In this shot, one down and two to go.
The world’s biggest gap.
March 13, 2024
Basement demolition begins.
This requires breaking up a large amount of concrete for disposal. This work can be noisy and those near the site may feel vibrations. The demolition of the basement is expected to take 10 days.
22 Likes
Not knowing exactly how old the old building was, but would that possibly be a fallout shelter from days gone by? Or just a boring old basement…
1 Like
It’s the Raleigh Situation Room. If the soviets bombed Raleigh then Smedes York would have been establishing 40’ setbacks for the rebuilt city from that position for the next 5 years.
6 Likes
I can’t wait for the new situation room of course them not being in there is a good thing. I remember during Hurricane Florence when the storm was coming and it was a category 5 the former mayor McFarland did a presser there.
1 Like
McDowell Street Sidewalk
The contractor must close the McDowell Street sidewalk starting Monday, March 25, and it will remain closed for much of the construction process. This is necessary for Duke Energy to complete a power line relocation and other construction-related tasks. The sidewalk will be closed between Morgan and Hargett Street. Anyone using the Municipal Building parking lot and then walking east must cross at the McDowell Street crosswalk. The sidewalk closure will remain in effect through most of the project.
It’s a pit
The deconstruction phase is almost done. The demo crew is breaking up the last parts of the basement. This work is noisy and dusty, because the concrete is broken off the remaining steel supports. It looks like we have one more week of this work before we start the next phase.
What to expect next
Once the deconstruction is completed, the contractor will switch gears and start the shoring and deep foundation work. This work includes driving steel into the ground.
22 Likes
I see shadows. Better be careful with those around here.
5 Likes
April 3, 2024
The walls are down!
This week, the crews removed the last basement wall. So, what’s next? Shoring and deep foundation work. This work is very loud! Crews will be driving steel into the ground, and you will hear the noise of steel on steel being pounded into the ground, and you may feel the vibrations of this work. You will hear and feel this work if you are a Raleigh Employee and work on the east side of the Raleigh Municipal Building. The noise may also affect people who work in the Professional Building.
Power Outage, Monday, April 8.
At noon on Monday, April 8, Duke Energy will cut power to the Raleigh Municipal Building. The generator will provide the building with power. However, the parking deck will be without power while this work is completed. We expect the process to take about three to four hours. While the power is out to the parking deck, the gates will be open. We requested this work be completed during daylight hours when lighting is not an issue.
McDowell Street Closed April 12-15.
Starting at 7p.m. on April 12, the construction contractor will close a section of McDowell Street and Hargett Street. Hargett Street will be closed to through traffic between Dawson Street and McDowell Street, and McDowell Street will be closed between Morgan Street and Hargett Street. The street closure will last throughout the weekend, with the streets scheduled to reopen to traffic early on April 15.
Due to the amount of work that needs to be completed during this street closure, the team will work around the clock over the weekend. The construction noise associated with this part of the project will be from construction equipment and digging.
Work associated with the street closure includes relocating water and sanitary sewer lines.
The dates of this work are subject to change based on weather.
18 Likes
April 15, 2024
Ok, the Demo is Done, so What’s Next?
Last week, I reported that the deep foundation and shoring work was getting ready to start on the new Civic Tower. People had a few questions about this process, so I wanted to explain what we will see in the coming months. I also had some questions about the noise levels and how long we would expect to hear elevated noise levels from the construction site.
Let me start with the construction schedule. With the demo behind us, we are now in the excavation and shoring phase of the project. This phase is scheduled to last throughout mid-June. Please note that construction schedules are always subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances, so this schedule may change; if it does, you will hear about it here.
What is shoring?
Shoring is the installation of temporary supports in the ground to prevent collapse during excavation. The excavation and shoring phase sets the groundwork for the foundation of the building. The building’s foundation must be strong enough to support our new tower’s seventeen stories. Crews will start with the pilings. Meaning they will drive vertical steel supports into the ground. This is the part that will make the most noise, but it also is what will stabilize the structure on top. Because this is a seventeen-story building, vertical steel soldier piles with horizontal stabilizing walls will be installed around the site’s perimeter for soil retention.
22 Likes
I really do like the transparency here.
12 Likes
I love these little info blurbs explaining what is going on and why they are doing certain things.
When I was little my dad (also an engineer) would explain a lot of this stuff to me which is what got me interested in engineering in the first place. I love that the city is effectively doing the same thing and maybe even inspiring future little builders!
This is quickly becoming my favorite project just from a public engagement standpoint.
24 Likes
May 8, 2024
New equipment has arrived
The shoring contractor arrived on site Monday. The first few days were spent assembling the crane and getting the materials on location. Next up is the deep foundation and shoring work. As I have said, this part is noisy, and if you work at the Raleigh Municipal Building, you will probably feel some vibrations as they drill, dig, and drive the steel supports into the ground. The good news is that this part will not be as dusty as the demo was.
20 Likes
It looks like all of the permits have been issued for the building.
11 Likes
Will this be the next BIG CRANE to rise in the Raleigh skyline? Should be prominent from many angles since it’ll be within a huge gap between buildings!
13 Likes
At 17 stories, it may look like a broken tooth in the downtown smile.
7 Likes
Should be similar in height to the Dillon.
6 Likes
17 stories of office though, with a big/high-ceiling atrium on bottom floor - should still look substantial in that gap!!!
10 Likes
I know folks wish for height more, but I actually kind of love this little canyon plateau down Hillsborough with this just a block south, Pendo, Holiday Inn, 400H, Quorum not that far north. And all of it connecting to 1 & 2 Glenwood. It really is densifying in a great way.
11 Likes
