to set the steel casing
turns in a to-and-fro manner to assist the sinking or raising of the casing tube.
 01. Forming of the Large-Diameter Bored-Pile

A close up look of a Reversed Circulation Drill. The equipment at the base of the steel
casing called a rotator, which works and serves similarly like the oscillator but it can
grasp the casing tube and rotates it continually during the sinking and raising process.
01. Forming of the Large-Diameter Bored-Pile

Another matching using grab, casing and rotator set-up to form the bored-pile.
02. Construction of the Diaphragm Wall

Using of traditional clampshell and chisel set-up in diaphragm wall excavation.

02. Construction of the Diaphragm Wall

The trench cutting machine, or the hydrofraise, was also employed in the Festival
Walk project for the forming of the diaphragm wall panel.
02. Construction of the Diaphragm Wall

Close up seeing the hydrofraise with the cutting rack and the drum cutter head.
02. Construction of the Diaphragm Wall

The desanding and bentonite treatment facilities set up on site for diaphragm
wall construction work.
 03. Excavation Support to the Tat Chee Avenue side

An initial formation down to 15m below Tat Chee Avenue was required in the Site Formation
contract. Diaphragm wall was constructed along the site parameter as excavation cut-off at the
first stage. The photo shows the initial formation along the Tat Chee Avenue.
 03. Excavation Support to the Tat Chee Avenue side

The site formation in progress using a benching approach, that is, to cut and form terraced strips
of ground section by section in a retreating manner to minimize disturbance to the exposed cut-
off wall. On each strips of ground, anchors would be installed as lateral restraint for the
diaphragm wall panels.
 03. Excavation Support to the Tat Chee Avenue side

The formation completed to the required level. From this leveled ground, the basement
construction using top-down method would later be commenced.
 04. Protection to the MTR Tunnels

The east and west bound tunnels of the MTR Kwun Tong Line cut through the site (see also
foundation layout drawing attached). This photo shows the forming of two rows of diaphragm
wall along the alignment of the tunnel as protection and cut-off arrangement to the tunnels.
05. Phasing arrangement fro Site Formation Works

Sequential progress of site formation as seen in June 1995

05. Phasing arrangement fro Site Formation Works

Sequential progress of site formation as seen in August 1995. Note the portion on
the up-hill side had been formed to a lower level.
05. Phasing arrangement fro Site Formation Works

Closer look at the up-hill portion of formation. The site formation work as well as
the phasing planning of the subsequent basement and superstructure
construction was so arranged to start from this direction as phase 1 and worked
towards the down-hill direction
05. Phasing arrangement fro Site Formation Works

An initial site entrance and exit point provided at the middle of site on Tat Chee
Avenue at the early stage of work and maintained until the end of 1995.
05. Phasing arrangement fro Site Formation Works

The second entrance and exit point at the middle portion of the contract period.
This traffic point was maintained between January to October 1996. By the time,
the site had been completely cut off from the road level due to the formation to -
15m level was reached throughout the site.
05. Phasing arrangement fro Site Formation Works

Seeing the internal arrangement of the entrance and exit route maintained in the
middle portion of the contract period.
 05. Phasing arrangement fro Site Formation Works

The existence of large amount of boulders had created certain difficulties in the
site formation works. The photo shows a portion of site that had been held due to
longer time required in the cutting of the boulders.
05. Phasing arrangement fro Site Formation Works

The interfacing detail at the later stage between the superstructure and site
formation works.
06. The Casting of the First Slab before Commencement of
Top-Down Basement Construction

Preparing the steel column

ready soon for the construction
of the first slab before
commencement of the top-
down basement. Note the
connecting plate for merging
the steel column to the slab
structure.
06. The Casting of the First Slab before Commencement of
Top-Down Basement Construction

Connection detail between the

steel column and the floor slab.
The floor in this position is of
flat slab design and
arrangement of the drop panel
at top of the column can be
observed.
06. The Casting of the First Slab before Commencement of
Top-Down Basement Construction

Further detail seeing the overall

floor layout arrangement at this
portion of construction phasing.
Note that the excavation for the
top-down basement had not
been commenced at this
moment yet.
06. The Casting of the First Slab before Commencement of
Top-Down Basement Construction

