Six high-rises will soon change the skyline in West Sacramento, Calif., but they are not condos. Houston-based Cemex is scheduled to build six cement silos, the tallest topping out at 222 feet along the Port of Sacramento's shipping channel. When finished, they will loom larger than the nearby state Capitol building. In addition to their stature, the silos are gaining attention for the expected speed of construction. Construction was scheduled to start September 10 and was expected to last only two weeks.

“It will be a continuous pour [of concrete], 24 hours a day,” says Port Manager Mike Luken.

The six silos will go up simultaneously. Circular forms — 60 feet in diameter — will be filled with concrete, then slipped upward as the wall sets. They'll rise about 10 feet a day, until reaching their peak of 162 feet. The central silo, which has a loading elevator in its core, will climb an additional 60 feet.

Once the six silos are completed in October, the Cemex facility will be capable of handling 1.25 million tons of cement, generating about $1.25 million in annual revenue for the port. Cemex plans to build a state-of-the-art cement terminal for the location, with eventual plans for aggregate storage and concrete mixing. The long-planned project relocates and expands the terminals' current location, which is destined for parks, residences, and offices.