A 72-hour continuous pour required 180 workers across three shifts.
What may be the largest single concrete pour in Alachua County history wrapped up last weekend at the University of Florida's new biomedical research campus on Mowry Road. The 72-hour continuous operation required 180 workers rotating across three shifts.
The mat foundation — measuring 220 feet by 180 feet and up to 8 feet thick in some sections — required over 4,200 cubic yards of concrete. Stopping mid-pour was not an option; a cold joint in a foundation of this type would compromise the structural integrity of the entire building.
The Crew Behind the Pour
The operation was led by Gainesville-based Suncoast Concrete, whose foreman Dave Kellerman has been pouring foundations in North Florida for 28 years. He called it the most complex pour of his career.
"Every inch of that slab had to be within a quarter inch of spec. The crew executed perfectly. I've never been more proud of a team in my life."
— Dave Kellerman, Foreman, Suncoast Concrete
Tom Briggs
Construction Reporter
Covering the construction industry and workforce in North Central Florida for Gainesville Labor.