Archive for May, 2007
Memorial Day Break
Friday, May 25th, 2007
Well here we are approaching the Memorial Day Holiday, May 28, and in a little under a month we have seen this hole in the ground begin to take the shape of a real building. Look to the left and you see an outline for the elevator shaft, look straight ahead and you see the east-west definition of the MBA Commons (the area that shows up red), and in between their is evidence of concrete footings that will support structural steel.
The plan is to complete the Speakman-side and 13th Street foundation walls in the next few weeks then begin planting the steel sometime in early to mid June.  In the meantime, have a great and safe Memorial Day Holiday. AlterBlog will resume on Tuesday.
P.S. The AlterCam-gone-dark has returned http://sbm.temple.edu/alter/live-webcam.html.
Question Answered
Thursday, May 24th, 2007
Congratulations to Mariana Pirri who correctly identified the “the base for a bank of elevators” for the Question of the Week. Today’s photo shows the elevator “basement” partially poured. In the image above you can see clearly the outline of the two banks of elevator s (four cars total) that will connect all eight Alter floors.
Question of the Week
Monday, May 21st, 2007
Just when you thought the Alter Hall hole couldn’t get any deeper, it did.
A Fox electronics travel bag (or cosmetics bag, if you prefer) to the first person who can identify its purpose. It is obviously a base for something. What is it?
Friday Wrap Up
Friday, May 18th, 2007
Work slowed yesterday to allow graduates and their families to gather in festive white tents to pay tribute to their sons and daughters and meet their teachers and advisers. It was Commencement 2007 at Temple University.
The Montgomery Avenue wall is nearing completion and interior footers are being formed. The “I” form above is close to the new entrance and will help support a 3 story atrium.
Toy Time
Wednesday, May 16th, 2007As proof that grown men … even construction workers … never overcome their fascination with toys, check out this video showing a Biddle crew member manipulating a wirelessly controlled mini roller in a tight space. The device is fresh out of the box.
Wall Revealed
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007
The image above was taken this morning after the concrete dried and the forms were removed. For the first time you get an idea of the building’s shape and architectural features. The low wall at center is the base of the window wall that will define the Student Lounge on the 1st floor (see rendering below) and the MBA Commons on the 7th floor as seen from inside the construction site.
Below, Artist’s Rendering, Montgomery Avenue looking north at Alter Hall window wall.
Wall Poured Using Concrete Bucket
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007Thus far Biddle has used one of two methods to pour walls for Alter Hall … direct from the truck and with the use of a pumper. Yesterday they use a huge bucket to release the concrete in forms along the Montgomery Street side of the building.
Pouring Concrete “Beam”
Friday, May 11th, 2007Biddle forms and pours a 3′ x 4′ beam that connects the two large steel towers on the back side of the half wall. After the beam is poured, the rest of the wall will be formed and poured on top.
Wall Gets Higher
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007
Foundation Wall Along Montgomery Ave.
Monday, May 7th, 2007
Work continues on the foundation wall parallel to Montgomery Avenue. Concrete was poured for the lower portion of the wall Friday, and construction crews removed the yellow forms this morning to expose the wall.
John DeAngelo
