[Wooster]

Here is the latest Calgary Herald installment of the Bow site taken March 3.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q148/cgyboomer/BOW0308.jpg

Good progress is obviously being made.

You can really see its rough outline now in the foundation. Quite exciting. This one will rise quickly.

Incidentally, there are some rumours swirling around that for sale lot across 5th avenue to the north. ;)

[mersar]

Yep, really looking good. My meeting tonight was cancelled so I'll be down there tonight to get a closer look, so I'll have some photo's to post when I get back. Boris mentioned that they've poured the most recent floor yesterday, so things are moving fairly fast.

[RWin]

Incidentally, there are some rumours swirling around that for sale lot across 5th avenue to the north. ;)

Don't leave us hanging now :)

What are the rumors?

[You Need A Thneed]

Pics taken today, by myself:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/g_major7/_DSF7230.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/g_major7/_DSF7241.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/g_major7/_DSF7242.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/g_major7/_DSF7243.jpg

[Boris2k7]

I've corrected the typo in the Citybeat article regarding the date (obviously, we are long past Feb 7)

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Centre Street between 5 Avenue S.W. and 7 Avenue S.W.

Calgary – Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 7, Centre Street between 5 Avenue S.W. and 7 Avenue S.W. will be closed for a major concrete pour. Calgary Transit access will be maintained.

The closure is expected to last until 8 a.m. on Sunday, March 9.

BTW, THX for the fotos Thneed. Looks like the peeps in the Lougheed building are going to get a good view... and a lot of glare!

[ScottFromCalgary]

Here is the latest Calgary Herald installment of the Bow site taken March 3.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q148/cgyboomer/BOW0308.jpg

Good progress is obviously being made.

Almost exactly six months since 6th Ave was closed and the scene looked like this:

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t279/scottr49/Week2.jpg

[mersar]

Bow
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar6-1.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar6-2.jpg
They poured that level yesterday. And the columns today :)

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar6-3.jpg
Rebar for the columns (sitting on the NW corner of the pit)

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar6-4.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar6-5.jpg
They've framed up a box within the pit where the elevators are

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar6-6.jpg
Random rebar frames laying on the base slab

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar6-7.jpg
They were grinding the surface with that tracked-bobcat

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar6-8.jpg
The extent of the slab

[Inland Driver]

Today I was down in the hole filling crane buckets full of concrete which they were pouring into columns that will eventually make up and support the part of 6 ave they have to replace.

The operator of the crane was a new guy who's still kinda green so there were a few moments where I found myself looking up and keeping a VERY close eye on the bucket in the event of an accident but everything worked out relatively smooth.

Im not sure about Friday, but I think Saturday is going to be a big day in the hole. I would normally drive my truck, but on Saturday I've volunteered to be 1 of 3 people that will be strictly dropping chutes on the back of the trucks and backing them into pumps so I imagine its gonna be a high volume pour that needs to be extra fast and efficient.

Ill get an update tomorrow and post it when I get home from work.

Cheers.

[craner]

Today I was down in the hole filling crane buckets full of concrete which they were pouring into columns that will eventually make up and support the part of 6 ave they have to replace.

The operator of the crane was a new guy who's still kinda green so there were a few moments where I found myself looking up and keeping a VERY close eye on the bucket in the event of an accident but everything worked out relatively smooth.

Im not sure about Friday, but I think Saturday is going to be a big day in the hole. I would normally drive my truck, but on Saturday I've volunteered to be 1 of 3 people that will be strictly dropping chutes on the back of the trucks and backing them into pumps so I imagine its gonna be a high volume pour that needs to be extra fast and efficient.

Ill get an update tomorrow and post it when I get home from work.

Cheers.

Thanks for the low down man. It's great having an "insider" on here.
:cheers:

[mersar]

Yep, the city posted a road closure notice today for the weekend (ignore the february 7th date, they made a small typo):

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Centre Street between 5 Avenue S.W. and 7 Avenue S.W.

Calgary – Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 7, Centre
Street between 5 Avenue S.W. and 7 Avenue S.W. will be closed
for a major concrete pour. Calgary Transit access will be
maintained.

The closure is expected to last until 8 a.m. on Sunday, March
9.

Motorists are to observe all traffic controls advising of
this closure. Delays are expected.

Roads would like to thank local businesses and motorists for
their patience and understanding.



We're pretty sure that its just the small section where the rebar is that will be for the sump and the base of the parkade elevators, but its still a decent sized pour just for that area.

[caltrane74]

Interesting stuff!!

