The existing site was a 30,000 SF single story structure, part of which was an old movie theater. Existing column loads were on footing with timber piles. The floor slab was never supported on piles, over the years the floor slab settled numerous times and multiple floors were poured over top. The buildings change in use to Greatwall Supermarket required a more permanent solution, a deep foundation system was required to support the new floor slab, elevators and additional column loads. A helical pile foundation system was selected due to the limited access and overhead height restrictions. The change in use to a supermarket and new structure designs called for 175 60 ton Ultimate piles. Challenges arose when it was discovered that the upper 15 feet of the site consisted large debris, boulders and a sloped concrete slab that ranged in depth of 4 to 12 feet underground and 12 inches in thickness that previously supported the old movie theater stadium seating. This created an upper later that the piles could not penetrate, all pile locations had to be predrilled. Due to the complexity of the soil and unknown nature of the fill and debris, FSI conducted a series of load tests to help determine which type of helical pile configuration could achieve the required loads. Load testing was done in accordance with the NYC DOB Code and ASTM D1143 Quick Load Test Procedure as well as one 48 Hour Load Test. Tested piles were loaded to 60 tons in varying increments and measured for deflection.  With low overhead height restrictions, large equipment could not be utilized to predrill pile locations. FSI used a skid-steer mounted Rock Auger and Core Barrel Drilling Rig with a 2000lb mounted weight setup to core a 16” diameter hole 20 feet deep through solid rock, debris and a 12 inch thick reinforced slab. Every pile location was predrilled to assure accurate pile placement and penetration through all debris.