NEW YORK | 432 Park Avenue (Drake Hotel dev.) | (1,396) FT / 432 M | 89 FLOORS - Page 100

marcatio · #**1981** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 12:40 PM**

Today, the concrete pump arrived on site, and concrete pumping into the core forms is proceeding. For the past week, workers installed rebar and completed the formwork in preparation for today's pour. Yesterday, the Hitachi 850 excavator (one of the two excavators that have done hammering and excavating on this job), broke and dug rock for two more perimeter tower pads. Those two pads were formed and poured. Today the excavator hammered and dug rock for two more pads that will likely be formed and possibly poured today. These four pads will be driilled in preparation for installation of tendons, which were delivered yesterday.

marcatio · #**1982** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 12:50 PM**

Further update:

The two last pads for the tower footings are getting ready to be formed. Workers are cleaning the dug area, and will form the final tower pads. Workers are now marking the locations with red paint the drill holes in the first three tower pads that were poured. It is expected that if the last two pads are poured today, the drill will begin the drilling operation, perhaps tomorrow, starting with the first pad poured.

Concrete pouring continues on the core.

TechTalkGuy · #**1983** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 1:25 PM**

The birth of a new landmark !!

marcatio · #**1984** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 3:44 PM**

As progress continues on the pour of the core, the southeast corner (56St./Park Av) tower footing is being worked on. The dowels that were prepared by the rebar bending crew have been placed alongside. Soon the top and bottom reinforcement will be placed, along with the column reinforcement in preparation for the footing to be poured.

It is probable that the two remaining south (56St.) footing pads will be poured today, perhaps immediately after the core pour is completed, using the concrete pump.

The three west (Madison Av) tower footings with column reinforcement visible have a wall form alongside that was placed earlier this week. It is probable that a wall with pilasters will be cast there at some time in the future. Workers are seen at the corner of the future wall, presumably placing wall reinforcement.

A busy day today

NYguy · #**1985** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 3:55 PM**

The excitement builds in this early stage...

www.432park.com

marcatio · #**1986** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 4:00 PM**

Core concrete placement complete. The last two tower pads being poured now. Drilling most likely will begin tomorrow. Workers erecting the pilaster forms on the west tower wall.

marcatio · #**1987** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 4:12 PM**

Update:

Drill has been located on the bench (see right hand of the site, by the field office) for relocation to pads. Drilling may begin today on the first of the five pads poured. Concrete pouring of the last two tower pads complete.

scalziand · #**1988** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 4:15 PM**

Now that the core footing has been poured, we can clearly see the rebar rising for the corewalls, as well as fresh rebar delivered for the column footings.

JACKinBeantown · #**1989** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 4:19 PM**

I'm not an engineer - I don't see any rebar protruding up from the pads/column footings. Is that just because the webcam doesn't have the clarity to make the rebar visible? It just looks like flat concrete.

Hypothalamus · #**1990** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 4:21 PM**

It's getting pretty tight down there... I would imagine they will be installing the crane very soon. Anyone have an idea of where they will be putting it. My guess is straight down the center shaft area, maybe where the elevator would be located.

marcatio · #**1991** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 4:22 PM**

The pads are used just to provide a level surface for the drill. Rebar will be placed after the tendons are installed, and footing forms are ercted. You can see the vertical rebar in the corewall that was just poured

Hypothalamus · #**1992** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 4:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JACKinBeantown

I'm not an engineer - I don't see any rebar protruding up from the pads/column footings. Is that just because the webcam doesn't have the clarity to make the rebar visible? It just looks like flat concrete.

From what I observed, they first anchor the concrete pads with very long tendons. I think there are 6 anchoring tendons. Then, they work in the center of the pad where they erect the actual footing of the perimeter column (the bulky rebar). You are correct, some have no rebar, some pads have anchoring tendons, and some have the perimeter column footing rebar. Some of the perimeter columns on the upper right hand side are actual at street level. Hopefully someone with a better understanding can explain it to you and correct me if I am mistaken.

marcatio · #**1993** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 4:45 PM**

The drill has just been moved from the bench, as now being relayed to the second excavator for placement atop the first pad to be drilled.

babybackribs2314 · #**1994** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 5:42 PM**

Two questions for Marcatio, as they're kind of related...

