10/19/2026
Most people only see the part of a high-rise sign that’s above the ground. There’s a whole lot happening underneath it, too.
Before a high-rise sign goes up, an excavator goes down. What follows is a carefully engineered foundation built to support everything above it.
Here’s what went into this one:
8,000 lbs of rebar to reinforce the foundation.
20 anchor bolts, each 2 inches in diameter, weighing a combined 2,100 lbs.
A custom-built wooden form to shape the foundation.
64.5 cubic yards of concrete, weighing a whopping 261,225 lbs.
That’s more than 130 tons of concrete alone!
Once the sign is up, none of this will be visible. But every pound of rebar, every anchor bolt, and every yard of concrete plays a role in creating a foundation that’s essential to the entire structure.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the part of the project that stays underground.
