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18th Century Ship Found at Nicholson Jobsite

PITTSBURGH, PA – July 14, 2010 – On July 13th, workers excavating the site of the future World Trade Center Vehicle Security Center, discovered remnants of an 18th century wooden ship.  Nicholson Construction Company is a member of the joint venture responsible for constructing the foundation system for the new building. 

According to the New York Times, “The 30-foot length of the wood-hulled vessel was discovered about 20 to 30 feet below street level on the World Trade Center site.  It is the first such large-scale archaeological find along the Manhattan waterfront since 1982, when an 18th-century cargo ship came to light at 175 Water Street.”

Nicholson, with joint venture partner E.E. Cruz, constructed the Vehicle Security Center’s perimeter foundation walls. The water-tight excavation support system includes 40,000 square feet diaphragm wall, 6,000-square-foot secant pile wall, and a jet grout cutoff wall.  Nicholson is currently installing tieback anchors to support the foundation walls.

The joint venture’s $41 million contract also includes the excavation of 160,000 cubic yards of rock, soil, and miscellaneous materials.  The project is scheduled to be complete in late August.
The area under excavation, between Liberty and Cedar Streets, had not been dug out for the original trade center. The vessel, dating from the mid- to late 1700s, was evidently undisturbed for more than 200 years.

News of the find spread quickly. Archaeologists and officials hurried to the site, not only because of the magnitude of the discovery but because construction work could not be interrupted and because the timber would begin deteriorating as soon as it were exposed to air.

About Nicholson Construction Company:
Nicholson is a versatile geotechnical contractor specializing in deep foundations, earth retention, ground treatment, and ground improvement. As the North American subsidiary of Soletanche Bachy, one of the world's leading geotechnical contractors, we are part of a global network of geotechnical resources and expertise. We work in a wide range of industries and environments, from power plants and dams, to bridges and skyscrapers. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Nicholson has eight offices around the country to address each region's unique geotechnical construction needs.

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Contact: Brian O’Gara, 412-221-4500, bogara@nicholsonconstruction.com

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