Western Breaks Records on Downtown San Diego Mat Pour 2002

Fourteen-year old industry powerhouse Western Concrete Pumping, San Diego, boasts a fleet of 27 concrete pumps, all manufactured by Schwing America. The firm services Southern California and has been contracted for several out-of-state projects as well, specializing in deck pours, placing boom pours and multi-pump high-volume pours.

Western’s experience with large projects and a solid reputation earned the pumping firm a chance to tackle a record-setting mat pour in downtown San Diego. General contractor Bosa Construction, Inc., a division of Bosa Ventures, Inc., Burnaby, British Columbia, commissioned Western’s pumping fleet to pour 13,000 cubic yards for a foundation structure that will eventually support one tower of a twin story luxury condo building called Grande Towers. The towers are only one structure in Bosa’s plans for a complete redevelopment of the shoreline area.

Six weeks before the first yard was placed, Bosa, Western and ready mix contractor Hanson Aggregates, San Diego, held several meetings to devise a plan of attack. Consistent ready mix supply, pump positioning and traffic control were important issues. Cooperation among contractors resulted in several practical solutions and produced an errorless, seamless foundation pour.

On August 24, twelve truck mounted concrete pumps with placing booms from Western’s pumping fleet were set up surrounding and inside the excavation. Varying boom lengths were used on the project, including Western’s 58, 47, 42, 36, 34 and 32-meter concrete boom pumps. Western’s S 58 SX, provided strong concrete output with a reach of 187 feet and 10 inches. Two of the on-site pumping fleet, a KVM 34X and a KVM 32XL, pumped into the KVM 42 through a line, providing an effective pump-to-pump supply system.

Dale Morris, Western’s Fleet Coordinator, estimated that the most productive hour of their 12-hour day resulted in 1500-yards. "We had no problem as long as the ready mix trucks kept supplying," said Morris. "The Schwings kept on pumping."

To accommodate 12 high-output pumps, Hanson Aggregate commissioned 250 of their ready mix trucks to supply the concrete. With so many trucks moving, heavy traffic in and out of the site had the potential to cause confusion and production breakdown, but coordination meetings supplied the solutions to avoid accidents and jam-ups. Contractors petitioned for and were granted permission from the City of San Diego to completely shut down public streets immediately surrounding the pour. The absence of downtown traffic allowed truck mixers access in and out of the site. Fourteen on-site washout bins provided quick service for the trucks.

After unloading at the site, the trucks dispersed throughout the San Diego metro area to receive ready mix loads from 7 different Hanson plants. According to Woods, the longest haul constituted an hour and 45-minute round trip from the job site to one of the 7 plants and back. Truck operators averaged round trips in the area of 85 minutes.

In addition to 250 truck operators, 100 Hanson Aggregate employees were involved in the project. Dispatchers, service crews and management at all 7 plants and on the job site combined efforts to pull off the job. "Everyone was involved," said Woods. "It was a real coordinated effort on behalf of all the contractors and every single employee."

High production pumping equipment played a key role in one of the fastest monolithic mat pours the San Diego area has ever seen. Smooth execution can be credited to intense and thorough planning, engineering and on and off-site management.

Bosa Construction contracted Western Concrete Pumping to supply the pumping equipment and management for another mat pour, which mirrors the area of the completed project. The slab will constitute the foundation for the second of the twin tower condo building. "It’s going to be a different project and different specs, but certainly the same sort of coordinated effort," said Morris. Bosa, Western and Hanson will plan for the next record-breaking mat pour the summer of 2003.

Bosa Construction continues to purchase land along the shoreline in downtown San Diego with plans to redevelop the entire area. Western Concrete Pumping looks forward to the profitable and exciting prospect of more jobs with the successful contractor.

Western rep Dale Morris is excited about Bosa’s plans and Western’s continuing part. "We’re going to see a positive change in the skyline once everything is completed."