On Mall B, the eighth Caisson was poured earlier this week, a deep foundation support that is constructed by placing fresh concrete and reinforcing steel into a drilled shaft. These reinforced concrete piles are cast in holes of predetermined diameters and depths drilled through soil to reach bedrock.

Foundation work on the Concourse level of the future Convention Center continues with formwork for pilasters scheduled to begin shortly. A pilaster is a rectangular support that resembles a flat column.

North of Lakeside Avenue, the North Bridge demolition continued on Mall C and is now 95% complete. Debris removal will continue. Interior demolition is 85% complete in existing Exhibit Halls ‘’C’’ and ‘’D’’ on the lower level. Underneath Lakeside Avenue, temporary steel support of the roadway continues with targeted column demolition scheduled for next week. Mall C demolition continued with additional roof removal continuing this week. Micro-pile work continues in the Ballroom area.

Crews have begun installing caissons, driving down the large, four-foot diameter structures more than 150 feet until they can be locked into the bedrock. The second caisson was completed earlier this week. Pre-cores for caissons continue with 60 of the 66 completed and more than 100 of the 240+ micropiles have also been completed.

FROM USA TODAY: Alex Nudelman, a strapping 49-year-old, confidently pushes buttons on a computer-controlled milling machine and suggests it's ready to sculpt a small piece of metal. His instructor stops him, noting Nudelman has not programmed in all the tools needed to shape the metal block.

A journeyman autoworker who was laid off in 2009, Nudelman is taking a community college class here so he can work on the more sophisticated gear powering the region's growing cluster of medical device makers. If all goes well, he may soon be churning out spinal implants instead of seat brackets.

"I'm trying to compare the new technology with my old experience, and sometimes it's helpful, and sometimes" it isn't, Nudelman says. But, the Russia native adds, blue eyes brightening, "It's the future."

Mall C demolition is roughly 95% complete with the foundations for the East Stair Tower currently being removed. Interior demolition has passed the halfway mark on the existing Exhibit Halls ''C'' and ''D'' on the lower level of Mall C. On the former Mall B, crews have completed more than 50 pre-cores for caissons with caisson drilling beginning earlier this week.

Mall C demolition is roughly 95% complete with the foundations for the East Stair Tower to be removed by early next week. Interior demolition is 50% completed on the existing Exhibit Halls ‘’C’’ and ‘’D’’ on the lower level of Mall C. On the former Mall B, crews have completed more than 50 pre-cores for caissons with caisson drilling underway. More than 60 micro-piles are complete. Demolition continued on Mall B next to Public Auditorium. Metal sheeting continued along St. Clair Avenue, moving westward, with this activity expected to be completed by next week. With the sheeting work complete, crews will now begin excavation down to finish exhibit hall floor. Continued demolition of the topping slab and 4’ interstitial sand volume, this work is approximately 95% complete. The temporary construction ramp being constructed will extend from the Exhibit hall floor to Lakeside Avenue.

FROM FRESH WATER: As Downtown bustles with construction at the site of the future Medical Mart and Convention Center (MMCC), a different sort of energy bubbles a few blocks away at the offices of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI). The private management organization is tasked with filling the Medical Mart with tenants and booking events for the new Convention Center well in advance of its 2013 completion.

On Wednesday, May 18, MMPI, along with Turner Construction Company, Minority Business Solutions, and North Coast Minority Media hosted an SBE Bid Package Event at Public Auditorium to coincide with the release of BP-22 (Painting and Wallcovering), BP-23 (Carpet), BP-24 (Ceramic & Quarry Tile), BP-25 (Terrazzo), BP-26 (Interior Glass), BP-27 (Ornamental Iron & Railings), BP-28 (Carpentry, including rough, finish, millwork, install doors/frames/hardware, toilet partitions, toilet accessories, lockers), and BP-47 (Site Work, including site earthwork, site concrete, site utilities, asphalt, and landscaping).