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8782/thebow39qi8.jpg

[Inland Driver]

Ok. I just got home from work. They let us ALL go early today in order to be "well rested" for the morn. I saw the schedule and I think the first start time for a truck outta my plant is 1:45 am!!?? LOL.

Since I'm a junior driver, I normally get late start times on a daily basis but for Saturday morning, my start time is 4:45 am and as stated in my last post, I'll be co-ordinating things on the ground in the hole.

Wish me luck in trying to get to sleep tonight since I'm accustomed to hitting the long and dusty about 11:00-12:00 pm. This evening, I've gotta try to pack it in by 7-8 pm....LOL.

Worth noting, we'll also be doing a separate 1200 meter pour at another site(not the bow) tomorrow too!

[CtrlAltDel]

^Good luck, Driver! Glad to have you here.

[Boris2k7]

All pics courtesy of myself (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/member.php?u=9782)

March 7, 2008


http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8459/img1885gm6.jpg

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/1038/img1892yp6.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4669/img1893bm2.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/236/img1894jc9.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9208/img1895cl5.jpg

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8431/img1903yl8.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/3325/img1910jt2.jpg

Pan >>>
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4342/bopanszyp8.jpg

[Wooster]

Are all those square steel things sticking out of the cement the bases for all these columns?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/joshwhit/development/bow4.jpg

[mersar]

Ok. I just got home from work. They let us ALL go early today in order to be "well rested" for the morn. I saw the schedule and I think the first start time for a truck outta my plant is 1:45 am!!?? LOL.

Since I'm a junior driver, I normally get late start times on a daily basis but for Saturday morning, my start time is 4:45 am and as stated in my last post, I'll be co-ordinating things on the ground in the hole.

Wish me luck in trying to get to sleep tonight since I'm accustomed to hitting the long and dusty about 11:00-12:00 pm. This evening, I've gotta try to pack it in by 7-8 pm....LOL.

Worth noting, we'll also be doing a separate 1200 meter pour at another site(not the bow) tomorrow too!

Good to hear. I was just down at the site, the one person I talked to quickly mentioned they'd be starting pouring around 2am so that fits. They'd just started moving the cement barriers from the lane where they were to along the sidewalk on the west side of Centre Street, and there were only 2 guys left in the pit pulling tarps over the area that is getting poured this weekend.

The other pour is probably for Le Germain, since there is a lane closure in effect there as well as of tonight and their rebar is all in.


Mar 7/2008
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar7-2.jpg
Footings for columns on the north side of 6th Avenue

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar7-3.jpg
The pit within the pit

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar7-1.jpg
Starting to move the barriers in preparation for the pour

[Surrealplaces]

Thanks for the updates guys! I like how fast this one is moving.

[Jimby]

The Bow continous concrete pour at sunrise Saturday March 8

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2072/2318814630_4a10b57a11_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2318829306_e7afaecacd.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2318838472_3e886b5679_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2318017571_5df2c255b6.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2038/2318092783_129f2965fa_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/2318090075_ed16c31f0e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2318890136_e3612694ab_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2333/2318033667_5328b061c1_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2318887050_9fce4cb253_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2318811050_950526549e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2318804294_4b54f80bb6_b.jpg

[Surrealplaces]

Excellent updates Living!

[Innersoul1]

Living!!!! You are the man! Up early in the AM shows your commitment! Well done!

[Jimby]

Ok. I just got home from work. They let us ALL go early today in order to be "well rested" for the morn. I saw the schedule and I think the first start time for a truck outta my plant is 1:45 am!!?? LOL.

Since I'm a junior driver, I normally get late start times on a daily basis but for Saturday morning, my start time is 4:45 am and as stated in my last post, I'll be co-ordinating things on the ground in the hole.

Wish me luck in trying to get to sleep tonight since I'm accustomed to hitting the long and dusty about 11:00-12:00 pm. This evening, I've gotta try to pack it in by 7-8 pm....LOL.

Worth noting, we'll also be doing a separate 1200 meter pour at another site(not the bow) tomorrow too!

Just curious, any idea how many round trips an Inland truck would take to the Bow during a big pour like this weekend?

[Jimby]

Centre Street closed for the big concrete pour

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2318542619_f9cfc472ca_b.jpg

[Inland Driver]

Just curious, any idea how many round trips an Inland truck would take to the Bow during a big pour like this weekend?

