Thanks for the info, should be interesting to watch as things progress.

Question: When a typical floor is poured, how long must it be supported from below before the forms can be removed and reused? Starting in August, they anticipate completing a new floor every 8 days. That seems to imply (assuming that there is only one set of forms) that support is only required for a few days until the floor has cured enough. I noticed that the ground floor is still being supported from below even though the ground floor was poured one month ago. :headscrat

They will use a cantilever landing. This will be attached to the building and then they can wheel the form sections outside the above floor.

Whats a cantilever landing?

Platemaker--your wide angle shot from yesterday makes an excellent desktop for my computer...try it anyone who likes to fiddle with desktops. I usually have this one...

Question: When a typical floor is poured, how long must it be supported from below before the forms can be removed and reused? Starting in August, they anticipate completing a new floor every 8 days. That seems to imply (assuming that there is only one set of forms) that support is only required for a few days until the floor has cured enough. I noticed that the ground floor is still being supported from below even though the ground floor was poured one month ago. :headscrat

They will replace the blue forms with other forms of shoring. Just enough to keep the floor from sagging until the concrete is cured enough to post-tension it.

The tower is now the same height as the smaller parking garage.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4697857899_acdce6595b_b.jpg

The tower is now the same height as the smaller garage! The new garage is also open to the 10th floor and provides a great vantage point.

As always, you can find more here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53062852@N00/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1302/4698509544_b904da6b98_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4697875651_b78aacd9e0_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4698506864_49300fd226_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4697873131_a85d1e0fb4_b.jpg

Here's a great view of the post tensioned cables. If anyone is wondering how it works let me know, I found a few websites explaining it.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4697874721_de32511406_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4698510618_07e857264d_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1299/4697875321_34f90ced73_b.jpg

The tower is now the same height as the smaller garage! The new garage is also open to the 10th floor and provides a great vantage point.

As always, you can find more here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53062852@N00/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1302/4698509544_b904da6b98_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4697875651_b78aacd9e0_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4698506864_49300fd226_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4697873131_a85d1e0fb4_b.jpg

Here's a great view of the post tensioned cables. If anyone is wondering how it works let me know, I found a few websites explaining it.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4697874721_de32511406_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4698510618_07e857264d_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1299/4697875321_34f90ced73_b.jpg

Awesome!!! Thank you...

So what floor are they working on? (the newest forms going up)

Great pics, king. I may head out there tomorrow.

Nice pictures. When is the building supposed to be completed?

WOWOWOW!!! Thank you Kinggober! Amazing!

Looks like it is the 2nd floor. The first 6 floors are really tall compared to the rest of the floors. The first floor is the tallest.

It looks like the parking garage along Hudson will not have ground level business? I thought they were going to have the gym on that level and possible a retail/cafe? The floor is all bricked in and it looks like the second level may have something but you can't tell with the new mirror windows.

Kinggober...thanks for the marvelous array of photos! And thanks to all of the photojournalists for their choices of angles and locations to keep us all so well apprised of what is going on at the site. I will precede most of you into the Great Beyond and carefully help install some "stars" in your "crowns"! :tiphat:

Here's a great view of the post tensioned cables. If anyone is wondering how it works let me know, I found a few websites explaining it.

Please post those links. And thanks for the great pictures!

The Devon pit is filling up fast.

Please post those links. And thanks for the great pictures!

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From Post-Tensioning Concrete Defined - The Concrete Network (http://www.concretenetwork.com/post-tension/what-is.html)
"Post tensioning is a technique for reinforcing concrete. Post-tensioning tendons, which are prestressing steel cables inside plastic ducts or sleeves, are positioned in the forms before the concrete is placed. Afterwards, once the concrete has gained strength but before the service loads are applied, the cables are pulled tight, or tensioned, and anchored against the outer edges of the concrete."

It looks like the parking garage along Hudson will not have ground level business? I thought they were going to have the gym on that level and possible a retail/cafe? The floor is all bricked in and it looks like the second level may have something but you can't tell with the new mirror windows.

