PHILADELPHIA | W Hotel & Element by Westin | 617 FT | 51 FLOORS - Page 35

1487 · #**681** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 1:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmikeyphilly

Yeah, that hole is pretty deep. They couldn't be digging that deep for soil samples? The only thing that came to mind, is that they could be excavating for treasures? Like historical treasures? But I doubt that though, since there was already a building on this site from the early 20th Century. Maybe this is the start of construction, after all? I thought caissons would be present, but I don't recall anyone posting about that. Guess we'll see sooner or later.

The more they do, they less likely it seems that the parking lot will reopen. This is basically the same thing that happened at 1919 market before actual construction started. They spent at least 1-2 months working on the area adjacent to the IBC tower to seal and shore up that wall. I saw several large steel pipes on the W site when I walked by yesterday. I assume they will be driving those into the ground near the Ritz hotel. Also you could see many cut beams from the previous building and I assume all of those have to be removed.

boxbot · #**682** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1487

you could see many cut beams from the previous building and I assume all of those have to be removed.

Would that be One Meridian, or did it not take up the entire lot?

Parkway · #**683** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 2:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbot

Would that be One Meridian, or did it not take up the entire lot?

No, there was a turn of the century high-rise back there that was irreparably damage by falling pieces of One Meridian's facade during the fire.

boxbot · #**684** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 2:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parkway

No there was a turn of the century high-rise back there that was irreparably damage by falling pieces of One Meridian's facade during the fire.

Hmph. Can anyone source a picture or tell me what it was called? I can't seem to find any photos of that block from the south.

Parkway · #**685** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 2:52 PM**

I think Amazzarite AKA GroJLart did a Empty Lot of the Week article on his blog http://philaphilia.blogspot.com/ that included info on this building.

boxbot · #**686** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 3:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parkway

I think Amazzarite AKA GroJLart did a Empty Lot of the Week article on his blog http://philaphilia.blogspot.com/ that included info on this building.

Good memory. Found the article back from 2011. Terrible that this was lost too. I had no idea.

1487 · #**687** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 3:57 PM**

wow, I wonder when that was torn down. For some reason I do think I remember that being there until early 2000s.

loves development · #**688** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 5:01 PM**

It was called the Morris Building.

Philly Fan · #**689** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1487

wow, I wonder when that was torn down. For some reason I do think I remember that being there until early 2000s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by loves development

It was called the Morris Building.

Torn down in 2001:

http://www.emporis.com/buildings/117904/morris-building-philadelphia-pa-usa

iheartphilly · #**690** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 7:32 PM**

Nothing that we didn't know and don't think the parking lot will re-open as speculated.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...construction-has-started-completion.html

Quote:

"It's early in the process." "We're looking at sensitive areas of the foundation before we dig the entire hole," said Matt Morgan of Tutor Perini's Philadelphia office. "We could start as early as next month depending on what they find."

josef · #**691** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 7:38 PM**

Photos from today. I think I see one of the beams 1487 mentioned.

1487 · #**692** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 9:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

Nothing that we didn't know and don't think the parking lot will re-open as speculated.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/...construction-has-started-completion.html

Quote:

"It's early in the process." "We're looking at sensitive areas of the foundation before we dig the entire hole," said Matt Morgan of Tutor Perini's Philadelphia office. "We could start as early as next month depending on what they find."

I was just going to post that. It certainly seems like things are formally underway. I guess there are certain things they have to actually see in relation to the foundation of the adjacent building before they know exactly how to excavate or how to support that wall. When I walked by there were several engineers meeting with some of the contractors in the lot discussing whatever must have been exposed.

I do remember that building coming down now, that was the first year I was working downtown. BTW, the rendering for the second 1441 proposal was NICE. Too bad that building wasn't built- looks better than what is currently being proposed.

summersm343 · #**693** Posted **Feb 26, 2015, 10:02 PM**

Update form Yesterday

loves development · #**694** Posted **Feb 27, 2015, 12:30 PM**

there is a basement, and a sub-basement below grade along with below grade elevator pit / shafts as well. there is also an underground tunnel that connected the morris building to the dome building on the corner

all the dirt that you see was from demo as back fill of the basements and shafts.

The corner buildings were torn down long before the morris building.

mmikeyphilly · #**695** Posted **Feb 27, 2015, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbot

Would that be One Meridian, or did it not take up the entire lot?

boxbot, Below is a link that is informative and entertaining. It has many images of OLD Philadelphia. I had posted it a few years back when the Residences of The Ritz was being constructed. I thought I would re-post it, as it shows some of the buildings around South Penn Square, and S. Broad Street at the turn of the century(early 1900's). On the left side of the website, and down to around Images 8 thru 9 are photos of South Penn Square. Enjoy!

http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/king/main.html

josef · #**696** Posted **Feb 27, 2015, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by loves development

there is a basement, and a sub-basement below grade along with below grade elevator pit / shafts as well. there is also an underground tunnel that connected the morris building to the dome building on the corner

all the dirt that you see was from demo as back fill of the basements and shafts.

The corner buildings were torn down long before the morris building.

Whoa, there's a tunnel? Any chance it could connect to the Concourse?

1487 · #**697** Posted **Feb 27, 2015, 9:15 PM**

Today they are digging out an area near the Residences at Ritz foundation.

boxbot · #**698** Posted **Mar 2, 2015, 4:00 PM**

It certainly looks like they just filled that hole back in (from Building Philly on FB photos). Not good.

Philly Fan · #**699** Posted **Mar 2, 2015, 4:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbot

It certainly looks like they just filled that hole back in (from Building Philly on FB photos). Not good.

Although not necesssarily bad. It could just be that they've finished this initial stabilization of the neighboring foundation(s), and possibly some utility relocation, and are backfilling in preparation for the next step.

Keep in mind the recent explanation of this project by one of our resident insiders and experts, RWSMADCONC:

Quote:

Abbonizio has to sheet and shore to dig about 50 feet below the present sidewalk elevations, on the property lines. This is going to take some time; the last time I checked, the plan was that the excavation will be braced with big steel pipe struts from north to south at two or three levels for the west half of the site, and there is a lot of underpinning needed for the Ritz Hotel to the north, and to the east for the old Girard Bank Dome Building that will demand careful (and slow) work. Look for utility relocation to happen in the near term, then stripping of the asphalt and some fill removal, then soldier pile drilling, followed by bulk excavation. As the dig down, they will install wood lagging, and big-ass steel beam walers from pile to pile, and add the pipe struts, then go lower, and repeat the process. It's gonna take time!!!! Be patient! It may be 5 to 7 months of excavation before the mat construction actually begins.....then more than a year to top off. Please keep in mind that this is all a guestimate on my part based on the bidding process, Tutor-Perini may have some tricks up their sleeve to beat this guess of a schedule.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6921050&postcount=657

summersm343 · #**700** Posted **Mar 2, 2015, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbot

It certainly looks like they just filled that hole back in (from Building Philly on FB photos). Not good.

That doesn't matter at all. This is again the same thing that happened with 1919 Market. They finished stabilizing the neighboring foundation and then back-filled in the hole. It's easier to work with a clean completely level site then it is to work with one with a bunch of holes everywhere which you need to maneuver around.

Now if they start repaving the parking lot, THAT wouldn't be a good sign lol. I doubt that will happen though. They'll probably finishing stabilizing existing foundations to surround buildings then fill and level the lot/dig up the remaining asphalt and then start excavation.