Block 185 Office Tower
Block 185 Office Tower | Austin, Texas
They say that everything is bigger in Texas y’all. As if to illustrate the point, DPR built a project in downtown Austin that literally takes “big” to new heights. The LEED Platinum, 35-story, 590-foot-tall Green Water Block 185 project represents the largest vertical high-rise concrete structure that DPR has ever built including its largest self-perform concrete project to date.
Unique Design
On The Lake
Totaling approximately 1.56 million gross-sq.-ft. and including nearly 800,000 sq. ft. of office space, the iconic tower features a striking sail-like curtainwall design capitalizing on views of nearby Lady Bird Lake. Also included in the project: a 1,411-stall parking structure spanning five levels below grade and seven above; ground floor lobby, creek-side tenant amenity and retail space and a large boardwalk. Multiple outdoor roof areas and terraces maximize lake and city views from every angle of the building, which is targeting LEED Gold.
The challenges of constructing Block 185 were Texas-sized too. The complex geometry and radiused components that make up the building’s structure and curtainwall “sail” continuously tested the skills of the team charged with calculating their many dimensions. It was an epic modeling challenge and coordination effort that has allowed DPR’s operational excellence and virtual design and construction (VDC) capabilities to shine.
The building topped out in July 2021, then reached substantial completion in May of 2022.
The
Challenges
Constructing the largest self-perform concrete project in DPR history came with immense challenges. Aided by two giant luffing cranes, crews erected the structure using a self-climbing core wall forming system. Extensive planning and cycle scheduling detailed to the hour for deck pours, were essential to maintain the critical schedule, which includes liquidated damages if not met.
Photo: Aided by two giant luffing cranes, crews erect the structure using a self-climbing core wall forming system.
Another key hurdle was preventing water intrusion from the adjacent lake and creek all while working in busy downtown Austin. The team’s solution—constructing a massive six-level, 70-ft.-deep diaphragm wall—was a complex endeavor itself. The wall was socketed 10 feet below the mat foundation and encompassed the entire perimeter of the building serving as the below grade foundation wall. Its construction allowed crews to avoid water intrusion issues during the below grade work.
Photo: A massive diaphragm wall prevented water intrusion from the adjacent lake and creek all while working in busy downtown Austin.
After excavating 145,000 cubic yards of dirt from the site and following nearly nine months of detailed planning and coordination, DPR crews successfully completed the single largest mat pour in DPR’s history. A symphony of nearly 900 cement mixers continuously poured approximately 8,650 yards of concrete over the span of a single 36-hours period without a single safety or quality incident.
Photo: After excavating 145,000 cubic yards of dirt from the site and following nearly nine months of detailed planning and coordination, DPR crews successfully completed the single largest mat pour in DPR’s history.
The
Challenges
Constructing the largest self-perform concrete project in DPR history came with immense challenges. Aided by two giant luffing cranes, crews erected the structure using a self-climbing core wall forming system. Extensive planning and cycle scheduling detailed to the hour for deck pours, were essential to maintain the critical schedule, which includes liquidated damages if not met.
Photo: Aided by two giant luffing cranes, crews erect the structure using a self-climbing core wall forming system.
Another key hurdle was preventing water intrusion from the adjacent lake and creek all while working in busy downtown Austin. The team’s solution—constructing a massive six-level, 70-ft.-deep diaphragm wall—was a complex endeavor itself. The wall was socketed 10 feet below the mat foundation and encompassed the entire perimeter of the building serving as the below grade foundation wall. Its construction allowed crews to avoid water intrusion issues during the below grade work.
Photo: A massive diaphragm wall prevented water intrusion from the adjacent lake and creek all while working in busy downtown Austin.
After excavating 145,000 cubic yards of dirt from the site and following nearly nine months of detailed planning and coordination, DPR crews successfully completed the single largest mat pour in DPR’s history. A symphony of nearly 900 cement mixers continuously poured approximately 8,650 yards of concrete over the span of a single 36-hours period without a single safety or quality incident.
