Mills River, NC – BLE provided subsurface exploration, geotechnical consulting, and construction materials testing for the proposed Sierra Nevada Brewery—a 100‑acre development consisting of a visitor center, restaurant, brewery, and bottling warehouse totaling 278,000 square feet. The team characterized site conditions, performed consolidation testing on undisturbed samples, and ran finite‑element settlement analyses to evaluate foundation alternatives for a challenging tank pad with very large column loads. Based on testing and analysis, BLE developed and validated a mat‑foundation solution that meets settlement tolerances and provided a more cost‑effective alternative to deep foundations. BLE also issued practical recommendations for grading, earthwork, and construction materials to support the extensive cut‑and‑fill operations.