PHILADELPHIA | W Hotel & Element by Westin | 617 FT | 51 FLOORS - Page 58

boxbot · #**1141** Posted **Oct 13, 2015, 2:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisisforreal

Multiple dump trucks on site getting filled with dirt. Pics coming soon.

They're just taking the dirt on a ride around the block then dumping it back on the site.

thisisforreal · #**1142** Posted **Oct 13, 2015, 2:07 PM**

Oct 5th:

Oct 13th:

Is it time to do the Ron Paul GIF again?

Knight Hospitaller · #**1143** Posted **Oct 13, 2015, 2:19 PM**

Good thing this wasn't an Olde City archaeological site on top of everything else. Pray that they don't find any Lenni Lenape arrowheads.

PhilliesPhan · #**1144** Posted **Oct 13, 2015, 4:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisisforreal

Oct 5th:

Oct 13th:

Is it time to do the Ron Paul GIF again?

At least there is visibly more shoring installed at the site. Hopefully this excavation speeds up soon. I'm anxious!

Knight Hospitaller · #**1145** Posted **Oct 13, 2015, 4:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

At least there is visibly more shoring installed at the site. Hopefully this excavation speeds up soon. I'm anxious!

This very much looks like the beginning of real excavation. "ThisIsForReal" is living up to his screen name today!

1487 · #**1146** Posted **Oct 13, 2015, 7:35 PM**

nice to see a truck being loaded with dirt for a change

summersm343 · #**1147** Posted **Oct 15, 2015, 1:30 AM**

Update from Brook

Quote:

I also had to reach an Agreement with the neighbors to take down the one story storage shed that holds trash cans and is between the Girard building and the Ritz hotel building and on the Residences at the Ritz site that also was trespassing on my site. The Agreement needed to be agreed to by four separate parties including Marriot. Now the city is stopping progress because they are taking 4 weeks +/- to issue the permit to take down the one story structure. Until it is down we can't finish the last soldier piles and really start hauling a lot of dirt. I'm hoping we have the permit to take down the one story trash can holding structure today.

You were right though when you said (at least I think you said) that there is a ton of stuff we didn't expect underground like all of the Morris building including basements and sub basements and internal and exterior walls as well as concrete and steel and railroad tracks and vaults and steel plates and all sorts of other stuff.

Quote:

Removing structure & foundations 28'-30' below grade at soldier pile #61.

Great picture showing the Morris building shared wall still in place. TPBC is currently 30' down and still hitting structure.

Quote:

Steel beams encased in concrete , 23-25' below grade, being removed for soldier drilling.

summersm343 · #**1148** Posted **Oct 15, 2015, 1:32 AM**

And an update I took myself today

boxbot · #**1149** Posted **Oct 23, 2015, 2:40 AM**

Update from Building Philly:

https://www.facebook.com/BuildingPhilly[/QUOTE]

Progress!!

1487 · #**1150** Posted **Oct 23, 2015, 12:58 PM**

They are least slightly below grade now. Good news!

kraggman · #**1151** Posted **Oct 23, 2015, 6:45 PM**

Let's get this thing rolling already !!

summersm343 · #**1152** Posted **Oct 24, 2015, 5:50 PM**

Update from Brook Lenfest himself

Basement foundations of Morris bldg. Still taking out the Morris building foundation, basement, sub basement.

pay homage · #**1153** Posted **Oct 24, 2015, 7:17 PM**

Impressive... Monumental excavation! Was the process similar for the Residences at the Ritz?

Philly-Drew · #**1154** Posted **Oct 25, 2015, 10:30 AM**

Wow! Talk about a closeup picture! Damn!

blenfest · #**1155** Posted **Oct 25, 2015, 12:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pay homage

Impressive... Monumental excavation! Was the process similar for the Residences at the Ritz?

No. They built on top of the garage that was intact from the Meridian building.

1487 · #**1156** Posted **Oct 26, 2015, 12:17 PM**

This is crazy. I wonder how much of this was known in advance based on existing drawings of the old building. Only other project with this much underground work is 1601 Vine. And maybe East Market.

blenfest · #**1157** Posted **Oct 26, 2015, 1:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1487

This is crazy. I wonder how much of this was known in advance based on existing drawings of the old building. Only other project with this much underground work is 1601 Vine. And maybe East Market.

When the Morris building was demolished the contract called for the interior basement walls, basement floor, and sub floor, and maybe more to be demolished like the Western wall and nothing larger than 4" X 4" to be used as fill. We are just finding out that they didn't do what they were contracted to do.

The rest of the site West of the Morris building isn't much better which was also not expected. Steel plate, railroad tracks, vaults, I beams encased in concrete.

Boku · #**1158** Posted **Oct 26, 2015, 1:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by blenfest

When the Morris building was demolished the contract called for the interior basement walls, basement floor, and sub floor, and maybe more to be demolished like the Western wall and nothing larger than 4" X 4" to be used as fill. We are just finding out that they didn't do what they were contracted to do.

The rest of the site West of the Morris building isn't much better which was also not expected. Steel plate, railroad tracks, vaults, I beams encased in concrete.

Thanks for the updates. Will all of this unforeseen work/costs affect the design or specs of the building at all?

Arch+Eng · #**1159** Posted **Oct 26, 2015, 1:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boku

Thanks for the updates. Will all of this unforeseen work/costs affect the design or specs of the building at all?

The budget has to be BLOWN!

I wouldn't be surprised if we just get one McMansion here and no tower..

1487 · #**1160** Posted **Oct 26, 2015, 2:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch+Eng

The budget has to be BLOWN!

I wouldn't be surprised if we just get one McMansion here and no tower..

Yes, all of this has to be costing a lot of extra money and affecting the schedule. With this projects the entire scope is usually bid to a CM who is supposed to deliver the entire project within the budgeted amount. I'm not exactly sure how unforeseen conditions like this are handled, but I'm sure there are instances where the contractor can pass on these costs because there was no way to anticipate certain unforeseen conditions.