Company Profile

In the early 1950's during his research work as a Professor in the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Saskatchewan, B.B. (Ben) Torchinsky investigated the high incidence of cracks and general deterioration developing in commercial buildings in Regina - even newly constructed buildings utilizing first class design and construction techniques. After considerable study and examination, he determined that the problems were caused by shrinking and swelling of the highly plastic montmorillonite clay soils which commonly occur in the Regina area and on which the building footings were founded. These soils are prone to shrink during a drop in moisture content of the soil allowing foundations supported by them to settle and to swell upon taking on moisture during wet seasons. Furthermore, the swelling is caused by water molecules being sucked into the molecular structure of the montmorillonite clay, causing swelling of the clay with resultant swelling pressures equivalent to those in water as it freezes into ice if it is confined. Thus the swelling uplift pressure on building foundations is sufficient to cause serious cracking of walls, as is the excessive settlement, which can occur during drying or shrinking of the bearing soil. Engineers did not generally recognize the swelling and uplift potential of the clay at that time.

Torchinsky determined that the only way to construct a foundation that would not deteriorate due to the wet and dry seasonal effect on the founding soil was to place the foundation deep enough below the ground surface where moisture conditions in the soil were not affected by climate change. He determined that a depth of at least 20 feet, and preferably 25 to 30 feet, would be required to get below the active zone. Drilling a series of holes down to this depth, filling the holes with reinforced concrete, and supporting the structure on this system of pilings or caissons could achieve this most economically.

Torchinsky began to recommend this type of design in his consulting practice, however, the problem he soon discovered was that there was no equipment available in the prairies to drill large diameter holes to depths of 20 to 30 feet, or deeper. Torchinsky felt strongly that drilled piles or caissons was the logical and most efficient solution to overcome the problem of foundations on highly plastic clay and so he decided to obtain drilling equipment himself and start a new company for this operation which he called Western Foundation Borings Limited. This was the start of what would become one of the leading foundation companies in Western Canada. From its headquarters in Saskatoon the company expanded into Regina shortly after its formation; to Alberta in 1959; Manitoba in 1960; and to Toronto and Montreal in the mid-sixties. The company name was changed to Western Caissons Limited in 1966. By 1970 all the companies were consolidated into publicly traded AGRA Industries Limited, and in 1995 Western Caissons Limited was renamed AGRA Foundations Limited.

On June 25, 2010 AGRA Foundations Limited was aquired by the Soletanche Freyssinet Group. Professional engineers possessing solid background and experience in foundation engineering manage all of our offices. With the support of our parent company, Soletanche Freyssinet, we are in the best position to develop innovative solutions to difficult foundation problems and to design and install the most challenging foundation systems on both land and over water.