Do you think that the tower's foundation will rise separately from the foundation for the retail components to the site, or will the process be longer because everything rises together? Obviously they're interlinked, but given the space the site has to work with it seems like the tower foundation would be complete before the retail components and the garage.

As a follow up, when do you see the tower reaching street-level? Would October be a reasonable guess?

Thanks!

tele75 · #**1995** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 5:52 PM**

I have another question for Marcatio. Do you work on this site?

marcatio · #**1996** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 6:31 PM**

babybackribs2314,

As the retail component of the project is on 57th Street (north end of the site, furthest from view on the 56 Street webcam), its foundation is essentially complete. The slab on grade has been poured, and you see the column dowels protruding thru the slab. Without knowing the actual schedule for events, or contractor preference for commencing, I am guessing that both garage and tower foundations will be done concurrently.

Looking at what has been accomplished to date, it appears that once the five final tower footings have been completed, the slab on grade preparations may begin on the tower portion. This would involve grading, placing waterproofing membrane, crushed stone before pouring the slab on grade. Realize that there is a lot of materials to be shuffled around (formwork, rebar, spoil, etc.) and final ramp removal before finishing the entire slab on grade before floor decks are erected. It'll be interesting to see the excavators lifted out of the site, and the crane erected after foundation work is complete.

As for when the floor slabs finally reach street level, perhaps October (late October) might be guess. Usually the base floors take a little longer than the typical floor plates to complete. Once the base floors are done, and the typical floors (floor plates whose dimensions are typically the same) are reached (the tower itself), the structure will rise fast, owing to the same formwork being used for casting each floor. In NYC, high-rise construction typically follows what is known as a two-day cycle, wherein an average of two floors per day is cast. It works out to an average of about ten floors per month (barring any unforeseen events).

tele75,

No I do not work on this site. I work in structural engineering, with a background in architecture. I have always enjoyed seeing tall buildings under construction, as I was born and raised in NYC.

babybackribs2314 · #**1997** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcatio

babybackribs2314,

As the retail component of the project is on 57th Street (north end of the site, furthest from view on the 56 Street webcam), its foundation is essentially complete. The slab on grade has been poured, and you see the column dowels protruding thru the slab. Without knowing the actual schedule for events, or contractor preference for commencing, I am guessing that both garage and tower foundations will be done concurrently.

Looking at what has been accomplished to date, it appears that once the five final tower footings have been completed, the slab on grade preparations may begin on the tower portion. This would involve grading, placing waterproofing membrane, crushed stone before pouring the slab on grade. Realize that there is a lot of materials to be shuffled around (formwork, rebar, spoil, etc.) and final ramp removal before finishing the entire slab on grade before floor decks are erected. It'll be interesting to see the excavators lifted out of the site, and the crane erected after foundation work is complete.

As for when the floor slabs finally reach street level, perhaps October (late October) might be guess. Usually the base floors take a little longer than the typical floor plates to complete. Once the base floors are done, and the typical floors (floor plates whose dimensions are typically the same) are reached (the tower itself), the structure will rise fast, owing to the same formwork being used for casting each floor. In NYC, high-rise construction typically follows what is known as a two-day cycle, wherein an average of two floors per day is cast. It works out to an average of about ten floors per month (barring any unforeseen events).

tele75,

No I do not work on this site. I work in structural engineering, with a background in architecture. I have always enjoyed seeing tall buildings under construction, as I was born and raised in NYC.

Thanks for the response!

Basically, we *should* have a ~twenty story Christmas present this year.

Hypothalamus · #**1998** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 7:06 PM**

WOW! I can't believe how fast the concrete has cured... It was only a few hours ago that they poured the bottom right corner pads! Now they are already marking them with plaint/spray for the drillings! Fascinating to watch - I can't get enough, haha

ATLksuGUY · #**1999** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 7:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubeworm

WOW! I can't believe how fast the concrete has cured... It was only a few hours ago that they poured the bottom right corner pads! Now they are already marking them with plaint/spray for the drillings! Fascinating to watch - I can't get enough, haha

Yeah, and now they are already drilling apparently?

marcatio · #**2000** Posted **Aug 2, 2012, 8:12 PM**

Yes, drilling has commenced. And, to the left beside the tower pad currently being drilled, the wall forms have been erected. It appears that one pilaster form on the wall perpendicular to 56 Street has been completed (the one furthest from the viewer on the 56 Street cam). It looks like those walls will be poured soon.