To answer your question, it would depend on what type of truck we're talking about. In our fleet there are a few different types and each carry different size loads. I mostly drive whats known as a tandem meaning 2 axles. This type typically carry 5.5 meters. Then there are the tri-axles and boosters (hydraulically lowered rear axle) that can carry between 7 and 8 meters and lastly there are the trailers that carry 12 meters and more.

With all that in mind, I would say a typical driver would be making between 4 (trailer loads) and 8 (body job truck) trips in a 12 hour period for a pour like the Bow Tower or Le Germain jobs we did on Saturday and those numbers would fluctuate (+/-) depending on how many drivers were working that day and I can tell you that ALL available drivers were working on Saturday and there are at least 100 drivers on the employee list currently.

[Inland Driver]

So I thought I was going to be at the Bow site on Saturday but when I got to work early Saturday morning they told me I was going to be at the Le Germain site instead so I spent my whole day there staging trucks and getting them ready for the pump truck. We actually pumped more concrete at Le Germain site than the Bow by about 250 meters or so (Bow was 1000 meters).

I was staging and backing trucks on Dynamic Concretes 42 m pump which was on 9th ave and it was the smaller of the 2 pumps that were in operation. We did a 30 mpa mix design for the crane base and the rest of the job was 35 mpa. Besides a few angry motorists whom we held up in their vehicles from time to time on 9th (hehe), the whole operation ran quite well. I'll find out about the Bow pour in greater detail tomorrow when I get to work but from what I've heard, the head guy running the show for Ledcor at the Bow site was quite satisfied with how everything went Saturday morning.

One things for sure though...When we start the raft slab pour for the Bow, It will dwarf the work we did on Saturday and itll be non stop for a 2-3 days. From what I've heard, it will be the 3rd largest pour of its kind in the world? Can anyone else confirm that?

Anyhow, hope everyones weekend treated them well. Ill update again soon....ciao4now.

[Calgarian]

No more pictures? I figured all you camera happy forumers would have been all over this. So did they actually pour the whole Raft slab or was it something else?

[mersar]

All they poured was that part on the west side of the slab that the rebar was in that is where the parkade elevators are going. I popped by this evening and its all tarped over so you can't actually tell what was done, once the tarps are off (probably in a few days) it will be evident.

[Ferocrete]

Here's a really good article about concrete management. I'll bet anything they use a similar technology for the Bow's giant footing:

RFID Tags Tracking Building Progress of Freedom Tower
IDENTEC SOLUTIONS groundbreaking Intelligent Long Range (ILR) RFID technology is playing an instrumental role in the construction of the monumental Freedom Tower located at the World Trade Center site in downtown Manhattan. Construction of the 1,776 foot tower has been underway since April of 2006 with an anticipated opening sometime in 2011.


Every slab of cement throughout this dramatic building, including the footings, core walls, elevator shafts, stairs wells, and all mechanical spaces throughout the Freedom Tower complex, will have utilized IDENTEC SOLUTIONS technology. IDENTEC SOLUTIONS i-Q32 Temperature Tracking Tags are embedded in the concrete and wirelessly send temperature information to the Concrete Maturity Monitoring System (CMMS) developed by Wake, Inc. This process allows the contractor to better manage concrete maturity in all of the walls and other structural components, which can be as thick as 20 feet that make up the building.

As the world's tallest building when completed, the Freedom Tower utilizes core footings which have a concrete strength of 14,000 psi, three times the norm and a record in the NYC construction industry. The Concrete Maturity Monitoring System (CMMS) provides a major change in the process of collecting temperature data at several locations within a concrete project. The CMMS eliminates the need for probes and wires attached to external devices. This will help the contractor determine ultimate concrete maturity and strength more effectively, thus cutting down on construction time and costs.

"We are honored that IDENTEC SOLUTIONS technology was selected to play an integral role in the construction of this iconic building," states IDENTEC SOLUTIONS Executive Vice President Global Sales, Peter Linke. "The Freedom Tower will be a significant landmark and we are pleased to be part of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center in downtown New York City."

Currently in progress is the installation of the Freedom Tower's foundation including rebar installation for the buildings core footings, steel columns, and the pouring of concrete for the foundation.

Tishman Realty and Construction, the contractor responsible for the overall building of the Freedom Tower, selected IDENTEC SOLUTIONS technology along with Wake, Inc.'s CMMS system as the ideal method for ensuring absolute structural performance while at the same time increasing construction efficiency.

[mersar]

This was posted this morning over in the Calgary construction thread:

I was talking to a friend of mine who works for the consulting engineering firm doing the Bow.