The gym will be on the third floor. I don't know about any ground level retail.

I can't believe they are pooring concrete in this rain.

I can't believe they are pooring concrete in this rain.

Yeah - and they didn't stop until the 4th or 5th bad lightning strike!

Deadlines are one thing, but to put the safety of the workers in jeopardy is ridiculous.

There are way too many higher objects in downtown OKC for the workers to worry about lightning. Okay, the crane operators I can understand, but as high as they are, I'd have to imagine their cabs are grounded. Can you imagine climbing up and down those steps for several passing storms?

Looks to me like abject stupidity vs. scheduling. Stupidity won.

Devon and MGB have a pretty good sized pond going on after today's crazy rain.

Looks to me like a case of scheduling vs common sense. Scheduling won.

Look, they are going to have a couple pools after all.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/f4a6f8da.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/367847a6.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/31a1af49.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/f4754296.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/85e67cb9.jpg

Looks to me like a case of scheduling vs common sense. Scheduling won.

I suspect they know exactly what they are doing and what is safe and what isn't. Generally, those who don't--do not get awarded $800-million dollar projects. Just a guess...

I suspect they know exactly what they are doing and what is safe and what isn't. Generally, those who don't--do not get awarded $800-million dollar projects. Just a guess...

Other tall buildings aside - the workers were using the metal boom-thingy (sorry - I'm an accountant, not a construction expert) to pour concrete while lightning was flashing everywhere and water coming down in sheets.

And multi-million dollar contracts do not make jobs accident free - I think we've all seen that in past two months at a location just south of New Orleans.

Lightening does NOT always strike the highest or most conductive object. Lightening is very capricious and unpredictable.

Many times once you start a concrete pour you have to complete it or bust it out and start again. I am not sure if that is the case here but the general contractor is very experienced.

Lightning would most likely hit one of the four lightning rods(Tower cranes) before it struck one of the construction workers below.

Some pics from Saturday morning:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/IMG_0149.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/IMG_0152.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/IMG_0163.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/IMG_0164.jpg



http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4698510618_07e857264d_b.jpg

I don't know what's going on with the bays on the ground level here. The fact that they left them open made me think they were doing ground-level retail there, but then they closed them up with cinder blocks. Now (you can see it barely in the pic above) they are adding a frame on each bay. It looks like they will add glass over those frames. The best example I can think of is like the glass display cases on the exterior of some big department stores or shopping centers. I can't figure it out.

maybe there will be retail there after all.

Great pictures jbrown84...how do you guys get up there in the Colcord to take these photos? These are a nice view of the hard-to-see east side of the Tower...looks like you were hanging out a window up there! :artist:

Great pictures jbrown84...how do you guys get up there in the Colcord to take these photos? These are a nice view of the hard-to-see east side of the Tower...looks like you were hanging out a window up there! :artist:

he works there......

Can anybody get some pictures over were the podium will be?

Some pics from Saturday morning:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/martymcflyjb/IMG_0152.jpg


It's great to see the Colcord's cornice up close like that. Excellent shot!

I believe we've discussed the question of whether or not all the elevator cores are going to the top floor and I just have to say I hope not. Those things take forever to create!

I believe we've discussed the question of whether or not all the elevator cores are going to the top floor and I just have to say I hope not. Those things take forever to create!

Speaking of cores it looks like the south core form is ready for another jump.

It looks like the columns are still round on the the northwest side of the tower where it connects to the rotunda.

They are now flying more 4th floor prebuilt floor forms! Exciting to see the project beginning to accelerate! The Elevator cores seem to be the bottle neck of the project...takes so long for the crews to tie the large sections of steel reinforcing and hoist them in place and secure them.

They are now flying more 4th floor prebuilt floor forms! Exciting to see the project begining to accelerate! The Elevator cores seem to be the bottle neck of the project...takes so long for the crews to tie the large sections of steel reinforcing and hoist them in place and secure them.

A question for those who know construction--are not the "elevator cores" the central strength of the entire Tower...something has to be the center of it all for it to be structurally sound...? It has always seemed to me that they were much larger than necessary for the singular purpose of elevators...I think they are the spine of the structure.

