AUSTIN | Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue | 346 FEET | 31 FLOORS | Complete - Page 21

We vs us · #**401** Posted **Jun 6, 2021, 11:59 AM**

I read so much about shortages in the home building space…. Maybe high rise construction is being hit, too.

JoninATX · #**402** Posted **Jun 6, 2021, 3:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinWimberley

Considering I have only seen 2 construction workers on this site in over a week, and the web cam has been down for quite some time, now, it occurs to me that
something unusual is going on at the site, but I have no idea what it might be.

Maybe the cows couldn't find their way back home and ended up at some other place where the grass was greener? Or at least there WAS some grass. Maybe they ended up at the XXXXXX Ranch?

It could be someone got covid or maybe the weather has delayed it some.

JoninATX · #**403** Posted **Jun 6, 2021, 3:56 PM**

Construction giant Katerra to lay off 169 in Jersey City. Will numerous projects be halted?

Isn't Katerra involved in this project? If so they could be laying off workers here.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nj....outputType=amp

austlar1 · #**404** Posted **Jun 6, 2021, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoninATX

Construction giant Katerra to lay off 169 in Jersey City. Will numerous projects be halted?

Isn't Katerra involved in this project? If so they could be laying off workers here.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nj....outputType=amp

The webcam is branded katerra.com/projects/hyatt-centric, so, yes, Katerra is/was involved. Looks like they are shutting down US operations effective immediately. Austin may be looking at a partially constructed tower for a good little while. Hopefully it won't be another Intel style situation. Surely some other developer will finish the project, if Katerra is truly gone from the scene. This quote is from the link in the previous post.“Following a thorough review of strategic business alternatives, Katerra has determined that it must wind down the majority of its U.S. business operations, effective immediately,” Katerra told employees in an email Tuesday, The Information reported. “Unfortunately, most of our U.S. employees will no longer be working for Katerra in the near future.”

The ATX · #**405** Posted **Jun 6, 2021, 7:48 PM**

Oh oh. It looks like we are going to have a partially finished tower for a while. Katerra was largely supported by Softbank like WeWork. Here's a good article.

https://www.theinformation.com/artic...a-to-shut-down

Echostatic · #**406** Posted **Jun 6, 2021, 8:37 PM**

that's not great

The ATX · #**407** Posted **Jun 6, 2021, 8:43 PM**

As far as I know, developers have insurance to cover things like this. There may be a pause for a while (months?) due to legal issues and for time to settle the insurance claim. But I would think the developer - Denver based McWhinney - and Hyatt will get a new GC as soon as possible.

IluvATX · #**408** Posted **Jun 7, 2021, 2:23 PM**

They are finally jumping the crane.

DaveinWimberley · #**409** Posted **Jun 7, 2021, 8:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IluvATX

They are finally jumping the crane.

Nope.

Echostatic · #**410** Posted **Jun 7, 2021, 9:08 PM**

Sure looks jumped to me!

KevinFromTexas · #**411** Posted **Jun 7, 2021, 9:56 PM**

Oh, yeah, that's definitely a crane jump. I would hope that some of these projects had foreknowledge of the impending news and made arrangements to be ahead of any slowdowns.

The ATX · #**412** Posted **Jun 7, 2021, 10:07 PM**

The crane jump may have been done by a subcon who was already paid.

Armybrat · #**413** Posted **Jun 7, 2021, 10:41 PM**

Several years ago after a contractor building a road extension (including some bridges) from 620 near Round Rock to the 45 toll way went bankrupt, the project was delayed about 4 or 5 months at the most until another took over the job.

sammyk · #**414** Posted **Jun 7, 2021, 11:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armybrat

Several years ago after a contractor building a road extension (including some bridges) from 620 near Round Rock to the 45 toll way went bankrupt, the project was delayed about 4 or 5 months at the most until another took over the job.

I don't remember it happening with that contractor but I do remember it happening with the contractor building the 290/71 to Mopac connectors.

freerover · #**415** Posted **Jun 8, 2021, 2:28 AM**

Reddit is saying this thing is shutting down.

freerover · #**416** Posted **Jun 8, 2021, 2:32 AM**

Is this the construction company?

https://www.reuters.com/article/lega...-idUSKCN2DJ0YL

The ATX · #**417** Posted **Jun 8, 2021, 2:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

Is this the construction company?

https://www.reuters.com/article/lega...-idUSKCN2DJ0YL

Yup.

We vs us · #**418** Posted **Jun 8, 2021, 2:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

Reddit is saying this thing is shutting down.

Some good comments down in that thread. One guy says the work is continuing because the "owner is doing it, not the GC." Which . . . ok? Sure? Says he has a source on the construction site.

Another dude even FURTHER down says work will pause for at most a week while Katerra spins off the GC so it can continue its work uninterrupted by the bankruptcy or reorg or whatever. He says he's privvy to info, but can't divulge the source.

Anyhoo, the good old fashioned rumormongering points to this being a blip rather than a bump and I'm inclined to agree.

JollyvilleJ-Rad · #**419** Posted **Jun 8, 2021, 4:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyk

I don't remember it happening with that contractor but I do remember it happening with the contractor building the 290/71 to Mopac connectors.

I am not certain of my memory (as I was a still a pretty young kid at the time) but I recall the issue with Mopac/290/71 interchange being the GC using substandard concrete in the bridge support structures. I believe they all had to be torn down and reconstructed to complete the flyovers. Might be confusing this with SW Parkway though as substandard road base was a major issue after completion (again, if I'm remembering correctly - please set me straight if you know I'm off!).

Regardless, I remember looking out the car windows for what seemed like years at those unfinished bridges anytime we visited family down south. It sounds like there are some rumors of a quick turnaround on this project - hopefully at a caffeinated pace in spite of the construction/worker shortages. Excited to see this completed!

DaveinWimberley · #**420** Posted **Jun 8, 2021, 12:38 PM**

Hmmm.
They're back working at the Hyatt-Centric. The crane is active and there are workers on the top floor, I guess pouring concrete for the columns. It was so far away it was hard to tell what they were doing, but they were there.
I saw it on the 6 X Guad web cam.