He mentioned that the Bow raft slab will be 3 metres thick and require a continuous pour that will take 10 days STRAIGHT!

Apparently they will have 4 pumper cranes running around the clock the entire time.

[Boris2k7]

Bow update, courtesy of the Calgary Herald

March 11, 2007

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9788/the20bow20cal0310jsd2fmyc7.jpg

[mersar]

Mar 11/2008

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar11-1.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar11-2.jpg
The poured area

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar11-3.jpg
Outline of the elevator area (I purposefully messed with the color so the lines are really visible)

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar11-4.jpg
Not quite sure where these are going, they look to be forms for some concrete though. All the base level columns for the initial 6th avenue section appear to be at least started now.

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar11-5.jpg
Pits for footings

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar11-6.jpg
Almost ready to pour the next level (this 2nd level of parking under 6th, so one more above it then the roadway with its allowance)

[Innersoul1]

Awesome pictures Mersar!

[Dale]

Has the anxiety about the possibility of this being scrapped been stemmed, or are we all just going to have to wait and see ?

[Boris2k7]

What anxiety? (yes, I've heard of that once before, but I don't think anyone on here buys it)

Thanks for the updates Mersar!

[tdurden5573]

Awsome updates, thanks for the great pics.

As for this project being scrapped, I think the Leafs have a better chance of making playoffs.

[tdurden5573]

Here are some sub-par quality picks i got from a friend in the Petro tower today (I dont think she has the same passion for construction photography):

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/tdurden5573/spet1.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/tdurden5573/spet2.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/tdurden5573/spet3.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/tdurden5573/spet4.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd38/tdurden5573/spet5.jpg

[mersar]

Bow - Mar 13/2008
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar13-1.jpg
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar13-2.jpg
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar13-3.jpg
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar13-4.jpg

[Boris2k7]

Great updates. The pit looks good all gridded with rebar.

[mersar]

Yep. They've been really busy with the concrete as well, they were pouring from 4 trucks (1 on each crane, the pump plus another in the pit) at one point, and they've got all the columns poured now to build 6th to its required state, plus it looked like they'd poured the ground on the corner just to the left of where I was standing at th edge of 6th.

[leendert]

One things for sure though...When we start the raft slab pour for the Bow, It will dwarf the work we did on Saturday and itll be non stop for a 2-3 days. From what I've heard, it will be the 3rd largest pour of its kind in the world? Can anyone else confirm that?

The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas had a concrete pour of 15,700 cubic meters and holds (held?) the US record for largest concrete pour: http://www.dickcorp.com/dickcorp/markets/market.asp?mktnum=8

Does any one have an idea how large the main mat pour for the Bow will be?

[mersar]

Given that the floor plate is roughly 3500 square meters (does anyone have the accurate figure? I've found a number of different ones that all differ. The DP says 185934 square meters total over 53 commercial floors, however the atrium wouldn't be in that and it adds a significant amount).

And we've heard that the thickness of the raft slab is 3m, so we're looking at *at least* 10,000 cubic meters, give or take the 1000 cubic meters they poured last week for the elevator pit

[mersar]

Bow building about to rise from the ground

POSTED AT 3:26 PM Friday, March 14

Work on Calgary's biggest ever building project will really pick up next week.

The building will be visible above ground when six hudge girders are put into place.

Until now, people have gotten used to seeing a huge hole at the site of the new building. It's almost two square blocks and seven stories deep.

The project has cuased one of the biggest traffic headaches ever, and drivers have had to get used to the closure of 6th Ave. between Centre St. and 1st St. S.E.

The firm building the Bow says construction should be complete by the time this year's Stampede Parade rolls around.

The 58 story building will be 236 metres high.
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/RTGAMA...calgary.ctv.ca (http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/B/20080314/bow?brand=generic&hub=&tf=CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/frontpage.html&cf=CFCNPlus/generic/hubs/frontpage.cfg&slug=bow&date=20080314&archive=CFCNPlus&ad_page_name=&nav=home&subnav=fullstory&site_cfcn=http://calgary.ctv.ca)

Sweet!

[Boris2k7]

All pics courtesy of myself (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/member.php?u=9782)

March 14, 2008


http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2642/img1959fl5.jpg

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/9018/img1965nn0.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5595/img1966is4.jpg

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/9504/img1968xq2.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3996/img1976mk9.jpg

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8329/img1977yn6.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3315/img1978xl0.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/8052/img1979en2.jpg

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/2149/img1980wt4.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/518/img1985ln5.jpg

Pan >>>
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9464/bowpanym2.jpg

[mersar]

Bow
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar17-1.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar17-2.jpg
Steel columns for the parkade. They will place these on the footings, and fill them. They will hold up the apron that will be built over the ground level.

