New Tower. The main activity of the past week was the preparation for a day-long session (4:30 am – 4:30 pm) of pouring concrete on Wed July 31st. The first major section to be poured was the basement-level floor slab above the mechanical room at the sub-basement level of the new tower. This area represents a significant step in the construction project because it is the first use of the ‘voided-slab’ construction technique that will be used for most of the rest of the construction project. The second major section to be poured was the last portion of the foundation wall along Mills St. The basement / sub-basement of the structure is now enclosed around its perimeter.
The other activity of the past week was the preparation for next big pour of concrete on Wed Aug 7th. Workers installed shoring to support the forms for what will be a portion of the ceiling of the large lecture room. In the photo, below, it may appear that these forms are at the level of the first floor. But they are not. The slab will be beneath the sidewalk that will run along University Avenue. As a point of reference, the tower crane is actually outside the envelope of the main tower. The curved steel beam is the front of the Learning Studio, which will protrude, just slightly, from beneath the tower above. The space beneath the steel canopy, at the right of the photo, will be the Learning Studio.
Loading Dock. The loading-dock is expected to be closed Wed Aug 7th from 4:00 am to about 11:00 am when a concrete pump truck will be in the loading-dock area. There may also be short interruptions at unpredictable times.
This information is up to date as of Sunday afternoon. Email bulletins will be provided as needed.
Bob McMahon