Page 4 • May 14, 2014 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Georgia State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
More Than 800 Workers On Site Daily for ‘Buckhead Atlanta’ ATLANTA from page 2
up one block of public roadway. “The soils throughout the project are specially designed to support tree and plant growth. Sand-based structural soil can be compacted for construction, yet still support the root systems of trees, which was critical in a streetscape with so many mature trees.” Balfour Beatty is the general contractor for the massive project which includes 300,000 sq. ft. (27,870 sq m) of upscale retail, restaurants and cafes, more than 100,000 sq. ft. (9,290 sq m) of luxury office and approximately 400,000 (37,161 sq m) of high-rise residential, which is split between two residential towers. Construction activities are underway at parcels A, B, and C, which together comprise the current phase of Buckhead Atlanta. Parcel C is the largest of the three and contains part of what was formerly known as the Streets of Buckhead project. It will be home to French high-fashion house Hermes and the two apartment towers. “This project originally broke ground in 2007 and was being developed by Atlantabased Ben Carter Properties, with Balfour Beatty serving as the general contractor,” said Mike Macon, vice president and business unit leader of Balfour Beatty, Georgia division. “Demolition activities initially began across six city blocks in the area known as Buckhead Village. Two surface parking lots were constructed to provide temporary parking for the nearby Aaron and Capital office buildings whose parking decks were demolished to make way for the new mixed-use development.” The project was anchored by luxury retail at the street level and included two condominium towers, two hotel towers with residences and more than 2,000 parking spaces. It stopped in February 2009 due to the owner’s inability to secure permanent financing, and left one large hole in the ground at parcel A due to incomplete subterranean parking deck structures. At Parcel C, the concrete podium structure, which would ultimately support two residential towers, was stopped at the seventh floor, according to Macon. A number of one, two and three-story structures were on the property before the work began. Buckhead Village was a vibrant bar scene that was popular among many young professionals in Atlanta. Early work activities began in August 2012 with selective demolition and transfer beam modifications as necessary to support the new program in the re-tooled development. Construction fully resumed in May 2013 with concrete structure activities building atop the existing structure that was left incomplete in 2009. At parcel A, the plaza level structure atop the four-level subter-
ranean parking deck has been completed, as well as the above-grade retail and office structures. Façade construction is under way, and several buildings at parcel A have been turned over for tenant construction. Initial hardscape and landscape installation is under way, but the bulk of the work will occur over the next few months. At parcel A, the exterior façade installation will continue for the next several months. At parcel C, the residential unit interior finishes and the amenity deck construction remains. Tenant construction is underway and will continue through the summer. Resuming construction on Buckhead Atlanta has not been easy, said Macon. “The restart has been the most challeng-
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A total of six tower cranes have been used to construct the project according to Mike Macon, vice president and business unit leader of Balfour Beatty, Georgia division.
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Described as a landmark destination, Buckhead Atlanta is located at the intersection of Peachtree and East Paces Ferry roads and will total around 1.5 million sq. ft. (139,354 sq m).
ing that many on our team have faced during our careers. There’s a unique challenge in starting a project that, on your first day, you find yourself midway through a major construction project. Another challenge was the complexity involved with the fact that what we are building today is in many ways very different from what was being constructed from 2007 to 2009. The re-tooled development required a lot of selective demolition and structure modifications necessary to support the new program.” Initial tenants will be open for business starting in July and will continue to open through spring of 2015. The residential towers will be completed late this year. “We have been averaging just over 800 workers on site each day the past few months,” Macon said. “A total of six tower cranes have been used to construct the project. At parcel C, one tower crane was needed at each residential tower. A third crane was used to construct the low-rise structure at the retail podium. At parcel A, a total of three tower cranes were used. Two of those were used to build the massive four-level
subterranean parking deck and the abovegrade structures that sit atop the parking deck. A third crane is being used to build the above-grade retail and office structure to the south of the property. Equipment on the job includes 17 to 20 ft. (5 to 6 m) scissor lifts, Genie Z-45 4WD articulating manlifts, Genie Z-60 4WD articulating manlifts, rough terrain scissor lifts, single manlifts, air compressors 185CFM, concrete power trowels, concrete cuttings saws, concrete drills, diamond chain saws, masonry saws, concrete Georgia buggies, backhoes, dozers, excavators, skid steer loaders, boom rough terrain forklifts and generators. The tower cranes include three SK 415s and one SK 400. The building structures are primarily constructed of concrete and steel. The residential tower exterior façade is a mix of glass window wall, stucco and exposed concrete. The street level retail is clad using architectural precast concrete, natural stone, lightweight cast stone and several special veneer materials. For Richardson, recrafting the program-
ming and design of The Streets of Buckhead into Buckhead Atlanta was no small order, as the firm needed to build on the significant infrastructure that was already in place while interjecting its own vision of placemaking. “We pride ourselves on making special places happen, and it was important to us to mold the development into our vision for creating a walkable urban environment,” said Richardson. “This was a very meticulous design effort that involved over a year of initial design with three highly creative architects plus a renowned landscape architect to articulate this vision before we commenced construction. This vision has evolved as we added an additional floor of office to house Spanx’s corporate headquarters after the development already was fully designed and permitted. “Teamwork has been vital, especially since we have had all components of Buckhead Atlanta under construction simultaneously. Balfour Beatty and our long list of subcontractors have been consummate professionals and have worked tirelessly to keep construction on schedule.” Described as a landmark destination, Buckhead Atlanta is located at the intersection of Peachtree and East Paces Ferry roads and will total around 1.5 million sq. ft. (139,354 sq m). For Richardson, it marks a new beginning for the area. “As the economy recovered and Buckhead Atlanta came back to life, the redevelopment has become a signal that the health and vitality of commercial real estate in Atlanta has returned,” said Richardson. “In addition, we have seen an influx of new tenants to the Village that will be a great complement to Buckhead Atlanta.” (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s Web site at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) CEG