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar17-3.jpg
More steel. 3 different shapes of I beams

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar17-4.jpg
A footing. Takes roughly 2 trucks to fill in around the block of concrete

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar17-6.jpg
Waiting in line (only 2 trucks in the pit at a time now)

[Inland Driver]

Great pics guys! I love checkin' em out!

In the pics Mersar took, theres one that shows all the trucks staging on the west side of center. The first truck is actually mine...LOL.

Today I brought a load of 7 mpa density fill that was being placed around the concrete bases on which the steel columns (see mersars pic) will be bolted onto.

Driving into the hole now is more difficult as I have to manoeuvre around those columns. Only trucks they want down there are tandems and tri-axles. Basically the shortest trucks in the fleet.

Mersar...were you wearing a red coat today? As I was discharging, I looked up and saw a guy with what looked like a fairly large lens taking photos...LOL.

Cheers all

[mersar]

Yep, that was me in the red coat.

I can see that its getting interesting, one of the larger trucks needed what worked out to essentially a 10 point turn to get into position. Fortunately it looks like there won't be much more unloading in the pit itself since they are nearly done with those footings.

[davee930]

Great pics guys! I love checkin' em out!

In the pics Mersar took, theres one that shows all the trucks staging on the west side of center. The first truck is actually mine...LOL.

Today I brought a load of 7 mpa density fill that was being placed around the concrete bases on which the steel columns (see mersars pic) will be bolted onto.

Driving into the hole now is more difficult as I have to manoeuvre around those columns. Only trucks they want down there are tandems and tri-axles. Basically the shortest trucks in the fleet.

Mersar...were you wearing a red coat today? As I was discharging, I looked up and saw a guy with what looked like a fairly large lens taking photos...LOL.

Cheers all

That's awesome, it must be cool to actually be a "concrete" contributor to the rising of the bow!

[The Kid]

I saw Mersar too! I was down there and saw a guy taking pictures in a red jacket and wondered if it was one of SSP's regular photographers. Now I know. Thanks for the updates and also to Inland driver....I like hearing of your experiences on The Bow firsthand. Keep posting!

[sask1982]

Once the 6th Ave "bridge" is complete, is it going to be open to traffic while construction continues on the tower, etc.?

[mersar]

Once the 6th Ave "bridge" is complete, is it going to be open to traffic while construction continues on the tower, etc.?

Yes, the developer has to have it open by this July, though it will only be two lanes to start from what I've been told. The construction will be progressing on either side for years yet, though I'd expect to see the pit on the north block to be mostly covered by the end of the year as they are going to build the ground level first, then go back and build the parkade underneath it (hence the big steel columns in the photo's, these will hold up the apron while the parkade is built).

[Tarsus]

That will be quite the interesting drive over that 6th ave bridge section. Any idea if there will be pedestrian walkways over the bridge?

BTW, great update pictures Mersar.

[Boris2k7]

From yesterday, posted today...

It doesn't show today's massive progress, but it should be posted anyways.

The Bow, courtesy of the Calgary Herald

March 17, 2008

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/996/the20bow20cal0317di3st5tu9.jpg

There has been a lot of work today and those steel columns are all up now.

One question, is it possible for any of the workers on site to get some shots from within the pit? That would be really sweet if it could be done. Maybe some of you drivers?

[Inland Driver]

I was just thinking about seeing if i could get one of you guys down in the hole and then I read your post. HEHE.

I can make no guarantees, but I can certainly ask the super intendant whom I usually see and joke with when Im there. The only thing that would prevent it from happening (I assume) would be insurance issues.

The other thing I can do is find out the policy at work if Im allowed to take a passenger down in my truck. Driving down that road is fun!!!

When I know what the deal is, I'll be sure to let you know.





QUOTE=Boris2k7;3424445]From yesterday, posted today...



There has been a lot of work today and those steel columns are all up now.

One question, is it possible for any of the workers on site to get some shots from within the pit? That would be really sweet if it could be done. Maybe some of you drivers?[/QUOTE]

[Boris2k7]

That would be cool, and I'm sure more than a few of us would jump at the chance. But we will settle for any pics from inside that pic.

A look at the Bow's construction via the Calgary Herald... over time (a quick hack job by myself)

Roughly August 2007 - March 2008

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6739/bh1qo4yf3.gif

[Boris2k7]

Courtesy of agent_imperial

March 18, 2008


Ask and ye shall receive...

