Two months after heavy machinery arrived at 1104 4th Street SW, where Hines is building the first of two towers, the grounds have been pierced by a series of perimeter steel piles. Used for deep foundations, the piles will transfer the structural loads away from the weaker surface soils to deeper bearing soils that can support large buildings. A lagging system installed between the piles will outline the border of the property and shore up the site as excavation progresses.

500 Block, image via Solomon Cordwell Buenz

An excavator has also been spotted on the site in new photos posted to our Forum, a sure sign that digging is expected to begin soon. A three-storey office building previously occupied the property and was quickly demolished earlier this year.

Piles driven into the ground, image by Forum contributor UrbanWarrior

Its replacement will be a 35-storey rental tower designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz with Kirkor Architects containing 461 residences. The project's substantial podium will hold 184 of the units and a line of ground-level retail. Architectural plans and renderings indicate the podium rooftop will be used as residential amenity space, with a pool, cabanas and flora characterizing the space.

Machinery on the site, image by Forum contributor UrbanWarrior

The renderings also show a ghosted second tower planned for the northern half of the site where a surface parking lot currently lies. Further details for this future stage will be revealed in a second development permit application that has not yet been submitted.

Ground-level expression, image via Solomon Cordwell Buenz

Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.