The first phase at the up- hill side of site. The slab was the first structure to be cast
on site which would be used as the separating plate that divided the construction
into the upper (superstructure) and lower (basement) portion. The leveled
ground, with blind- ing layer on top, was used as formwork for the slab.
06. The Casting of the First Slab before Commencement of
Top-Down Basement Construction

The final phase on the down-hill side. The first separating plate had covered all the
site area and the top-down basement construction had commenced in full scale at
this stage.
06. The Casting of the First Slab before Commencement of
Top-Down Basement Construction

Detail seeing one of the very complicated construction jointing arrangement at the
junction of two phased sections.
06. The Casting of the First Slab before Commencement of
Top-Down Basement Construction

Typical location where several

phases and sections of the
building structure met.
07. Construction of a Circular Vehicular Ramp

Construction of the circular vehicular ramp – erection of the formwork.

This ramp would later be used as the only spoil removal exit when the final phase
of work commenced and the temporary exit to street level closed permanently.
07. Construction of a Circular Vehicular Ramp

Construction of the circular vehicular ramp – fixing of steel reinforcement.

07. Construction of a Circular Vehicular Ramp

Construction of the circular vehicular ramp – concrete being placed.

Note that top down construction method was also used for the construction of this
ramp.
 08. Rock Cutting along Tat Chee Avenue Side

A narrow strip of structure was isolated from the main construction phases due to
the existence of shallow rock stratum laying under the site along the Tat Chee
Avenue side.
 08. Rock Cutting along Tat Chee Avenue Side

Erection of temporary strut support to stabilize the toe of diaphragm wall using the main
structure being cast in the central section.
The diaphragm wall panels were constructed on top of the rock stratum and under- pinning
to further extend the panels down into the basement was required at a later stage.
 08. Rock Cutting along Tat Chee Avenue Side

Overall view seeing the phasing and sectioning arrangement including the
isolating portion along Tat Chee Avenue as in February 1997.
 08. Rock Cutting along Tat Chee Avenue Side

Seeing the excavation and rock cutting work being carried out under the isolated
portion.
 08. Rock Cutting along Tat Chee Avenue Side

Ditto, but under row of struts inside the isolated portion.

 09. Underpinning to extend the toe of the Diaphragm
Wall Panels

Seeing the bottom of the diaphragm wall panels with the provisioned bar
couplers. The panels were exposed due to the cutting of rock at a lower position
where the panels were previously rested.
 09. Underpinning to extend the toe of the Diaphragm
Wall Panels

Rock cutting went further downward. Note the mini-piles which were inserted
during the construction of the diaphragm wall panels to stabilize the panels from
sliding.
 09. Underpinning to extend the toe of the Diaphragm
Wall Panels

Fixing of steel reinforce- ment to the underside of the wall panel as part of the
underpinning. The procedure will repeat until the diaphragm wall reached the
final formation level of the basement.
 10. Entrance Arrangement for the Excavation of Basement

With the first floor slab being cast, an entrance arrangement to allow access of
equipment and spoil removal had to be provided. The photo shows the provision
of such arrangement at the very initial stage.
 10. Entrance Arrangement for the Excavation of Basement

Onward development of the basement entrance.

 10. Entrance Arrangement for the Excavation of Basement

The entrance arrangement as further phases of the superstructure and basement

construction proceeded.
 10. Entrance Arrangement for the Excavation of Basement

Detail seeing the entrance arrangement to the basement. To certain extent, the
entrance was also part of the falsework arrangement for the floor slab.
 10. Entrance Arrangement for the Excavation of Basement

The entrance arrangement at the last two phases of work at the down-hill side of
site.
 11. Construction of the Top-Down Basement

The entrance area as seen within the excavated side.

 11. Construction of the Top-Down Basement

Detail seeing the upper slab being supported by a steel column which founded on
a 1.5m diameter bored-pile.
 11. Construction of the Top-Down Basement

Excavation within the top-down basement - Internal view 1

 11. Construction of the Top-Down Basement

Excavation within the top-down basement - Internal view 2

 11. Construction of the Top-Down Basement

Excavation within the top-down basement - Internal view 3

 11. Construction of the Top-Down Basement

Excavation within the top-down basement - Internal view 4, photo taken from
one of the muck-out openings.