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4313/dscn0291smqe7.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4586/dscn0290smwm2.jpg

[mersar]

The Bow
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar18-1.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar18-2.jpg


My thinking is that the big crane will be moved to the base they just installed, its almost too close to keep it and add another there even if it is a luffer.

[Innersoul1]

WOW all of the progress at this site is simply amazing!

[Bigtime]

I agree with Innersoul's comment as well. I am simply amazed at the efficiency and speed of construction this project is achieving. What is the primary reason for this? Money? Prestige? Pride of workmanship? Do you think a worker at The Bow site would be working better and faster than at a condo site just because of the mere fact that they know they are working on the showcase building for our city?

[Boris2k7]

Going by the fact that Encana is a gigantic corporation ruled over by shareholders... I'm going to guess money.

Though the fact that H&R REIT now owns the project takes away from the thesis somewhat. But hey, I guess Pension funds want to save money too by getting the job done on time and on budget. No better way to beat inflationary costs than to get ahead of them, right?

[mersar]

Bow

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar19-1.jpg
First layer of rebar is covering virtually the entire slab now

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar19-2.jpg
All the columns are up, 21 of them total.

[OldDogNewTrick]

Just found this forum recently. As a long time resident of Calgary, I too am watching this construction with great interest. I am active on Flickr and have also posted a few photos of this site.

A most interesting shot is one I took from the north hill in this direction back around 1974:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/38/79647300_86cbf34b58.jpg

(Flickr Link) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/olddognewtrick/79647300/)

At this time the Sun Life Centre, Harry Hays building, Telus building and many others were not yet in place.

Have a couple of shots of this site on Flickr, but will not post them now since there so many good shots in this stream already.

And my involvement in this job?

I am just one of many shareholders owning some Encana stock as well as H&R REIT, so you may say I have special interest.

(probably own at least one load of concrete on this job somewhere)

[Bigtime]

Just found this forum recently. As a long time resident of Calgary, I too am watching this construction with great interest. I am active on Flickr and have also posted a few photos of this site.

Welcome OldDogNewTrick! Make sure you come on over to the Calgary Construction thread in the Alberta section as well!

[mersar]

The Bow
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar24-1.jpg
3 cranes (the potain, the grey one, and the new Wolff one)

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar24-2.jpg
Probably be pouring in the next day or two. The first horizontal steel was just being bolted into place when I got there

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar24-3.jpg
It's back again, this time with cross bracing on the lower part

[Bigtime]

From the Calgary Herald online yesterday, the 'Bow Rising' series:

http://media.canada.com/gallery/BOW%20RISING/THE%20BOWCAL0324.jpg

[Boris2k7]

Some of my observations from the train today...

Amazing progress at the Bow today. This morning, I mentioned a single one of the steel spans between the columns (this was an observation made around 9:00). By 19:00, they seem to have "boxed-in" about 4 sections.

I'm going by my faulty memory here, and a lack of perspective, given I was on the train...

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/7293/bowspanprogressfo8.png http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/205/bowspanprogress2ep9.png

EDIT: Fixed date in second image

[Boris2k7]

An alternative account of events by Mersar... probably more accurate than my own...

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7325/bowfootprintir1.jpg

Thats what I suspect it is (I didn't get down there today).

The yellow line is running along the inner edge of the sidewalk approximately, the dark red is roughly the same line on the bottom of the pit. The footprint just barely touches the line (give or take inaccuracy of the line)

(A note to observers regarding this; the train runs on 7th Ave, at the southern edge of the site. The view is at such an angle and so short a time that it is difficult for a passenger to maintain an accurate account from that alone, thus requiring multiple sources to looked at)

[mersar]

The Bow
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar27-1.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar27-2.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-mar27-3.jpg

[Western Spaghetti]

This thread is really active, now that some big things are happening at the site. I'd like to thank Mersar, Boris, et al, who have been putting in regular updates for this one. Great work guys :tup:

[tdurden5573]

Quote from CBC news below, could be a cool weekend to pop and and check out the big pour:

"Crews are gearing up for a huge undertaking on the weekend of May 9-11, when several roads around the project will have to be closed for three days while the main concrete footing for the tower is poured.

Concrete trucks will make deliveries over 40 straight hours to pour 15,000 metres of solid concrete, three meters deep. The project could set a North American record for a single pour, the builders said."

