Wood Forming System for Retaining Wall

A wood forming system is being erected here by workers.  It is a labor intensive process and this wall took close to a week to erect.  Each tie has to be individually placed along with the vertical and horizontal forming lumber.  The vertical studs and sheathing are placed first.  Then the horizontal wales that will hold the snap ties are placed.  You can see the individual tie holders (wedges) being nailed to the wales by the workers.  This is explained in detail in the bottom picture.  Also, support members have been placed at an angle to keep the formwork structurally sound and the workers safe.  These ties maintain a predetermined space in relation to opposing forms. 

Finished wall and "catwalk" for workers to pour the concrete down into the formwork, via boom or bucket.  I believe a concrete bucked hoisted by crane was used on this wall to place the concrete.  The conceptual drawings of the front of the building show this area being back-filled and the entrance being at the same elevation as that of McBryde and Holden Hall.  However, the backside of the the Academic and Student Affairs building will be at a lower elevation, similar to that of the ICTAS I building seen in this picture. 

Snap Tie detail drawing.  Note that the formwork is made from plywood and dimension lumber.  The entire assembly is fastened together with removable clamps.  Form ties between opposite plywood panels separate them and hold them against the pressure of wet concrete.