Windy city Trumped: The latest addition to Chicago's skyline
18 March 2008
Under construction since March 2005 the Trump International Hotel & Tower will be a colossal 346 m high (its spire will touch 417 m) when it is completed in 2009, when it will be the second tallest building in Chicago behind the Sears Tower, though the Chicago Spire will be taller once it is completed in 2010.
An all concrete structure combining a hotel and condominium, reinforced concrete was chosen over steel because of the economics of the design and the fact that the structure must maintain as little movement as possible because of its soaring height, according to architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's senior structural engineer on the project.
Following the basment pour in September 2005 (see iC October 2005) sub-contractor McHugh Construction is now pouring 95500 m3 of concrete from level 57 to the top of the structure between now and July 2008 using a Putzmeister BSA 14000 trailer-mounted concrete pumps and a 34/38Z Series II boom combination.
The BSA 14000 has been pumping about 840 m3 of concrete per day, and can pump about 77 m3 per hour, no matter what the mix is.