[Surrealplaces]

Thanks for all the update pictures everyone! This project is getting to be alot of fun to watch.

[mersar]

Was down there tonight to see what was happening, and they are flying. Two steel workers were still there, placed 2 or 3 of the horizontal beams in place in probably 20 minutes it seemed.

Was also chatting with one of the people who regularily stops by while I'm down there, he had mentioned that theres a number of guys working for Ledcor (or the various contractors) who quit jobs with other employers simply so they could be involved in the project (a friend of his had been with one of the other big firms , CANA I believe, for a fairly long time and was one of a number who are now working on this site)

[You Need A Thneed]

The project could set a North American record for a single pour, the builders said."[/I]
Certainly not for a concrete pour of any kind if they are talking about volume only. Not even close. Not even the biggest in Canada. Of course, the ones I'm thinking of happened over many months, not three days.

The CN Tower would have been more volume. The Grand Coulee Dam would have been at least 100 times the volume in a single pour.

[mersar]

Volume for this type of pour (being a raft slab) is probably what they were referring to. If it was sheer volume alone the Calgary Tower probably holds the record for Calgary

CN Tower is 40,000 m^3 of concrete according to the official site, almost 3 times the Bow's slab.

[tdurden5573]

Certainly not for a concrete pour of any kind if they are talking about volume only. Not even close. Not even the biggest in Canada. Of course, the ones I'm thinking of happened over many months, not three days.

The CN Tower would have been more volume. The Grand Coulee Dam would have been at least 100 times the volume in a single pour.

I think the key phrase would be "Continuous Pour"

[niwell]

Awesome updates. It looks like a ton of progress has happened since I saw it in December.

[lubicon]

I'm trying to find out some figures on the Hibernia oil platform but can't seem to nail anything down for sure. All I have found out so far is that is contains approx 165 000 m3 or concrete, and that it (at least the gravity base portion) was a continuous pour using slip form techniques. I can't link the 165 000m3 to the gravity base positively though so I don't know for sure what the actual volume for the continuous pour was on this project.

I would think it has to rank up there for anything done in Canada, and dwarfs anything on the Bow, maybe even anything else done in Canada.

[mersar]

Bow
http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-apr1-1.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-apr1-2.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-apr1-3.jpg

http://www.compscience.info/public/images/2008/bow-apr1-4.jpg
The ramp is gone now

[Surrealplaces]

Nice updates Mersar. :tup:

[Wooster]

Damn is the Bow construction site impressive. I have an interesting vantage point of it from my 11th floor room at the Hyatt right now.

[RWin]

Damn is the Bow construction site impressive. I have an interesting vantage point of it from my 11th floor room at the Hyatt right now.

You can't say that and then not show pictures :)

[caltrane74]

Moving along nicely!!

[Boris2k7]

What RWin said, we neeeeed that angle Josh! :D

I guess it's my turn to get some pics today. Lucky I grabbed my camera this morning. :cool:

I also wonder if it's about time to make a trip up the Tower and get some pics from that angle...

[Boris2k7]

All pics courtesy of myself (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/member.php?u=9782)

April 3, 2008


http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6600/img2031ib6.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8306/img2089kk9.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/3677/img2090gk1.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/111/img2091rn4.jpg

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/4883/img2093qd4.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5738/img2094cn1.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/5769/img2099si1.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5266/img2100vf1.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8231/img2101ep7.jpg

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/1948/img2102av3.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6537/img2104os5.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1631/img2105nk6.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1899/img2106tm7.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/3561/img2107bc6.jpg

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/2838/img2108gv3.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/7865/img2113qu4.jpg

Pano >>>
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/3281/zbopano2vp9.jpg

[Jimby]

more Bow pics, later Thursday night

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0087-1.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0089.jpg



http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0090.jpg


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0094-1.jpg


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0101-1.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0102-1.jpg


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0104-3.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0105-3.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0111-2.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0112-4.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0113-4.jpg


http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0118-3.jpg

[The Kid]

This project is moving at lightening speed! Thanks for the updates. I'm amazed at the level of change on a weekly basis.

Does anybody know how many workers are involved in this project or how many it will peak at?

[nasdaq]

This project is moving at lightening speed! Thanks for the updates. I'm amazed at the level of change on a weekly basis.

Does anybody know how many workers are involved in this project or how many it will peak at?

If I recall correctly, it will peak at about 1,500 workers.

