With our shoring and grading permits received, construction of the Colburn Center is officially underway! But, what do shoring and grading actually mean? As with many construction projects, so much goes into what you don’t see.
To begin a significant construction project, shoring is the placement of temporary props and supports to maintain the soundness of a structure. Grading creates a level, flat base to ensure a strong foundation that is resistant to crumbling or sinking. For large structures like the Colburn Center, caissons, or drilled piers, are critical for the foundation and created by inserting reinforcing steel into drilled shafts that are then filled with concrete. This type of foundation provides safety, longevity, and structural integrity.
Following the foundation work, utility-related infrastructure will be installed underground, including water mains, sewer lines, gas lines, electrical wires, just to name a few. Then, the steel framing phase will commence to establish the main load-bearing structure. Once the shell of the building has been erected, more aesthetic components of the project will come to life. The building will receive its iconic “Pink Kandi” coil coating exterior skin, and interior elements like Gehry’s complex cloud structure inside Kohl Hall will also be assembled.
In the final phase of the project, the Colburn Center will undergo a tuning period to identify enhancement opportunities for both performance and energy efficiency along with necessary equipment testing prior to opening to the public. During this process, Gehry Partners and McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. will collaborate with our faculty, staff, and students to ensure the Colburn Center is primed and ready for many successful seasons to come!