How can you tell?

I have a question about the OKC Skyline cam. The clarity on my computer using full screen is pretty fuzzy. You can tell it's the site and when the tower cranes are moving with something etc. but the picture is just not clear enough to make out specifics. Is this just my problem?

I have a question about the OKC Skyline cam. The clarity on my computer using full screen is pretty fuzzy. You can tell it's the site and when the tower cranes are moving with something etc. but the picture is just not clear enough to make out specifics. Is this just my problem?

No. It's the camera's resolution. Your computer is fine.

I have a question about the OKC Skyline cam. The clarity on my computer using full screen is pretty fuzzy. You can tell it's the site and when the tower cranes are moving with something etc. but the picture is just not clear enough to make out specifics. Is this just my problem?

I find the sunlight makes it difficult to see what the cranes are lifting...washes out the picture.

A question for those who know construction--are not the "elevator cores" the central strength of the entire Tower...something has to be the center of it all for it to be structurally sound...? It has always seemed to me that they were much larger than necessary for the singular purpose of elevators...I think they are the spine of the structure.

Every design is unique in how the loads are carried by the structure. It is common that the elevator core provides structural rigididty because of thier continuous nature, it makes them ideal to act as shear walls. With this particular design and its symmetrical nature, I would hazard to guess that the cores may be continous all the way up the building based on one of the upper floor plans that I saw posted on here a good while back still indicating them.

It is not likely or cost effective for all the elevators to service each floor rather as was also suggested previously a bank will service floors 1-17, another 18-34, and a final one for the remaining upper floors. Makes for a more efficient use of each bank and faster distribution of occupants to their desired locations.

The shear walls of the cores would likely continue on up the building and may actually have floors in the ones not being used which could be used as mechanical / electrical rooms utilizing the footprint area and preserving useable space for a higher and better use.

A question for those who know construction--are not the "elevator cores" the central strength of the entire Tower...something has to be the center of it all for it to be structurally sound...? It has always seemed to me that they were much larger than necessary for the singular purpose of elevators...I think they are the spine of the structure.

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/DEVONFP01LOWER.jpg

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/DEVONFP01TOP.jpg

Yes, as you can see in the above plans, the outer shear walls of the "elevator cores" continue up through to the top floor.

Typically you will have a bank of low, mid and highrise elevators. In Devon's case it appears there are low, mid and highrise in each of the three banks of elevators. There is also a "magic" formula for calculating the number of elevators base on building occupant load (number of people), wait times, distance of travel, etc..........

Thanks architect5311. One of the best aspects of this forum is the ability to have pros who understand it all help us to deal with the esoteric angles of this massive project. It is fortunate for all of us. :kicking:

It's great to see the Colcord's cornice up close like that. Excellent shot!

Thanks Cuatro!

Thanks OKCisOK4me. I actually was hoping it was something I could do to improve the picture even though it appeared the resolution setting on my computer was as good as it gets. I'm glad the OKCTalk's camera is so clear.

Every design is unique in how the loads are carried by the structure. It is common that the elevator core provides structural rigididty because of thier continuous nature, it makes them ideal to act as shear walls. With this particular design and its symmetrical nature, I would hazard to guess that the cores may be continous all the way up the building based on one of the upper floor plans that I saw posted on here a good while back still indicating them.

It is not likely or cost effective for all the elevators to service each floor rather as was also suggested previously a bank will service floors 1-17, another 18-34, and a final one for the remaining upper floors. Makes for a more efficient use of each bank and faster distribution of occupants to their desired locations.

The shear walls of the cores would likely continue on up the building and may actually have floors in the ones not being used which could be used as mechanical / electrical rooms utilizing the footprint area and preserving useable space for a higher and better use.

Thanks to you as well, OKC@heart...your articulate explanations help us all a great deal. :tiphat:

Anytime! That is what I love about this forum you can get people from all walks who have varying skills and experiences that can weigh in and It gives some insight to what ever subject is being discussed.

