Sinkhole Projects

Elfers Elementary School.

Project Engineer: C&N Foundation Technologies
Project Contractor: Driggers Engineering Services

The Elfers Elementary School, built in 1914, was the first brick school building in Pasco County to include an auditorium as well as independent plumbing run throughout the building to supply its indoor toilets and drinking fountains. The building itself was built at a time when the road that serviced it wasn’t even paved. This building along with its auditorium has supported its entire community for the past 95 years. For many of those years the Elfers community Christmas tree program was held in the auditorium. This program provided children of the community and surrounding areas the opportunity to meet Santa Claus.  Not to mention decades of various other community activities.

Within the buildings’ three class rooms, three teachers taught the first through the sixth grades. This was also the first school to have black boards, erasers and chalk within each of its three classrooms. There were no janitors for the first six years of the buildings use so the pupils in each room were assigned daily chores to sweep, clean the black boards and clean the rooms. In addition all of the other work within the building and on the grounds was performed either by the pupils or the community. Nearly everyone carried his lunch and ate under the trees; but those pupils who lived close enough went home for lunch. The first through third grades' activities were ring-around-the-roses, jump rope, and swinging with rope from the trees. Other grades played sports such as volley and “stringree" baseball.

Engineers and contractors associated with FAS3 working closely with Pasco County were afforded the opportunity to work on and ultimately save this valuable structure. Specifically, soil related issues had developed such that underpinning was deemed necessary so as to transfer the load of the building from the surface soils to a deeper more competent stratum. This underpinning effort included the use of 44 pin piles and 192 lineal feet of spreader beams. Of particular concern were the nearly 100 year old exterior unreinforced brick walls. Once completed the entire building was resupported and the soil problems overcome.

This project stands as an example of what FAS3 strives for, the restoration and continued use of existing buildings. In this particular case, one that held significant importance to the community and its residents that it has served for years.