Day 5 – The RISE project and Tokyu Construction
In the afternoon we met with Tokyu construction at the site of their RISE project a mixed use development, with a retail and office component on one side and market housing on the other, all separated by an outdoor plaza space with a glazed roof canopy (view a PDF of the project here). The experience was amazing, because there were several differences between American construction projects and the means and methods here. for example, we were surprised to find that the columns were enlarged tube steel sections, not the I shapes usually used in the States. The construction manager explained that the columns are rolled flat, then bent at the corners so there are only two weld seams down the columns, each in the center on opposing sides.
Most of their materials were being produced and assembled in precars components in China. Tokyu has representative on the ground there to observe and either accept or reject all materials being produced. Some examples of this are the pre-cast concrete panels at the base wich are shipped with a stone veneer already integrated into the panels, and curtain wall components with glazing and frams already in place and ready to assemble. The construction manager noted that he sees this as a continuing trend, more sophisticated panelization constructed under factory conditions and shipped to the site ready to put up.
The construction manager also told us that the most difficult challenged they’ve faced so far is how the excavation for the below grade levels interfaced with an adjacent subway easement. Using sophisitacted equipment to detect tilting in the retaining walls, the excavation dug down over 50 meters all the while remaining within the allowable 2cm variation.
