August 30, 2010 Facade Nearing Completion

September 1, 2010

Number 19 – Downtown Artwalk Location

Join us tonight along with over 3000 people at the Haydon Burns Library (Original site of Duval County’s 1903 Courthouse), 122 N. Ocean Street, Jacksonville, Florida, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. for Joseph Miller’s exhibit of colossal Courthouse photographic images. These breathtaking closeups have been selected from a catalog of over 10,000 taken over the past year and a half.  These images  historically document the courthouse construction.

Brought to you by The Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., and the Jacksonville Observer.

Wine and light snacks will be provided.

For more information on the upcoming Courthouse Coffee Table Book (appx. 375 pages), send an email to: JaxHistory@gmail.com.

CONCRETE SKIN PIECES ARE ATTACHED WITH PUZZLE-LIKE PRECISION (C)2010 REINHARDT JAXOBSERVER.COM

It is a shame that this New Duval County Courthouse has to be diminished by controversy. Since it was first mentioned someone didn’t like the idea, someone didn’t like the drawings, someone didn’t like the budget, someone didn’t like the contractor. Heck, it seems that somewhere there is someone that does not like something about this project.

But, one thing is for sure, this New Duval County Courthouse is beautiful. And, if you have not had a chance to see it,  hurry down down there and take a look. This building makes a NASA rocket look small.

Long after the money spent building this structure is forgotten, this building will still be standing and Jacksonville will be proud. Next time someone says to you, “Can you believe that courthouse project?” Take a step back, look them in the eye and say,”It’s looking good isn’t it!”

TWO TON PILLAR IS LIFTED AND PLACED INTO POSITION

It is obvious to the naked eye that the center pillar installation is nearly complete. Two to four ton giant concrete pieces are lifted then placed into position as though they were Lincoln Logs in a child’s toy box.

Long and short whistle blows direct the pieces into final position. It is a terrific spectator sport to watch this display of perfection.  One can immediately realize that crane operators are like PGA Tour Golfers – these guys are good!

PRECARIOUSLY POSITIONED WORKERS GUIDE PILLAR INTO PLACE

New Duval County Courthouse with Green Space

The exterior of the New Duval County Courthouse is nearing completion and it is beautiful. The afternoon sun illuminates its skin tiles and makes the entire building shine.  (Click on photograph to enlarge)

From directly across the street the view is outstanding. But what happens when the parking lot I’m standing on becomes a parking garage? I’ll tell you. It makes this multi-million dollar building and Jacksonville’s finest newest construction project a disappointment. A situation that can never be corrected.

I spoke to the Mayor several weeks ago regarding the space in front of the Old United States District court building. Currently a dozen or more construction trailers inhabit the space. I asked the Mayor if it were true that once the trailers were moved that the city would construct a parking garage there. He said that it was true.

I have provided a photograph of the Old United States District Courthouse before it is blocked by a parking garage.

Old United States District Court Building - Jacksonville, FL (Click to Enlarge)

Every step forward this city takes it takes two steps backwards. If you have any ability to stop this “parking lot progress” please help.

We must not block the New Duval County Courthouse or the Old United States District Courthouse.  There is plenty of property behind these two courthouses to build parking garages.

For every block of city buildings downtown, we build another block of parking garages.

No More Parking Garages! Save the view!  Create green space!

New Duval County Courthouse - July 16 - Who is that on the roof?

Here is Florida’s version of mountain climbing right in downtown Jacksonville.

Our crack photographer, Reinhardt, captured this unique photo of two construction supervisors. Using tiny safety guy wires the men made their way up the slippery slope of the New Duval County Courthouse.

Mountain Climbers in Jacksonville - New Duval County Courthouse

July 2009

When building the new Duval County Courthouse from scratch, it is amazing what can be constructed in just one year. Last July, 2009, the ground had been leveled and special large elevator cavities were under construction. The drilling and filling team was busy drilling over 1000 small footers then filling each with concrete over a two large city block area.
Today, July 14, 2010, the entire building has been poured and now the windows and exterior skin is being installed. Inside, the metal studs are going up along with the electrical wiring and air conditioning ducts.

July 2010

Now, the west end of the courthouse is nearly complete. Its windows are installed and all of the exterior skin has been applied. Notice that the final concrete skin panels along the top have artistic drawings which finish off the special look. (See Cutout in lower right of photograph).

West End of New Duval County Courthouse

Large cranes are lifting exterior skin and windows into place. Yesterday, they had to deal with torrential rains for half a day but by evening the sky was beautiful and everyone was busy working.

BLUE SKY - WEST END OF COURTHOUSE

The windows are made of very high quality glass. When the sky is clear blue it presents a kind of Microsoft Blue Sky reflection.

(L) June 15th Image with both cranes (R) June 22 both cranes gone

In the last three days, the skyline of Jacksonville has changed dramatically. Previously, two giant stationary cranes stood as sentries over the city. Now, they are both gone. Never to be seen again.

One can only imagine how many times that those cranes lifted, positioned and then dropped a load of supplies, cement, glass or other needed equipment to construct the courthouse. All of those movements were made with precision accuracy and could actually have been put to music.

Each crane was installed in less than 8 hours and dismantled in the same amount of time.

THE CENTER CRANE IS COMPLETELY GONE = NEW DUVAL COUNTY COURTHOUSE

It is amazing to me that something so tall and large could just disappeer but that is what has happened to the center crane.  After just 11 months and 14 days, the center crane at the New Duval County Courthouse site is gone.

IT TAKES A CRANE

What is interesting is that it takes a crane to assemble or disassemble a crane. It is a dead giveaway when a large yellow crane appears on the construction site. Its sole purpose is to assemble, move or disassemble the large stationary cranes.

Since construction began, the base of the center crane was one of the first visible signs of progress. Then the building began upward motion.

Again, good job!

FIRST PIECE OF CRANE ON CONSTRUCTION SITE.

Beginning with a tiny base on August 4, 2009, the stationary crane was assembled and used to construct over 50 percent of the Duval County Courthouse.

NOW YOU SEE IT - NOW YOU DON'T

Click on the photograph above to enlarge it.

As a child, I was always impressed by giant machinery. Large Iron Ore haulers, Army Tank Movers and even Nasa’s Moving Rocket Launch platform made me smile.

But, gazing at the true artistry of this crane operator tops it all. Without skipping a beat, they drop their cable to the men below, a whistle signals that the item is attached and up and away it goes. Seconds later the item is deposited on target two, three even four stories above the ground.

Approximately 10 months ago I witnessed the assembly of the center giant crane. Ten months later I witnessed it being dismantled. It had assisted the workers in lifting and positioning tons of steel and other materials. And, best of all, no one was hurt.

One of my last memories will be of the crane operator quickly exiting the crane during a lightening storm Wednesday night. He bolted down the eight stories of staircase in less than one minute.

JOB WELL DONE!

Our photographer, Reinhardt spliced a Wednesday photo with a Thursday photo to illustrate the disassembly of the crane.  As you will notice, the entire horizontal section of crane has been removed and a ten foot section of upright is gone. By Friday evening, no sign of the crane’s existence will remain.