Modern Contractor Solutions December 2024 - 14

project profile
CONCRETE
Advanced Formwork
Elevates Skyline
downtown brooklyn reshaped
with 43-story tower
By Claire Combs
The project design includes a cantilever that extends over one of the neighboring buildings. Doka's suspended formwork solution projects 22 feet from the
tower's edge. Photo © Doka
T
he skyline of Downtown Brooklyn is
being reshaped with the construction
of 55 Willoughby, a 43-story luxury
mixed-use tower, thanks in part to Doka's
advanced formwork and shoring solutions.
Developed by Lonicera Partners and Rabina,
with Noble as the general contractor and
Moore Group handling the concrete work,
the project is slated for completion in
late 2025.
Situated at 55 Willoughby Street in the
heart of Brooklyn, this high-rise will include
nearly 300 residential units and approximately
3,000 sq. ft. of retail space at ground level.
At a height of 468 feet, the tower is set to
be a landmark development for the area,
with its luxury design featuring a distinctive
cantilevered section on the 14th floor.
TEN INCHES
The tight confines of the construction site
were a significant challenge, as the new
building sits only 10 inches away from
adjacent structures on both its east and west
sides. This limited space made it impossible
to install a tower crane for use at the higher
levels, adding complexity to the logistics of
material handling. Additionally, the project
required specialized formwork for a cantilever
that extends nearly 50 feet over one of the
neighboring buildings.
14
DECEMBER 2024
CUSTOM SOLUTIONS
Doka worked closely with Moore Group to
design a custom formwork and shoring system
that addressed these unique challenges. The
solution included the Dokadek 30 and Staxo
shoring systems, which allow safe access to
the climbing formwork, and the Eurex 30 and
Super Props for reshoring. For the exterior, the
Xclimb 60 hydraulic climbing formwork was
employed to support the building's vertical
growth. The system's mini crane lifting
capability eliminated the need for large crane
setups or additional hoisting equipment,
streamlining the construction process despite
the space constraints.
To tackle the cantilevered section, Doka
engineered a suspended formwork solution
that projects 22 feet from the building's
edge, providing stability while allowing for
safe installation and dismantling. The use
of segmented elements in the cantilever
also helped control weight distribution,
an important factor given the proximity to
neighboring buildings.
Doka's solutions for 55 Willoughby included a
custom 2-ft. x 8-ft. Frami S panel system, which
helped reduce the overall formwork depth and
facilitated the safe lifting of panels from floor
to floor. By eliminating the need for additional
hoisting equipment, this system optimized the
use of space on the congested site.
The project also benefited from Doka's
suspended formwork, which allowed
installation and removal to occur safely above
the main support beams, avoiding the need
for additional platforms below. This feature
not only enhanced safety but also improved
efficiency, keeping the construction timeline
on track.
Jose Alvarez, General Foreman at Moore
Group, praised Doka's contribution: " Doka's
blind-side system was excellent for this
project where we don't have room for a
large crane. Thank you to the engineering
and field teams for giving us support on this
complicated project. "
As the 55 Willoughby tower progresses
toward completion, Doka's formwork solutions
are enabling efficient, safe, and timely
construction in a highly constrained urban
environment. This project highlights Doka's
ability to deliver tailored engineering and onsite
support, even for the most complex and
space-limited developments.
for more information
Doka is a world leader in innovative formwork
and scaffolding solutions for construction and is
a company of the Umdasch Group. For more, visit
www.doka.com.
www.mcsmag.com

http://www.doka.com http://www.mcsmag.com

Modern Contractor Solutions December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Modern Contractor Solutions December 2024