Project Updates

Steel and Concrete On-Site at 800 South Queen Street in Lancaster!

The new building at the site of the former Rebman Warehouse in the City of Lancaster is receiving its concrete floor and the structural steel frame is progressing to the second level! The on-site team is pouring the first-floor slab while the structural erectors are placing the second-floor steel.

All of the underground utility work was completed, and the site was leveled to prepare for the concrete. The concrete forms were constructed first, and the team then installed the steel mesh reinforcements to enhance the strength of the concrete slab. When the concrete truck arrived on site, the construction team directed the pour in sections to avoid excessive weight in one area and to make sure the concrete is distributed evenly.

As the crew manipulates the wet concrete with screed boards, they worked to level the concrete within the form, bringing it to the desired height and eliminating low spots. The concrete surface is then finished to eliminate any imperfections. Plastic sheeting is applied to prevent the concrete from drying too fast, ensuring that the concrete will reach its full strength. One half of the first floor slab is now complete, and the second half is scheduled to be poured next week.

During this process, the steel erection for the second floor continues. Steel joists are being set between the main beams in preparation for the flooring deck on the upper floor. Once the ground floor concrete slab is cured, fireproofing of the lower steel structure will begin and progress up with the addition of each floor’s steel framing. Wall panels and roof trusses will follow the completion of the structural steel frame of the building to complete the building envelope, and interior work can begin!

800 South Queen Street – Project Update April 17, 2025

ON THE RISE! 800 South Queen Street in Lancaster is out of the ground and reaching for the sky!

The structural steel is currently being placed and will continue over the next few weeks. This initial stage includes preparing the foundation by ensuring accurate placement of anchor bolts for properly securing the structural frame to the foundation. Then the primary frame, which includes columns and beams, is placed to form the spine of the building. Alignment checks are made throughout this complex process to guarantee that structural integrity is maintained as the upper portions of the structure are added.

Wall girts will be placed once the primary frame is set. These steel elements attach to the columns and will transfer the load of the future wall panels to the primary frame and resist the wind load. Steel joists will be placed between the floors to cover the spaces between the main beams and support the future floor deck.

The concrete slab for the ground floor will be poured starting next week (April 1st). This process was initially delayed due to the cold winter weather and will be a more complex process because the pour will need to be coordinated while the erection of the structural steel is occurring. The on-site construction superintendent will be directing the teams, so all schedule milestones are met.

Wall panels and roof trusses are scheduled to begin in late April, and once the building envelope is completed, the initial interior work can begin, which is planned for early May. Stay tuned for additional updates as this project moves toward completion!

800 South Queen Street – Project Update March 26, 2025

800 South Queen Street – Project Update March 5, 2025

With warmer weather and spring on the way, the progress at 800 South Queen Street in Lancaster is picking up speed!

Underground utilities are in place and the building footprint is ready for the next stages of construction. Because of the cold weather conditions over the past 2 months, the pouring of the concrete slab was delayed. So, to make sure the project does not fall behind schedule, the steel will be going in before the concrete slab is poured.

The first load of steel was delivered to the site and is ready for erection. Starting next week (March 10th) and continuing for the next 30 days, the building’s steel structure will be placed. Then in early April the concrete will be poured for the slab. This will be a complex operation to coordinate, but the onsite team will be monitoring the trades closely to make the effort proceed smoothly.

Following the placement of the steel the exterior walls will be installed and then work can start on the interior spaces. The work will begin on the first floor, with framing of the interior layout, then the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will be placed. The interior work will be scheduled with each trade in succession to maximize productivity and progression to the next stages of the project.

Stay tuned for additional updates as this project moves toward completion!

800 South Queen Street – Project Update January 30, 2025

Winter is here but that does not keep us from making progress at the 800 South Queen Street project site in Lancaster. The on-site construction team has quickly adjusted the schedule to help mitigate the impacts from the recent snowfalls and the extremely cold weather that we have witnessed in Central Pennsylvania.

Following the clearing of snow from the site, underground utility work was able to resume. Some additional areas were identified for rock excavation adjacent to the recently completed stair tower B, so the underground work could take place in those areas. After that rock removal, the underground plumbing and electrical work continued so the necessary systems could be placed prior to pouring of the concrete slab.

The extremely cold temperatures that were impacting the project site over the past few weeks did interfere with the initial plan for the pouring of the concrete. Fortunately, however, that weather has moved out and we anticipate the initial pour to take place in the next few weeks! Insulating blankets will be placed to protect the fresh concrete and allow for proper curing.

The steel contractor will likely begin erecting the structure for the first floor approximately two weeks after the concrete slab is poured. That timeline is expected to last for three weeks, at which time the first-floor decking will be added and fireproofing of the steel structure will take place.

We are excited to see this project continue to progress through the snowy, cold of winter 2025, so that we can bring this project to life and enhance the Lancaster community. Stay tuned for our next update!

800 South Queen Street – Project Update December 18, 2024

OZFund’s 800 South Queen Street project continues to move forward to bring the new multi-family facility to life in Lancaster City. The on-site construction team is currently building stair tower B, which should be completed just in time for the new year. While stair tower B is underway, the underground plumbing work is moving forward. After the stair tower is finished, the underground work adjacent to the stair tower will be completed to make the site ready for the concrete slab to be poured.

It is anticipated that the initial pour of the slab will occur in the 2nd week of January and will take approximately 2-1/2 weeks depending on the weather. Insulating blankets will be placed after the pour, to protect the fresh concrete and allow it to cure properly.

Following the curing of the concrete slab, the steel contractor will enter the site and begin erecting the steel structure for the first floor. It is anticipated that this work will happen in early February and will take approximately 3 weeks. Following the erection of the first-floor steel, the decking will be placed, and fireproofing of the steel structure on the first floor will commence.

The OZFund team continues to work closely with the City of Lancaster and civic stakeholders to ensure that the new facility will enhance this neighborhood and add value to the surrounding community. Our team will continue to update the progress as this important project moves toward completion.

800 South Queen Street – Project Update November 20, 2024

OZFund’s flagship project at 800 South Queen Street in Lancaster is moving quickly to reshape the landscape at this abandoned property site and enrich lives in this community. This project will be completed in the 2 nd quarter of 2025, with 52 beautifully design apartment units and a healthy grocery store on the first floor. Each apartment will feature a built-in washer/dryer and high-speed internet accessibility. Additionally, the residents will enjoy a roof-top garden space, community room, security monitoring, and free on-site parking.

At a progress update in November 2024, the construction team reports that the two stair towers that will be located at each end of the finished building are in place. Additionally, the elevator shaft that will be at the center of the building is finished. Work on the last stair tower that will be adjacent to the elevator shaft will be completed over the next two weeks.

The plumbing that will be located under the concrete slab foundation is being installed, including installation of water, sewage, and drainage piping. Following this installation, the underslab work will be completed and should finish by mid-December, allowing for the concrete slab to be poured and cured.

Once the building slab is in place, steel will begin arriving on site and erection of the first floor will begin. The South Queen Street neighborhood should be seeing the building start to take shape in January 2025.

Our vision for this project is to create affordable, safe homes that enhance lives and are environmentally sustainable. The project incorporates state-of-the-art clean energy technologies into the design. We are working in close cooperation with the Mayor and City Council, Lancaster City housing, and community organizations to ensure that specific needs are met with this new construction. Our ultimate goal is to leave this neighborhood a legacy for the future.