DETROIT | Exchange | 209 FT | 16 FLOORS

[DetroitSky]

Originally Posted by DZH22

I hope this construction method doesn't become part of a larger trend because I really don't like what I'm seeing here.

Care to elaborate?

[DZH22]

Originally Posted by DetroitSky

Care to elaborate?

It gives me the same uneasy feeling as an extreme cantilever, looking ready to either topple or collapse at any moment. (topple like hotel that was u/c in New Orleans, or collapse like that Florida residential where the floors all pancaked each other) I almost expect one of the floors to slide back down the cores and crush whatever's at the bottom, before construction is through.

It takes away the excitement of a building climbing its way toward topping out.

These module-like buildings with the preconstructed floors always seem to have lousier materials than most normally constructed buildings. Rotterdam just did one for I believe their current tallest (although it climbed vertically like normal) and it looks super cheap. Look at the cladding on this one for what's supposed to be the expensive condos at the top. It's worse than most cladding I see on the pathetic 5-over-1's, let alone on a highrise.

So to sum it up.... It all feels completely unnecessary, is scary/uneasy to look at, takes away the excitement of top-out, and prefab floors have looked cheap and shoddy in all instances I have seen them to date.

[animatedmartian]

I agree with the point that you likely wouldn't see landmark iconic designs with this sort of construction style, but for generic infill, it seems alright.

However, as far as it toppling over, I feel that's pretty unlikely. To me at least, the elevator cores of this building take up a lot floor space so it's less like a cantilever and more like a bridge between the two cores.

If it was a single core with the same floor area, then it probably would require perimeter columns to support the weight of the floors above and would be more like a cantilever and thus more prone to fallen over.

I'd also like to point out that Barton Marlow is almost a 100-year old company so they probably have a good amount of experience and knowledge behind their construction projects.

[ShadowSoarer]

Looks like the 15th floor is hoisted into place. This article is behind a paywall, but was able to play the video and see an image of the update.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/20...001/?gnt-cfr=1

[deja vu]

Looks like they got another floor up. So still about a 1-month per floor pace.

https://vimeo.com/730791770/6aea0a9c89


Source: LinkedIn | Exchange Detroit


Source: LinkedIn | Jake Baxa

[animatedmartian]

Taken by me, 7-28.

[homebucket]

Interesting building technique! That’d be pretty cool if it were actually built on stilts.

[seabee1526]

https://www.exchangedetroit.com/

1/4 of the way. Thank you SkyscraperCity

[seabee1526]

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/cdn-c...-jpeg.3636908/

[deja vu]

Nice photo. The pace has quickened.

[towerpower123]

Gotta be one of the most unique construction methods.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by deja vu

So still about a 1-month per floor pace.

I never saw anything like that.

I was kinda skeptical at first, but it sounds like some American engineering, nothing from China in this report (crucial patents would be from the US), which is a bit reassuring because a lot of the new Chinese-designed stuff has been causing quality issues to my knowledge.

It takes time to bring a floor up probably because plenty of things such as plumbing and fire proofing and are made down on the ground.
That may not be a bad idea. It's just something new.

We'll see whether their technology is interesting enough...

[animatedmartian]

Local news report on construction from a few days ago.

• Video Link

[deja vu]

A slightly vertigo-inducing view from below -


Source: LinkedIn | Brittani Davis

[seabee1526]

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/cdn-c...-jpeg.3745817/

[seabee1526]

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threa...03460/page-309

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/cdn-c...-jpeg.3866212/

[seabee1526]

from the SkyScraperCity page

[colemonkee]

I for one think this construction method is facinating, but I'm not certain it's faster than conventional, ground-up construction. Looks like it took almost 3 months to add 3 floors. HOWEVER, those are complete, fitted out floors, so that may be the key there. In 3 months, one could conceivably add 12-13 floors of steel reinforced concrete structure, but then it would take months to complete the plumbing, electric, facade, interior walls and finishes. Would love to look at start of construction vs. certificate of occupancy once they're done to compare to similarly-sized conventional method towers.

[DannyP]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

I for one think this construction method is facinating, but I'm not certain it's faster than conventional, ground-up construction. Looks like it took almost 3 months to add 3 floors. HOWEVER, those are complete, fitted out floors, so that may be the key there. In 3 months, one could conceivably add 12-13 floors of steel reinforced concrete structure, but then it would take months to complete the plumbing, electric, facade, interior walls and finishes. Would love to look at start of construction vs. certificate of occupancy once they're done to compare to similarly-sized conventional method towers.

I totally agree with you. I think its interesting watching this and the Louis go up at the same time. Honestly, it looks like the Louis is making fast progress from a far, however, its very possible this projects opens a lot sooner due to complete floors going up.

I'm also interest in the crew size between the two projects, and if that factors in on this going slower then expected.

[subterranean]

Noticed a video update on Instagram about the Exchange. Cool video of its lift build process:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjY1Z...d=YmMyMTA2M2Y=