Photo: After excavating 145,000 cubic yards of dirt from the site and following nearly nine months of detailed planning and coordination, DPR crews successfully completed the single largest mat pour in DPR’s history.
“From top to bottom, the team has embraced [virtual design and construction (VDC)] tools on every aspect of the work. We intentionally focused on being a leader in the use of VDC for self-perform concrete to improve communication, plan production and ensure we hit our targets.”
Jacob Skrobarczyk
DPR project VDC lead
The
Solutions
A VDC-enabled workforce, including self-perform work SPW) teams, project engineers and superintendents, incorporated a high level of building information modeling into virtually every aspect of the project. This included detailed modeling to coordinate and construct the exterior curtainwall. The SPW concrete team used VDC and 4-D scheduling to plan and execute what is arguably the most complex and single biggest self-perform concrete project that DPR has undertaken to date.
Photo: The team used VDC and 4-D scheduling to plan and execute what is arguably the most complex and single biggest self-perform concrete project that DPR has undertaken.
Employing a diaphragm wall to de-risk the site was another unique solution DPR brought to the table, differentiating this project from neighboring jobs that similarly battled water intrusion issues using more traditional approaches. DPR drew upon its national resources and expertise from other regions to successfully complete the wall.
Photo: A diaphragm wall was used to prevent water intrusion.
Finally, building a high performing team from the start was focused on meeting the owner’s expectations for schedule, quality and cost was a fundamental solution on this project. That included leveraging DPR’s SPW teams that successfully delivered other local Austin projects including Third and Shoal and the Marriott Austin projects.
Photo: Building a high performing team from the start that is focused on meeting the owner’s expectations for schedule, quality and cost has been a fundamental solution on this project. Photo courtesy of DPR.
The
Solutions
A VDC-enabled workforce, including self-perform work SPW) teams, project engineers and superintendents, incorporated a high level of building information modeling into virtually every aspect of the project. This included detailed modeling to coordinate and construct the exterior curtainwall. The SPW concrete team used VDC and 4-D scheduling to plan and execute what is arguably the most complex and single biggest self-perform concrete project that DPR has undertaken to date.
Photo: The team used VDC and 4-D scheduling to plan and execute what is arguably the most complex and single biggest self-perform concrete project that DPR has undertaken.
Employing a diaphragm wall to de-risk the site was another unique solution DPR brought to the table, differentiating this project from neighboring jobs that similarly battled water intrusion issues using more traditional approaches. DPR drew upon its national resources and expertise from other regions to successfully complete the wall.
Photo: A diaphragm wall was used to prevent water intrusion.
Finally, building a high performing team from the start was focused on meeting the owner’s expectations for schedule, quality and cost was a fundamental solution on this project. That included leveraging DPR’s SPW teams that successfully delivered other local Austin projects including Third and Shoal and the Marriott Austin projects.
Photo: Building a high performing team from the start that is focused on meeting the owner’s expectations for schedule, quality and cost has been a fundamental solution on this project. Photo courtesy of DPR.
The
Results
“It’s been a pleasure really just working with DPR, and their attitude day to day – it’s all about the team and the people. To take a project and not put it out to the market, and just sole source it to a company, the biggest project you’ve ever done, it says a lot about their ability and the comfort level that I have with them.”
Mark Fowler
Senior Vice President | Trammell Crow - Block 185 Project Owner
View From Above: Block 185 Crown Install
A process that began planning over a year before the first day of install, Austin’s newest landmark, Block 185, completed the crown structure cantilevering 93 feet above the roof. The 35-story office tower’s unique sail design is DPR Construction’s largest self-perform concrete project to date and will be an iconic addition to the downtown skyline for years to come.
Building an Austin Icon: Block 185
Bringing an icon like Block 185 up from the ground is no small feat. Partnering with Trammell Crow Company, DPR Construction is proud to continue shaping the downtown Austin skyline with this exciting project poised to be a visual landmark for years to come.
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