How to build a 15 story hotel in six days?

[waht]

Hire Chinese contractors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps0DSihggio&feature=player_embedded#!

 

[turbo]

Assemble, not build, but it did go up REAL fast.

 

[dlgoff]

But how structurally sound is it?

 

[turbo]

But how structurally sound is it?

We won't know until it is stressed.

 

[russ_watters]

I'm sure it is structurally sound...air conditioned and powered? Maybe not...

 

[turbo]

I'm sure it is structurally sound...air conditioned and powered? Maybe not...

It may or may not be structurally sound. It is a given that the building will need to be fitted with water, electricity communications, etc, and that takes a LOT more time than erection and sheathing.

 

[waht]

In the video the workers were putting up drywall. It's possible the first few levels are were wired up and piped while another team is putting up i-beams for a new floor.

 

[rhody]

what,

This is pretty impressive too, http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_fast_were_ships_built_in_America_during_World_War_2" ,

Liberty ships were merchant ships produced during WW II. On average 3 of these finished production each day The average time to build them was 42 days nationally, and 2 weeks at Kaiser shipyards. The fastest Liberty ship build was the Robert E. Peary in 4 days, 15 hours, and 29 minutes as a publicity stunt. This was built at Kaiser's Richmond shipyard.

I know they didn't have the technology present today, I think they made up for with willpower, teamwork, and very smart savvy engineers.

Rhody...

 

[lisab]

what,

This is pretty impressive too, http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_fast_were_ships_built_in_America_during_World_War_2" ,


I know they didn't have the technology present today, I think they made up for with willpower, teamwork, and very smart savvy engineers.

Rhody...

I've heard that a significant number of workers who built the Liberty Ships were women - Rosie the Riveters.

 

[turbo]

I've heard that a significant number of workers who built the Liberty Ships were women - Rosie the Riveters.

Yep. My wife's aunt was one. She died a pretty uncomfortable death due to the asbestos exposure. Nice lady, who would cheat at card games with her sister "just because".

 

[waht]

I know they didn't have the technology present today, I think they made up for with willpower, teamwork, and very smart savvy engineers.

Rhody...

Yes, indeed. I saw that on the History channel. It's equally as impressive in planning, and organizing.

I've heard that a significant number of workers who built the Liberty Ships were women - Rosie the Riveters.

During the war when men were out in the battlefield, many women filled their work place at home. It was the beginning of a major feminism movement.

Yep. My wife's aunt was one. She died a pretty uncomfortable death due to the asbestos exposure. Nice lady, who would cheat at card games with her sister "just because".

I suppose back in the day the safety standards were far below what they're now; lead paint, no hard-hats, working more hours etc.

 

[fourier jr]

in the 1400s(?) the Venice Arsenal mass-produced warships & could build one in a day using standardized parts & a production line system. I think I remember also reading that in the 1930s or something Soviet factories started producing things long before the actual building was completed.

 

[mugaliens]

Well of course they do! Seven cranes (vs our one or two), working 24/7 (vs our 8/5), they're probably using 3 to 5 times as many workers, and the interior work was undoubtedly begun the moment the second floor was poured. Here in the US, interior work for smaller buildings is usually done by a different contractor, and isn't begun until the rest of the building is completed.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The collapse of a bridge in China has put the spotlight on the nation's many construction projects.

Experts paint a damning picture of the safety standards on such projects, particularly those in remote areas.

They are sometimes rushed - often leading to design or building flaws - in order to finish work on time, or even before expected completion dates.

A lack of properly trained workers also means plans are not always carried out to designers' wishes, experts say.

Tao Hongyi, China director for the bridge builder Dorman Long Technology, says standards vary across the country.

"Big projects in major cities are usually built to a high standard, but lesser projects in remote areas often slip under the radar," says Mr Tao, whose UK-based firm has built eight major bridges in China.

Part of the problem, he says, is China's desire to build infrastructure projects quickly, often to maintain economic growth...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6945972.stm

I cannot help but expect the worst from the Three Gorges Dam. If it does ever fail, it will be catastrophic beyond belief.

Just as with environmental concerns and worker safety, for now China enjoys a state of contruction limbo - a protected existence - in which they are not fully accountable for their actions. As the disasters mount, just as we were, China will be forced to change her ways.

 

[mugaliens]

[I cannot help but expect the worst from the Three Gorges Dam. If it does ever fail, it will be catastrophic beyond belief.

Similar concerns were expressed about the Hoover Dam (then Boulder Dam) flooding the burgeoning Las Vegas area with waters from Lake Meade. Fortunately, that hasn't happened, but it turns out the Hoover Dam was both http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Hoover-summary-map.jpg" and very well constructed.

That's not saying, however, that China's Three Gorges Dam has enjoyed the same level of quality.

Just as with environmental concerns and worker safety, for now China enjoys a state of contruction limbo - a protected existence - in which they are not fully accountable for their actions. As the disasters mount, just as we were, China will be forced to change her ways.

112 people died during the construction of the Hoover Dam. China is no more apt to accept external safety inspectors than we are. Meanwhile, the Hoover Dam was completed in 1936, while the Gateway Arch in St. Louis was completed in 1965. One of the principle construction goals was to eliminate all construction deaths. From what I recall from my visit, they succeeded, although there were either one or two deaths by natural causes during its construction.

If China refuses external inspectors, we'll know in the first few years after their dam is filled whether or not their construction was sound.