Library Lot

Wonder how much concrete goes into each of these pours?

From the Chronicle’s Jan. 5, 2011 DDA board meeting report:

John Splitt gave an update on the underground parking garage construction. Concrete pours of between 1,000 and 2,000 cubic yards at a time continue. About 99% of the mass excavation has been completed, he said.

And coincidentally, just now ran into Splitt on the west side of the Library Lot, along Fifth Avenue. He said he was checking up on the concrete pours at the underground parking structure and the Zaragon Place II project.

The DDA gives this process an impressive level of supervision. At a recent committee meeting, Susan Pollay described how their project managers meet each cement truck to check on the composition and that it has not been underway more than a certain period of time (45 minutes, as I recall), or the mixture is refused.

I had heard that today’s pour required 200 truckloads… I think they are pouring the structural slab at the bottom of the part of the site engineered to support up to a 20 story development.

“…pouring the structural slab at the bottom of the part of the site engineered to support up to a 20 story development.”

Think about how overdesigned that would be if only used as a park. One does not design a foundation without know what will stand on it.

But think about what an incredibly safe park it would be!

Well safe from sink holes maybe, not necessarily crime.

Or invasions from the earth’s core.

Don’t you think we should be hosting regular readings of “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel?”