A historic waterfront building in San Francisco that weighs 2,075 tons, the equivalent of 20 space shuttles, will be hoisted up over three metres above ground to protect it from flooding caused by climate change.
Building 12, which was completed in 1941 for America's shipbuilding effort during the second world war, is being lifted up in advance of a renovation by architecture firm Perkins and Will.
The historic structure will be elevated 10 feet (3.1 metres) above the ground as part of the wider strategy to bolster a new 23-acre (nine-hectare) neighbourhood against rising sea levels ? which are expected to increase between 30 and 130 centimetres by the year 2100.
The industrial building weighs 2,075 tons, the equivalent of 20 space shuttles Preparation to lift up the massive structure has taken nine months, while the actual lift process is expected to take two weeks.
Sixty-eight shoring towers have been installed on either side of steel columns to prop the building up, with 136 hydraulic jacks used to lift it up.
The hydraulic jacks pump a liquid that can't be compressed, like oil, to lift the steel and wood building in increments of 5.5 inches over two hours. They are monitored by computers that ensure that they don't lift the building more than necessary and shut down the operation if they do.
Steel beams and huge wood cribbing is used to support the building after each lift
Other processes involved in the major elevation project include creating a new foundation to anc...