Update on the Wilshire Grand Tower in L.A.

In order to open on schedule in early 2017, the new Wilshire Grand tower in downtown Los Angeles has been on an accelerated timetable from the start, which also includes the concrete services that are The Conco Companies’ responsibility.  After successfully breaking the world record for the largest continuous mat pour this past February, Conco is working to provide the rest of the concrete work on the new skyscraper.   

The ambitious project calls for a poured-in-place core wall going up the building that is surrounded by slab on metal deck.  The core of the tower will be 130 ft. X 35 ft. with some floors having walls up to 4 ft. thick.  Conco is on a 4-day core wall cycle, which means that every 4 days; concrete for a new floor is poured. 

The Wilshire Grand was designed by AC Martin Architects and the contractor on the project is the Turner Construction Co., one of the largest general contractors in the U.S.  The 1,100 ft. tall skyscraper will become the tallest building in the West upon completion, and as a result, is a complicated engineering project.  The tower had to be designed to sway during powerful Santa Ana winds, and also absorb ground movement from the strongest earthquakes. 

Furthermore the project is designed with green technology inside the building as well as the exterior.  It started with the “green deconstructing” of the old Wilshire Grand Hotel on the site in the fall of 2012.  Rather than imploding or demolishing it, the process enabled much of the old building materials to be recycled.  The combined steel and concrete that was recycled brought close to $4 million in revenue that was put back into the project. 

Highly energy efficient climate systems and innovative lighting will be used throughout the building.  With the addition of the green building techniques and material, the Wilshire Grand is on track to receive LEED Silver certification.   

Sources:

latimes.com/local/la-me-wilshire-grand-foundation-20140426-dto-htmlstory.html   

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