Triodetic, Multipoint Foundations

Triodetic, Inc.
Triodetic, Multipoint Foundations
Building Stable Foundations in Unstable Territory
T
riodetic, Inc. has been using its
proprietary Multipoint Foundation System to successfully solve
foundation problems in Alaska for more
than 20 years. Multipoint Foundations
provides a strong, stable “footprint” on
permafrost, flood-prone land and other
unstable terrain. Comprised of a preengineered steel or aluminum platform,
it keeps buildings straight and level—regardless if the soil settles or sinks beneath
them. The product comes in heights ranging from 2 to 8 feet to help elevate structures above flood waters.
Multipoint Foundations is a proven
and reliable solution for all types of terrain. Unlike conventional piles that tend
to shift and cause structural damage, it
virtually eliminates differential settlement, says inventor William Vangool, P.E.
Multipoint Foundations doesn’t damage a
building’s integrity, never requires maintenance and saves money over the long
term. “Our foundation system is pain-free
for the longevity of your building,” Vangool says.
Fast, Easy, Customized Solutions
Triodetic is an internationally-recognized
designer, manufacturer and supplier of
specialty structures, domes, free form
structures, barrel vaults and space frames
such as Multipoint Foundations. The company has deployed its Multipoint Foundation System in projects throughout Alaska,
Louisiana, Russia, and Canada. In fact,
Triodetic has used the same joint sys–
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tem that’s in Multipoint Foundations to
construct a variety of structures, including the Children’s Museum in Rochester,
N.Y., and the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum—both of which earned American
Institute of Architects awards—as well
as the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Mass.
In Alaska, the Multipoint Foundation
System is typically used for constructing
and retrofitting homes, but it’s equally
suitable for supporting larger buildings
like hospitals, schools, and churches, according to Foundations Manager Mike
Landon. Regardless of the structure, Multipoint Foundations is quick and easy to
assemble. Everything is bolted together,
so no welding is required. The foundation
frame can often be installed in one day or
in about half the time it takes to construct
a traditional frame. “It’s a great product,”
Landon says. “I’m very excited about it.”
Multipoint Foundations is a completely customized solution. Triodetic designs
the foundation frame based on drawings,
fabricates the frame to the building’s dimensions and ships the frame to the site
for clients to assemble. “We rarely have to
supervise installation,” Vangool says.
Constantly Improving to Meet
the Challenges of Alaska
Multipoint Foundations is often used for
projects in Bush Alaska. For example,
Samaritan’s Purse recently used the system for an administrative building and
dormitory in Bethel. Alaska Housing
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Finance Corporation has also employed
Multipoint Foundations to shore up endangered homes in Bethel, Shishmaref
and other communities.
Although Triodetic has been serving
Alaskans for decades, its work in the
state continues to be exciting because the
applications for Multipoint Foundations
are constantly changing, Vangool says.
“We continue to develop new methods to
approach certain challenges that we find
in the field,” he says.
For instance, Triodetic is creating a
hydraulic system to make it easier to lift
buildings. It’s also supplying University
of Alaska Fairbanks with foundation
frames to serve as research platforms in
places like the North Slope and Antarctica. Additionally, Triodetic continues to
research various installation methods to
better serve the evolving needs of clients
in Alaska and elsewhere.
Mike Landon, Foundations Manager
4465 East Genesee St., PMB 306
Syracuse, N.Y. 13214-2253
800-565-2743, Ext. 2233
multipoint-foundations.com
triodetic.com
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