Tower Cranes; Part II (6/17/16)

Nothing heralds urban expansion better than a Tower Crane. Tower cranes are visible all across our city’s skyline. From the roof of Gewirz Residence Hall, one can see twenty tower cranes dancing across the sky, changing the urban landscape and the rhythms of life in the…

D.C. Architectural Styles — 1750 to 1850

Work at the Capitol Crossing site is progressing at a dizzying pace. One must visit the…

Pile Driving and Lagging Boards (3/17/15)

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back. I hope you all had an enjoyable Spring Break. While you were away, construction of the new 2nd Street portal and exit ramp from I-395began in earnest. The vibrating pile driver arrived from Florida —…

Topping Off (1/18/2017)

Cold and rainy weather can hamper a construction project, especially one involving concrete pours. Excess water can alter the concrete mixture and cold weather can affect the curing process. Rest assured the BBC/Miller & Long team has taken the appropriate steps to maintain the…

Caissons and Slurry Walls; Part I (9/8/15)

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back. I hope you had an enjoyable and productive summer and a good Labor Day weekend. For those of you who are new to Georgetown, I have been sending periodic updates about the I-395 Capitol Crossing…

Concrete Towns and Steel Towns (10/26/16)

The long hot summer days are finally behind us, giving some respite to the many workers striving to bring the Capitol Crossing Project to fruition. In my last Construction Note, I described the steps that will be taken to move the historic Adas Israel…

Make No Little Plans; Part II Developing the Old East End (2/24/2017)

There was no relaxation at the Capitol Crossing construction site while you were away. In my last Construction Note, I mentioned that BBC/PGP planned the topping off ceremony a few days before the building was…

Caissons and Slurry Walls; Part II (10/19/15)

Dear Colleagues,

Progress often comes hard; and living next to a construction site is never easy. This is especially true of a project with a twenty-four hour work permit. Powerful hauling and excavating equipment and large…

Windows (10/19/17)

Excavation and pile-driving along the 3rd Street side of the project has reached Holy Rosary Church, and construction of 250 Massachusetts Avenue has reached grade at the north end of the building. A new Tower Crane will be erected next week to begin pouring concrete farther south. A skylight…

The Mystery of Stone (4/13/2017)

Progress has occurred on many of the Capitol Crossing sub-projects. The Tower Crane, the workhorse for…