News
"Topping Out" ceremony marks completion of Medical Mart steel erection 02/01/12
Project Updates :: February 3, 2012
On February 1, 2012, Turner Construction recognized the completion of steel erection on the Medical Mart by hosting a traditional “Topping Out” ceremony, hoisting the final steel beam to the top of the structure with a fir tree and an American flag affixed to the beam. “Topping Out” is an ancient European tradition symbolized by tying a fir tree to the top of a newly completed roof that has been long adopted by American steel workers on construction projects. “Topping Out” recognizes that the uppermost steel beam is in place and that the structure has reached its zenith with no loss of life. More than 200 on-site workers viewed the ceremony and were provided commemorative t-shirts at an onsite luncheon.
Crews will be dismantling one of the two cranes servicing the Medical Mart as steel erection concludes. Crews are hanging temporary winter protection traps around the entire building which started at the entry level, the northeast and southeast showroom slab concrete pours for the slab-on-metal deck at the north half of Showroom Level 2 took place earlier this week. Reinforcing for the concrete floors is being placed on the south half of Showroom Level 2 with a concrete pour scheduled in the near future. Installation of supports and hangers for plumbing, mechanical and electrical has begun also crews are making good progress installing the northwest metal stair.
The sprayed-on fireproofing mobilization has also begun on the Medical Mart. The fabrication and pouring of concrete for the precast wall panels is continuing off-site. As of Friday, January 13, 371 of the 515 (72%) of the Medical Mart panels have been completed.
In the Exhibit Hall area south of Lakeside Avenue, crews set the first of the 29 tree columns this week. The slab on metal deck, which forms the roof of the West Concourse will be starting in the next few weeks. Also the concrete apron ramp from Medical Mart to the Exhibit Hall is scheduled to be poured next week. In addition, on the West Concourse above the loading dock, steel continues to be erected and should be completed within the near future. Downstairs in the loading dock, the last of the concrete dock walls should be poured next week and the mechanical rough-ins can begin for the future slab-on-grade pours in the coming weeks.
On the eastern edge of the project, the new roof water-proofing, located at East Mall Drive expansion joint against Public Auditorium will be installed allowing the tie-in to the deck membrane to be completed.
On the site of the future ballroom and Mall C north of Lakeside Avenue, mesh and rebar are being installed at the East Mezzanine with the concrete pour scheduled in the near future. The Back of House (BOH) corridor is scheduled for grade and concrete pouring this week at the Ballroom level as well at the Exhibit Hall level. Commissary steel at the West Mezzanine is on site as minor prep work continues for erection of this area. Masonry continues at the freight elevators and has begun at the loading dock, presently progressing southward. Drainage issues have been resolved at the west access road and crews are moving forward with setting grade in preparation for the new loading dock concrete access road. The last elevator shaft in sector F is scheduled for completion this week.
Work continues this week on the mechanicals in the East Concourse and on the last remaining block stair well. The drywall contractor has begun installing the top track and should finish the remainder of it this week on the East Concourse as well.
Crews are in the process of curing the concrete and demobilizing equipment on the West Third Street Ramp construction with work substantially completed.
