515 Walnut Tower | Des Moines, Iowa

Confined Spaces, Unlimited Solutions: Downtown Des Moines High-Rise Success

Des Moines, Iowa

First High-Rise Tower in Years Transforms Downtown Skyline

The 515 Walnut Tower represents a significant milestone for Des Moines, marking the city’s first high-rise construction project in years. Rising in the heart of downtown, this modern residential and commercial tower brings renewed energy to Iowa’s capital city while addressing the growing demand for urban living spaces. Despite the challenges of building on a tight downtown footprint, the tower’s construction demonstrates how innovative forming solutions can efficiently tackle complex structural work in constrained urban environments.

Bringing West Coast Expertise to the Midwest

The 515 Walnut project demanded a comprehensive forming solution. EFCO provided the POWER TOWER® PT-100 self-climbing system, PLATE GIRDER® formwork, and RAPID CAST® panels to tackle the building’s initial 18-foot pour on the footing, with the POWER TOWER® PT-100 then handling 10-foot typical wall heights and core geometry. CECO assigned crews from its Kansas City and St. Louis divisions, leaning on the trusted partnership that had developed with EFCO over years of successful work together.

CECO Concrete Construction brought its extensive POWER TOWER® PT-100 experience to Des Moines for the city’s first POWER TOWER® PT-100 application. Having completed nearly ten POWER TOWER® PT-100 projects with EFCO on the West Coast, CECO had a clear understanding of what the system could deliver. They understood its capabilities for forming elevator cores, stairwells, and mechanical rooms—all critical elements of high-rise construction.

Engineering Excellence in Confined Spaces

515 Walnut’s elevator core presented a unique challenge: a long, narrow core with internal walls that still required lateral bracing. EFCO engineers solved this by lifting the truss bracing above the walls, tying the entire elevator core together while maintaining the necessary support. This configuration enabled workers to strip, form, and pour each level without external cranes for every cycle. With each cylinder and twin beam arriving preassembled on trucks, the system minimized on-site assembly time—critical given the limited jobsite footprint where every square foot mattered. This efficient approach allowed the POWER TOWER® PT-100 to keep the project on schedule while working within the site’s space constraints.

Adapting Proven Systems to New Challenges

The PT-100 can be installed on walls with a minimum height of 10 feet, allowing contractors to install the system after the first wall pour.

EFCO’s engineered drawings proved essential to the project’s success. They detailed every assembly sequence, ensuring precise and efficient installation. This level of detail eliminated costly field modifications, keeping the project moving smoothly.

Delivering Results Through Hands-On Support

EFCO’s commitment to customer success went far beyond equipment supply. Our Field Service team trained CECO’s Kansas City and St. Louis crews on cycling the formwork and safely operating the PT-100 hydraulic system, ensuring they could run the equipment confidently and independently. This hands-on instruction built both competence and efficiency, reinforcing the crews’ ability to maximize the system’s potential.

The results speak for themselves. CECO consistently met their scheduled cycle times, a direct reflection of skilled crews paired with comprehensive training and support. Only eight man-hours were required to strip and raise the core. These productivity numbers demonstrate how proper training and the right equipment work together to reduce labor requirements and support Lowest in-Place Concrete Cost (LIPCC).

515 Walnut Tower Des Moines Iowa images

Why CECO Concrete Construction Chose EFCO

CECO selected EFCO for the 515 Walnut project because they needed more than equipment. They needed a partner who could successfully introduce advanced forming technology into a new market while providing exceptional support throughout the project. The proven relationship between CECO and EFCO’s Major Projects team—built through successful Pacific Northwest collaborations—provided confidence that the PT-100 would perform as promised.

EFCO consistently delivered Lowest in-Place Concrete Cost (LIPCC) through multiple pathways. Comprehensive erection drawings eliminated field confusion, and preassembled components minimized on-site labor. Dedicated field service ensured smooth operations throughout the project. The system’s superior performance became evident when CECO leadership directly compared their EFCO-equipped projects with those using competitors’ self-climbing systems, specifically noting the POWER TOWER® PT-100’s advantages in safety, capacity, and hydraulic stripping efficiency.

For contractors entering new markets with innovative forming systems, EFCO delivers the complete package. Proven products provide the foundation. Thorough engineering support ensures proper execution. Sustained field presence transforms technical challenges into competitive advantages, keeping projects on schedule and within budget.