The site of the new arena in downtown Newark had a diverse history, first as a cemetery in the 18th century, then as a train station and rail yard, and finally as commercial and industrial buildings in the latter half of the 20th century. Each of these prior uses significantly contributed to the present day challenges that needed to be addressed. Before the site could be prepared, historical buildings adjacent to the site were protected and preserved, foundations for former train bridges were removed, and an archaeological excavation was conducted the footprint of the former cemetery area. Other challenges at the site included marginal subsurface conditions, large subsurface obstructions, sensitive utilities adjacent to the site, and the need to provide support for “super columns” at the corners of the arena.

A hybrid solution was developed for the foundation of the Prudential Center. Instead of constructing a deep foundation with piles, it was determined that a shallow foundation with ground improvement measures would be both more economical and faster to implement. Dynamic compaction of soil was used over the majority of the site footprint using a 15-ton weight dropped from a height of 55 feet. Soil borings taken before and after the dynamic compaction efforts were compared to evaluate the effectiveness of the compaction efforts. Special maps showing the depths of compaction craters were also developed to help visualize the results of the compaction efforts. Recommended vibration levels were set to ensure that the compaction efforts did not affect existing utilities and the historic structures adjacent to the site. The hybrid solution developed for the foundation helped to significantly reduce the construction duration and played an important role in making sure the arena was completed before the start of the 2007-08 NHL season.