On Monday, February 29, 2016, the Conco Companies topped off the core of the Wilshire Grand Center building in downtown Los Angeles.  With over 150,000 cubic yards of concrete poured, and an intensely dedicated crew peaking to over 160 men and women on site, the Conco team has finally reached the milestone to lead the way for the interior finishes.  

Once completed, the Wilshire Grand project will be the tallest building west of the Mississippi at a height of 1,099 feet. It will surpass the U.S Bank building, also in downtown Los Angeles, by 81 feet.

The Conco Companies is supplying the entire cast-in-place concrete for this project. This includes:

• Record breaking mat foundation of 21,200 cubic yards in a single pour
• High strength concrete found inside the core walls
• Lightweight deck fill concrete on all floors
• Structural deck concrete, below grade walls and columns
• Shotcrete perimeter walls

Conco deployed the most powerful concrete stationary pumps in the industry. The primary pump was Conco’s electric powered 14000E pump whose primary benefits are its low carbon footprint and low noise generation. These two significant benefits were crucial in topping off the core, as the pumps were positioned less than 40 feet from an occupied Class A office building. Conco’s 14000E pump is the only one of its kind on the west coast.

Pumping for this project has been trouble-free, allowing us to push both hard rock and lightweight concrete to the top of the structure with power to spare. The 14000E pump has allowed us to move concrete nearly 1,100 feet vertically, and 400 feet horizontally bringing the total pumping distance to nearly 1,500 feet.

Conco has two pumps and supply lines on site to address any unforeseen issues that may arise. The work has been fast-paced with no room for error. The safety of our employees as well as public safety has been our number one priority, and we are proud to announce that the project was a success for both our client and Conco.

The Conco Companies is thankful for a team of dedicated, hard working employees and a great partner, Turner Construction Company. It is with their support and collaborative efforts, that we were able to accomplish this extraordinary feat.

About The Wilshire Grand Center

The Wilshire Grand is a $1.2 billion 73-story mixed-use building. The Wilshire Grand will be a combination of retail and office space with a world-class hotel at the top. When completed in 2017, the Wilshire Grand will become the first Class A space constructed in downtown Los Angeles since 1997.