Winner: Commercial

333 N. Water Street is a 33-story high-rise in downtown Milwaukee, located just north of the fashionable 3rd ward district.

A total of 27,400 cubic yards were placed on the project. Mixes included a 5,000-psi mix for grade beams, an 8,000-psi mix for pile caps, mat foundations, and columns, and a 10,000-psi mix for shear walls and columns for the first 12 stories of the high-rise.

Perhaps the most challenging mix was a 7,000-psi mix used for the post-tensioned decks. This mix was required to reach a strength of 3,000-psi in 20 hours so the decks could be stressed and the columns could be set the next morning.

A combination of mid- and high-range water reducers was introduced into the mix to improve pumpability, along with a hydration stabilizer to prevent separation. A mix with this much chemical introduced posed a challenge for finishability, so a finishing aid was used to assist in that effort.

The project had an extremely aggressive schedule, and the contractor completed the concrete portion 8 months and 3 weeks ahead of schedule.