About the speed of the cores and the overall progress. I'm no engineer or anything related to the construction process of buildings, but: I would imagine they will get 'teams' together all working on one aspect of the building, where it will be clockwork getting the floors done. I.E. to meet the 1 floor every 6 days, they will have a crew constantly working on the cores, and crews constantly working on the floors. Where by the time the cores have moved up a level, the floor will be done and ready to begin on the level that the cores just rose to. Then the process will start again of working on the cores as the floors are being set.

That's at least how I see it. Not sure if that's what they will be doing or not, but I have seen this on TV documentaries of skyscrapers being built.

Yes, they will call it Core to Floor

Well done Metro!!! Ha!Ha!...groan!

yes, they will call it core to floor

lmao!!!!

I believe we've discussed the question of whether or not all the elevator cores are going to the top floor and I just have to say I hope not. Those things take forever to create!


The floor slab seems to be taking the longest at this point. Each section is taking them about a week. I'm guessing Saturday is when the next floor section will be poured.

I think the taller columns require more steel reinforcing in the floor.

I know this has been asked many many times, but I still have not seen nor heard a definitive answer; so I'll ask it again:

does anybody know what the nighttime lighting will be like for this skyscraper? is there any rendering?


I would LOVE for the three 'faces' of the building to be outlined in LED - would be a HUGE iconic statement for the building and OKC. ... The skyscraper itself would be iconic and have two personalities - daytime it would be bold, beautiful, and reflective while nighttime it would be somewhat futuristic, trendy, and attractive.

Assuming the building will indeed be LEED, you would imagine that the lights inside would be off or a minimum would be on (intelligent lighting). going with that assumption, LED along the sides would work WONDERS.

I also like LED at the top triangles. Heck, even just the red aviation beacons on top also works :), but I hope Devon does something more impressive than that with the building so it will be visible at night.

On a side note - does anyone remember when FNC used to have a rotating floodlight in it's beacon? Is there any chance of that coming back? They could black out the rotating portion that would shine into other skyscrapers, but I thought the rotating beacon was even more impressive than the wall lighting at top.

I know this has been asked many many times, but I still have not seen nor heard a definitive answer; so I'll ask it again:

does anybody know what the nighttime lighting will be like for this skyscraper? is there any rendering?


I would LOVE for the three 'faces' of the building to be outlined in LED - would be a HUGE iconic statement for the building and OKC. ... The skyscraper itself would be iconic and have two personalities - daytime it would be bold, beautiful, and reflective while nighttime it would be somewhat futuristic, trendy, and attractive.

Assuming the building will indeed be LEED, you would imagine that the lights inside would be off or a minimum would be on (intelligent lighting). going with that assumption, LED along the sides would work WONDERS.

I also like LED at the top triangles. Heck, even just the red aviation beacons on top also works :), but I hope Devon does something more impressive than that with the building so it will be visible at night.

On a side note - does anyone remember when FNC used to have a rotating floodlight in it's beacon? Is there any chance of that coming back? They could black out the rotating portion that would shine into other skyscrapers, but I thought the rotating beacon was even more impressive than the wall lighting at top.

I would think some sort of subdued lighting designed into the three "grooves" that delineate the three slabs of glass would be most attractive--especially if they were a nice blue color--like that of the blue-flame of natural gas. It would be attractive--not garish and "shouting" like some in DFW, and tasteful instead of bright white or red "holiday" lighting. The top of this structure offers all sorts of possibilities...I suppose they will slowly leak out details--but--it will be a long time. An icon like this is the quintessence of advertising opportunity and visibility...I am sure that facet has not been overlooked. The apex also seems to lend itself to some sort of spire, utilitarian or decorative.

The floor slab seems to be taking the longest at this point. Each section is taking them about a week. I'm guessing Saturday is when the next floor section will be poured.

I think the taller columns require more steel reinforcing in the floor.

I'm guessing last night was when section 3/3 was poured ;)

South core going up

South core going up

The south core has been ready to go up for a few days now. I think they had to pour the rest of the floor first, otherwise, the concrete boom would not be long enough.