Concrete proof the Filene's tower is really happening

Workers this morning began pouring 6,000 cubic yards of concrete for a slab at the bottom of what will become the 50-story Millennium Tower where Filene's used to be in Downtown Crossing.

Suffolk Construction, overseeing the work, says the concrete project - which is slated to include deliveries from 600 trucks over 36 hours - will result in the largest "single pour" concrete slab in the city's history.

Around 11 this morning, we went up to the eighth floor of the parking garage across Franklin Street to take a look. There were three unloading areas where workers let the concrete flow out of two trucks at a time, leading to hoses attached to three large booms (at least one made by Schwing) that workers a couple floors down used to pour the viscous gray stuff into a mesh of rebar.

The overall scene (with the old Burnham building at the top):

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Drivers backed up, unloaded their trucks, then left, letting other drivers back up, unload ..:

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The concrete must flow:

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Lots and lots of rebar:

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What would a construction site be without at least one kid looking on in wonder?

At least one of the trucks celebrated the Bruins:

The site is dominated by a tall crane, which was not in use today:

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