[Biff]

more Bow pics, later Thursday night



[IMG]http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/lumin8_bucket/DSC_0102-1.jpg




That mat slab pour isn't going to be that thick, is it? :omg: My best guess at the height of the forms curving through the centre of the pic have to be at least 15 to 20 ft tall. If they are pouring that size and that thickness that must be a shitload of concrete. Does anyone know the cubic meters of the mat slab pour.

[mersar]

That mat slab pour isn't going to be that thick, is it? :omg: My best guess at the height of the forms curving through the centre of the pic have to be at least 15 to 20 ft tall. If they are pouring that size and that thickness that must be a shitload of concrete. Does anyone know the cubic meters of the mat slab pour.

The top of the forms is roughly 9 or 10 feet, the slab itself will be 9 feet thick. The volume of concrete required is reportedly 15,000 cubic meters (making this likely the largest raft slab poured in a continuous pour in North America).

The section of concrete visible under the forms that are within the footprint was 1000 cubic meters as reported earlier after it was poured. That pour took over 24 hours I believe from start to finish.

[Boris2k7]

Well, Mersar can handle the concrete, here's the rest of the figures from Matthews Southwest:

The Bow will include:
2,000,000 sqft of space
1,000,000 sqft of underground parking for 1,360 vehicles
400,000 m³ of excavation
39,000 tonnes of steel
20,000 light fixtures
9,000 tonnes of temporary bracing
8,000 glazed curtain wall panels totalling 900,000 sqft of glass
420 Bike Stalls
22 Elevator shafts with 44 elevator cabs

Source: http://www.matthewssouthwest.com/corporate/encana1.html

[mersar]

22 Elevator shafts with 44 elevator cabs Nice. Didn't know they were going to use the dual cab elevators, probably the first building in the city to use them.

[fleury]

WOW....kind of reminds me of the WTC site...

[Bigtime]

From the Calgary Heralds 'Bow Rising' series, taken on March 31st:

http://media.canada.com/gallery/BOW%20RISING/BOWMAR31.jpg

[Boris2k7]

From the Calgary Heralds 'Bow Rising' series, taken on March 31st:

Now, now Bigtime, you really shouldn't hotlink. Eventually the pic will disappear and be replaced by a nasty sign saying something along the lines of "hotlinking not allowed..."

Here's another link:
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9388/bowmar31vs3.jpg

[RWin]

22 Elevator shafts with 44 elevator cabs


My first thought was thats a lot.

Then I thought about Gulf Canada Square which has 17 in the main tower and 2 (or is it 3) glass elevators at the other end of the building.

Not as many cabs but almost as many elevator shafts.

[The Chemist]

What about all those square footings within the slab for what I assume will be the main steel columns of the building? How will they be formed into the raft slab? Any ideas?

I can't wait to see the photos of the pour. This is going to be AMAZING! Any guess for the number of cranes on site by August? Do you guys think they'll have all 3 main cranes up for the tower by then? I can't wait to see this in person.

[mersar]

I'm thinking that there will probably be some form of column of rebar thats tied in to the bottom of the slab and sticks above it, so that as they start moving further upward they can tie into it. I'm not quite sure if the columns will be concrete all the way to grade, or if they will use steel from the top of the slab up. It's hard to tell from the very low res copy of the DP that was put online.

[Bigtime]

Now, now Bigtime, you really shouldn't hotlink. Eventually the pic will disappear and be replaced by a nasty sign saying something along the lines of "hotlinking not allowed..."

Here's another link:
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9388/bowmar31vs3.jpg

I'm just crazy like that. :cool:

[Deepstar]

Wow, very impressive updates guys. I can't impress enough just how nice these updates are. You guys rule.

[jbettcher]

What about all those square footings within the slab for what I assume will be the main steel columns of the building? How will they be formed into the raft slab? Any ideas?

I can't wait to see the photos of the pour. This is going to be AMAZING! Any guess for the number of cranes on site by August? Do you guys think they'll have all 3 main cranes up for the tower by then? I can't wait to see this in person.

Normally when you tie a steel structure via steel columns/beams to a concrete foundations you have steel that reaches up above the concrete and become massive bolts that the steel columns fasten to.

Normally it's achieved by placing a massive square steel like cage that is cast into the concrete that way you have four bolts sticking up above the concrete, then a crane places column onto the bolts and you lock it down with nuts.

This is how its done on smaller buildings we'll just have to wait and see, I'm merely speculating based on the appearance of the footing right now.

[Blue_Cypress]

Something going on at the site, the crane operator is being rappelled out of the yellow crane by high angle rescue?

[Nightrider]

It was just a training session with the High Angle Rescue Team from the fire department