When people think of the buildings, highways, railroads and dams that changed the course of history, they sometimes think of them as static objects that weren’t there one day and then just popped up. But a lot of planning and hard work went into those projects. And while most already know that, few truly stop to think about the hard work and planning that makes it all possible.
We’ve written before about some of America’s most important and lasting construction projects. Now, we’re looking ahead to see what’s in store for us with innovative new construction that will shape the future.
Building the world of the future
Each of these projects are set to help shape American history in various ways. Whether it’s revolutionizing public transportation or symbolic changes to American architecture, here’s what we have to look forward to:
California High-Speed Rail
Rail projects in the United States have evolved a lot since the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869. But many would argue that our nation’s rail infrastructure remains underdeveloped to match the needs of public transportation.
That’s something that the California High-Speed Rail project will attempt to remedy. With an estimated price tag of over $100 billion dollars, this new rail infrastructure would connect major cities in California, extending from San Francisco and Sacramento in the north to San Diego in the south.
The completed project will be about 800 miles long and contain 24 stations. The project has been broken into ten sections because of the wide range of geographic, economic, and environmental challenges it will face throughout construction.
Due to the ambitious nature of the project, the California High Speed Rail has struggled to find funding at times due to the sheer scale of the endeavor. Costs have exceeded original estimates, but stakeholders still plan to finish the first phase of the project by 2030.
Brightline West
Another significant rail project that will improve public transportation for millions of Americans is the Brightline West project. This 218-mile railroad will stretch from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, where passengers can then take the Metrolink to Los Angeles.
Las Vegas and Los Angeles are two of the nation’s most prominent entertainment hubs, which means that this transportation infrastructure could help up-and-coming artists and crew members pursue a wider range of opportunities in their career.
One interesting facet of the project is that it will follow the same path as I-15, meaning that a lot of existing transportation infrastructure can be used, minimizing the need for new clearing.
When completed, the project could connect the two metros by high-speed rail in around three hours. Current driving times can exceed seven hours during peak rush hour.
Legends Tower
For over a hundred years, the tallest building in the country has either been in New York City or Chicago. That could all change by the end of the decade when Legends Tower is completed in Oklahoma City.
When completed, the building would stand at 1,907 feet tall, making it taller than One World Trade Center, the current tallest building in the United States. The mixed-used development includes a Hyatt Regency, residential units, a restaurant, and entertainment on the ground floor.
Due to its height, concerns were raised about the extreme winds and risk of tornadoes in Oklahoma. Engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti has already accounted for this, though. Their innovative structural design will utilize a hybrid of concrete and steel in the core, concrete outrigger columns with steel trusses, and post-tensioned concrete floor frames.
Hudson Tunnel Project
Engineered with the purpose of improving rail connectivity between New Jersey and New York, the Hudson Tunnel Project will construct a new two-track rail tunnel under the Hudson River. It will also revitalize the outdated North River Tunnel, which is over a hundred years old and was damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
The extra tunnel would drastically improve commutes for workers who live outside of NYC and reduce traffic congestion. The North River Tunnel only contains one track, which serves as a bottleneck for passengers.
The project stakeholders hope for this infrastructure to last for over a century when it is completed. Due to its scale, it’s been separated into ten “miniature” projects, beginning with efforts to clear the Tonnelle Avenue area staging site to make way for the tunnel boring machines that will dig the tunnel itself.
The North River tunnel’s current traffic includes around 450 trains per weekday with 200,000 passengers, give or take a few. By adding a second tunnel with two rails, officials would be able to close one tunnel for maintenance while leaving the other open to minimize the impact to commuters.
One River North
Designed as an homage to the nearby Rocky Mountains, this recently completed apartment complex adopted a unique design to add character to Denver’s cityscape while serving the residential needs of its community.
It even includes a “crack” in the facade that mimics the cracks in mountainsides and serves as a demarcation between the residential and public spaces in the building. Along this crack is a walkway similar to the hiking trails that draw tourists and outdoor enthusiasts to Denver in the first place.
To achieve this effect, building engineers employed a “CHIPS” system of panelized plaster and mesh. The project received increased media attention during this phase of construction because of how visibly different it was from other ongoing projects in Denver, a metro that is well acquainted with new construction.
The building also features gardens and a rooftop pool, blending a sense of luxury with organic characteristics. While it isn’t especially large, the innovative design behind this building will be an inspiration for generations of architects.
Scale operations and expand your capabilities with Raken
For construction projects of this size, organization and streamlined processes are a must. Without ticking these boxes, the sheer scale would be overwhelming. You have to make sure everyone is on the same page with detailed documentation and daily reports that are easy to find and read.
You’ll also need the resources for a large undertaking like this, including the necessary equipment and labor management features to help manage it all.
These become more important as your company grows and your project scale increases. Raken is up for the challenge. We’re your all-in-one tool for the field.