AUSTIN | Aloft Austin & Element Hotel Downtown | 328 FEET | 31 FLOORS | Complete

[hookem]

Concrete form for the elevator/service core?

[JoninATX]

Yep, it's the elavator shaft.

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by Flatiron

What is the black and yellow box rising out of the excavated area?

Yep. And in that case, this building's structural system will be steel rather than concrete. So instead of having a concrete frame, it'll be steel. That's interesting. Just about every building in Austin uses a concrete skeleton. This will be more like watching an old skyscraper go up. The UT Tower, Norwood Tower, Littlefield Building and Scarborough Buildings all have steel frames. The elevator core will also likely top out long before the steel frame does, so before the steel frame reaches the top, we're going to see the elevator core tower above the site for a while.

Checkout LA's new Wilshire Grand. It uses the same structural system this building will.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...67291&page=161

[the Genral]

This makes sense. Using cement would have made for thick columns and smaller interior space on a really narrow structure. I would think the metal framework should rise pretty fast, maybe even keeping up with the elevator shaft once the steel framers get after it, no pour and cure times to slow things down. Is there a timeline for topping out? I get a sense now it could be by end of summer.

[Flatiron]

January 25, 2016

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Flatiron

January 25, 2016

Nice. I love this project. By the way, "Flatiron" has become a discussion in the Update thread.

[Flatiron]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Nice. I love this project. By the way, "Flatiron" has become a discussion in the Update thread.

Thanks for heads up. I like the building shape, but the height matters as much as the footprint. These 5-8 story ones don't excite me.

Kevin, you were right about this building rising fast. Are steel framed buildings shaped differently (on average) than a concrete framed one? (pic from 1/28/16)

[KevinFromTexas]

I'm pretty sure they can make steel buildings just about any shape they want, though, I would tend to think it would be easier to use concrete if you had a building with a lot of curves. I think what really made it more practical to use steel for this building was the small lot size. They don't have a large site to work with. It's not a full block project where they can ring the block with concrete trucks. So it made more sense to use steel. They will still need concrete because the elevator core will rise all the way to the top of the building. It'll actually poke above the roof a bit. But it'll have considerably less concrete in it than the whole building would. They won't use concrete for the floors either of course. It also saves them space because they won't need to have the slip forms and hydraulic jacks that are used for concrete construction - so they won't have to store them on site.

[H2O]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I'm pretty sure they can make steel buildings just about any shape they want, though, I would tend to think it would be easier to use concrete if you had a building with a lot of curves. I think what really made it more practical to use steel for this building was the small lot size. They don't have a large site to work with. It's not a full block project where they can ring the block with concrete trucks. So it made more sense to use steel. They will still need concrete because the elevator core will rise all the way to the top of the building. It'll actually poke above the roof a bit. But it'll have considerably less concrete in it than the whole building would. They won't use concrete for the floors either of course. It also saves them space because they won't need to have the slip forms and hydraulic jacks that are used for concrete construction - so they won't have to store them on site.

Steel frame buildings typically have concrete floors placed in steel pans. While it does eliminate the slip forms, there is still a substantial amount of concrete used.

[KevinFromTexas]

I always thought they used steel decking between the beams.

[Myomi]

I looks pretty clear that they are going to be using reinforced concrete in the structure from that picture.

[KevinFromTexas]

That's what I was thinking. Now that they have some columns up - they're using rebar, which would mean they'll have to use concrete then (the rebar will reinforce the concrete).

[Flatiron]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

That's what I was thinking. Now that they have some columns up - they're using rebar, which would mean they'll have to use concrete then (the rebar will reinforce the concrete).

Here's the engineer's perspective on this:

1. Concrete can tolerate high compressive loading.
2. Steel can tolerate high tensile loading.
3. Steel + Concrete = best of both worlds.

I'm sure some architect or engineer figured out the best way to optimize space/time/cost through the right combination of steel and concrete. BTW, thanks for answering my original question.

[AustinGoesVertical]

So doesn't look like this one's using a steel frame after all. Sure looks like the conventional reinforced concrete method we've been seeing, unless that's just for the first couple floors and then moving to all steel?

[the Genral]

I don't see where a concrete pedestal and a steel tower is out of the question. We'll know soon enough if we start seeing steel I Beams trucked in or rebar.

[ivanwolf]

Maybe they use the concrete mostly in the base podium levels, convention and pool areas. Then the upper hotel area is mostly steel.

[The ATX]

From BuildingATX. This skinny 31-story tower will be/is going up quickly.


http://buildingatx.com/2016/02/downt...b-2016-photos/

[Flatiron]

In a few months there will be a building where the crane is:

[ATXSkyline]

Found this earlier today and I accidentally posted it in the wrong thread.
My laptop is on the fritz.
http://oxblue.com/open/Tournee/AustinALoft

[The ATX]

This webcam has been up since last September 3rd! I would think White Lodging would have promoted it like they did with the JW webcam.