City: Cleveland
State:  Ohio
General Contractor: Independence Excavating

Temporary Earth Retention System to Support Progressive Field’s Renovations

In 2023, the Cleveland Guardians announced a major three-year project to upgrade their home stadium, Progressive Field, with a $202.5 million budget. The renovations, expected to be completed before the start of the 2025 MLB season, will include upgrades to the upper deck, terrace hub, clubhouses, and front office. These changes are meant to improve the ballpark experience for Guardians fans and players.

Schnabel’s Role

Schnabel was contracted by Independence Excavating to provide crucial earth retention and foundation support for the installation of a new ramp behind the home dugout.

This work was part of the stadium’s larger renovation efforts. Specifically, Schnabel’s role involved constructing a 120 LF temporary Earth Retention System (ERS) that would facilitate safe and stable construction around the new ramp area.

As part of the temporary ERS, Schnabel installed 72 soil mix columns, which were made up of:

• 35 soldier beams
• 37 lagging columns

Additionally, the ERS also included 19 hollow bar tiebacks, each averaging 25 feet in length. Schnabel also installed 19 hollow bar micropiles, with an average depth of 48 feet, for three existing columns. These micropiles were essential in mitigating settlement during the installation of the ERS and the ramp structure.

Fast-Paced Schedule

The project had a very tight deadline, as the renovations needed to be completed before the 2025 MLB season. To ensure that the project stayed on schedule, Schnabel’s team worked overtime, including double shifts and Saturdays. The company’s commitment to maintaining a fast-paced schedule allowed the project to remain on track despite the challenging timeline.

Schnabel’s Research & Development (R&D) and Equipment Division were key to the success of this project. These teams created specialized tools, such as custom augers and paddles welded to the casing, to mix the soil for the walls. These tools helped make sure the soil mix was just right for the job. The R&D team also assisted with the soil mix design and conducted thorough tests to ensure everything met the required performance standards.

CONCLUSION

Schnabel successfully completed the installation of the temporary ERS and micropiles two weeks ahead of schedule. This early completion provided the client with a valuable buffer in their timeline, which helped ensure that the overall renovation project stayed on course for the re-opening of Progressive Field before the start of the 2025 MLB season. The work performed by Schnabel facilitated the first player-centric improvement in the stadium’s history to be completed on time, setting the stage for the next phase of renovations at Progressive Field.