PHILADELPHIA | W Hotel & Element by Westin | 617 FT | 51 FLOORS - Page 50

thisisforreal · #**981** Posted **Aug 4, 2015, 3:51 PM**

Current state of affairs:

1487 · #**982** Posted **Aug 5, 2015, 5:29 PM**

There is a core drilling machine on the eastern part of the site working now.

RonnieStevens · #**983** Posted **Aug 5, 2015, 5:36 PM**

This is why SLS International is waiting to break ground. You have to start at the same time so its a fare race...

domodeez · #**984** Posted **Aug 5, 2015, 7:14 PM**

From this afternoon:

Philly Fan · #**985** Posted **Aug 5, 2015, 9:46 PM**

Was in the neighborhood this afternoon, so took some ground-level photos. Definitely appears that serious excavation and foundation work is about to begin:

Soldier beams for shoring:

Drilling rig:

Shoring beams and caisson liner and drilling bit:

summersm343 · #**986** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 5:35 AM**

8/5/2015

domodeez · #**987** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 7:21 PM**

From a few minute ago. More caissons going in today, and a bit more activity on site:

MikeNigh · #**988** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 7:36 PM**

is this going underground at all (parking etc)?

boxbot · #**989** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 7:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by domodeez

From a few minute ago. More caissons going in today, and a bit more activity on site:

I don't get it. Excavate and reveal existing structures below grade, then fill the hole back in, then reexcavate to reveal the same existing walls. What in the wide world of sports is going on?

domodeez · #**990** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 8:55 PM**

summersm343 · #**991** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 11:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by domodeez

From a few minute ago. More caissons going in today, and a bit more activity on site:

Thanks for the great updates! These are not caissons being installed yet however. These pile drivers are doing just that; driving piles into the ground for perimeter shoring for excavation.

kraggman · #**992** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 11:41 PM**

This site is very confusing to me.

Philly Fan · #**993** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Thanks for the great updates! These are not caissons being installed yet however. These pile drivers are doing just that; driving piles into the ground for perimeter shoring for excavation.

I could be wrong, but I don't think those are pile drivers. Pretty sure they're drilling to install those shoring beams (you can see the drilling bit lying on the ground in domodeez's latest photo). Also, I thought I saw some temporary caisson liners lying on the ground when I was there yesterday, but they may just have been drilling bit extensions. Unless, of course, someone heard them driving piles today (it would have been hard not to). In which case, forget everything I just said.

Eigenwelt · #**994** Posted **Aug 7, 2015, 3:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbot

I don't get it. Excavate and reveal existing structures below grade, then fill the hole back in, then reexcavate to reveal the same existing walls. What in the wide world of sports is going on?

If I had to make a guess I would think it was a combination of a realitively small worksite and far more sub-grade obstructions then they originally planned for.

Ever see one of these puzzles?

I would assume since loose dirt is relatively easy and cheap to shuffle around, they're moving it as needed to keep the site flexibility at maximum. An open hole is a hazard and a space hog.

1487 · #**995** Posted **Aug 7, 2015, 12:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

I could be wrong, but I don't think those are pile drivers. Pretty sure they're drilling to install those shoring beams (you can see the drilling bit lying on the ground in domodeez's latest photo). Also, I thought I saw some temporary caisson liners lying on the ground when I was there yesterday, but they may just have been drilling bit extensions. Unless, of course, someone heard them driving piles today (it would have been hard not to). In which case, forget everything I just said.

The machine that is there now is just for drilling. Perhaps there will be a pile driver there later when they have to install those beams to create the shoring along the perimter. As noted, these locations wouldnt be for caissons to support the building based on the location. The hole isn't even deep yet, I suppose all this work indicates they are really about to start excavation for the underground garage.

Philly-Drew · #**996** Posted **Aug 7, 2015, 1:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1487

The machine that is there now is just for drilling. Perhaps there will be a pile driver there later when they have to install those beams to create the shoring along the perimter. As noted, these locations wouldnt be for caissons to support the building based on the location. The hole isn't even deep yet, I suppose all this work indicates they are really about to start excavation for the underground garage.

It should be pretty interesting to watch the excavation. As previously discussed, there is a lot going on down there.