BRICK REACHES NEW HEIGHT
Many modern construction projects have proven that finishing a contract on time and within budget can be achieved only by using mast climbing work platforms. One good example is a project called The Columbian, in Chicago. Located on 1160 South Michigan Avenue, this 507 feet tall building is to become the tallest handset masonry structure in town, with 49 stories. In fact, with 16 P-series platforms from Hydro Mobile in use, this construction moves forward at the impressive pace of one 10,500 square feet of concrete floor every two days and even drew the attention of the National Geographic Channel in the United States, and was featured in their show "Science of Bricks".
The facade work of The Columbian presented great technical challenges, as Erwin Bernhardt, project manager at Garth/Ceisel Joint Venture LLC, explains: "We originally planned to use precast for the facade, but because of an unusually small plot and complex footprint of the building, we did not have enough room for a second crane and realized that we needed to find another solution. That's when Hydro Mobile's R&D team came up with a customized solution involving 16 P-series, enabling us to access the whole facade, up to 500 feet in height, and to lay 450,000 bricks in total."
Whether used with single or twin mast setups, resting on the building's concrete base or on cantilever beams, those 16 P-series platforms carry up to 6,000 lbs each, and provide safe and stable work areas, as the owner's representative from the Davis Group LLC, Rick James, explains: "I was very pleased with the safety, quality and adaptability that Hydro Mobile platforms provide. The footprint of my project, the Columbian, has many offsets and corners incorporated in its design and Hydro Mobile's P-series allowed us to access all points. The strength and integrity of this access equipment allowed the masons the security and confidence to place face brick up to the 47th floor with no problem, and with the weather enclosure, they basically worked all winter long."
Developer: Davis Group LLC
Masonry Contractor: Garth/Ceisel Joint Venture LLC
Hydro Mobile Distributor: Bracing Systems
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