21 Boston – 11 – Scaling Up

Towards the end of January the 21 Boston project took a significant step up. The Compass construction team began to build the first part of the project to reach above grade. First came the columns which showed how high the Safeway part of the project will reach as well as how the spaces inside the store will be defined.

The shoring and beams for the floor support followed closely behind.

These elements both clarify and somewhat confuse the view. They make clear what the scope of the store will be in height; but they also temporarily fill it full of supports. This gives the impression of the space being crowded, whereas when the building is finished, it will feel quite open. 

The effect is even more dramatic when seen in context from Crockett Street, with Section 2 in the foreground still relatively open and column forms waiting on the deck to be placed around the reinforcing for pouring the columns.

At the northwest corner, the major circulation elements – stairs and elevators, which we have watched being built up through the garage, now emerge strongly, first as formwork, here being installed by telescoping lift.

Then the forms were filled with concrete.

And finally, the forms were stripped to reveal the new structure. All of this happened in a few days’ time.

An overview from the Southeast corner of the site helps to put all these pieces in place.

Section 1 shows its recent shoring.

Section 2 has its floor slab in place and is awaiting its column pour.

Section 3 is getting its floor reinforcing and post-tensioning cables.

And Sections 4 and 5 (beyond) are engaged in the forming up of more complex walls, shafts and parking ramps.

Above it all the hardworking tower crane keeps everything in view – including the snow on the Olympics on the far horizon.

The next few phases will finish putting the large “platform” in place – after which the housing levels will go up quickly. As that happens, these broad overviews will gradually be replaced with a focus on individual elements.