RAXTAR and Hydro Mobile have been selected by Atlantic Hoisting and Scaffolding to provide hoists and mast climbing work platforms to help build One World Trade Center, formerly known as the Freedom Tower. Both companies have joined forces with Atlantic Hoisting and Scaffolding to create an access solution that allows transport of men and material to each floor of the projected 1776 ft. (541 m) high structure.
After comprehensive preliminary interviews contractor Tishmann Construction turned to Atlantic Hoisting and Scaffolding of New York/New Jersey to provide a full solution for its logistics concern of moving more than 1,300 men, women, tools and materials daily to rebuild what is considered the most complicated construction project in American history.
Tishmann had a strict set of bid criteria for the hoisting contractors on One World Trade Center and the Memorial building. A long list of concerns was developed and applied to the selection of equipment to be used. A non-counterweighted design topped the list as it related to safety and speed of erecting, because this was going to be considered a fast track project. As the plans unfolded, dependability was the key.
Atlantic Hoisting and Scaffolding’s team, led by Greg Karas, had an idea to address the construction process: the common tower, which is a structure typically made from a four pole configuration of shoring and scaffolding components decked at each entry level to allow exit of the hoists and access to the building under construction to minimize the interference with the curtain wall installation. This allows the building to be closed in earlier than in conventional configurations of the hoists. In the case of One World Trade Center, the extreme height and concern for workers safety was bringing an additional challenge to the traditional conception of the common tower.
The common tower is in all reality a temporary building built alongside the permanent structure. It has wind load, capacity requirements per floor and a fast tracked construction timeline much like the property under construction.
In order to put in place an efficient solution, Atlantic Hoisting and Scaffolding’s team had the idea to abandon the conventional four pole components generally used for the common tower in lieu of actual rack and pinion tower sections at the four corners, giving them a means for adapting mechanical access equipment to perform the construction of the platform in a safe and efficient way. Todd Rego, of Atlantic Hoisting and Scaffolding, whose team was instrumental in the construction and design, said he reduced his labor during the construction process by 30 percent and found the safety factor increased by an immeasurable amount.
Since then, Atlantic Hoisting and Scaffolding has strategically placed 13 RAXTAR Model RX3245 hoists throughout the two side by side projects. RAXTAR was open and receptive to the specific requests of Atlantic Hoisting and Scaffolding and the ideas they had to ensure a safe and productive artery to the largest construction project in American history. Multiple RX3245SFT, 300 ft. (91 m) per minute 7,000 lb. (3,175 kg) men and material hoists were designed with an overhead protection deck above the car for installer’s protection from other trades who were working above them.
A structural “common tower platform” is an integral part of the configuration of the hoisting areas which deliver thousands of workers to the structure day and night for a job that has virtually not stopped for an hour since its beginning. A custom work platform designed specifically for the construction of the common tower structure was built by Hydro-Mobile and is in constant use as the project climbs at a pace of one floor per week. Since its installation in November 2009, the hoists run 6 days a week moving 1,300 to 1,400 men and women to all the stops on its way to an overall height of 1776 ft. (541 m) where the top floor will be denoted as the 82nd floor.
Since being put in place two years ago, each RAXTAR hoist has travelled the equivalent of a trip around the world. During the last two years of use, each car ran approximately six days a week for an average of 12.5 hours a day. At a speed of 300 ft. (92 m) per minute, this means that each car has travelled approximately 26,718 mi. or a little bit more than the earth circumference!
It is expected that three additional years of use will be required before the project is completed.
For more information, visit www.hydro-mobile.com /1WTC).
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