Skystar Ferris Wheel

Project: Deep Foundation Installation and Construction of Skystar Ferris Wheel in Golden Gate Park

Client: City of San Francisco

Design/Geotechnical Engineer:    

Soil Engineering Construction, Inc

Robert D. Mahoney, G.E., C.E.G.

Contractor:

Soil Engineering Construction, Inc.

Ben Byers, Area Manager

Sergio Reyes, Foreman

Project Description:

For the 150th anniversary of the beautiful Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, the City decided to erect an observational Ferris Wheel in the historic Music Concourse area, right between the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum and the California Academy of Sciences. Erecting a structure like this poses significant design challenges, considering the seismic activity in the area and the fact that this structure will carry pedestrians and families. 

Soil Engineering Construction, Inc. worked with Skystar, the City of San Francisco, and various other firms, to design and implement a deep foundation for the observational wheel. This included driving piles into the ground and then installing a hydraulic stabilization system on top of the piles themselves. This allows the observational wheel to withstand even strong seismic forces, should they occur. 

Given the scope of this project, bringing it to completion required teamwork and communication with various stakeholders, public agencies, and private firms. We worked closely with San Francisco Recreation and Parks, the San Francisco Building Department, OSHA, the San Francisco Fire Department, and many more agencies. 

Upon the opening of the observational wheel in October 2020, there was a Grand Opening Ceremony with Mayor London Breed of San Francisco, which you can read about at the following link: https://www.sfweekly.com/culture/skystar-ferris-wheel-opens-in-golden-gate-park/