What are these holes in load bearing beams in this building?
If you have ever walked through a parking garage or industrial-style building and noticed a round hole in the middle of a concrete support column, you are not alone. At first glance, it may look strange, especially when there are no pipes, wires, or bolts running through it. But in many cases, this opening has a very practical purpose.
The most likely name for it is a concrete pillar lift point, also called a lifting hole or lifting anchor opening in precast concrete construction.
What is it?
This hole is typically part of a precast concrete column system. That means the column was often made elsewhere in a factory or casting yard, then transported to the building site and lifted into place with special rigging equipment. The opening allows workers to attach lifting hardware so the heavy concrete pillar can be safely moved, positioned, and installed.
What is its purpose?
Its main function is lifting and handling the concrete column during construction. These holes can be used with metal lifting bars, pins, shackles, or temporary rigging devices. In other words, the hole is not decorative and usually not meant for plumbing or electrical lines. It is there because the column had to be picked up and set in place at some point in the construction process.
Why is there one on every column?
Because the building likely used multiple precast structural columns, each one needed a similar way to be transported and erected. That is why you may see the same hole repeated on every load-bearing pillar throughout the structure.
When did this design appear?
This type of feature became common with the rise of modern precast concrete construction in the 20th century, especially during the mid-1900s, when faster and more standardized building methods became widely used in parking garages, warehouses, apartment blocks, and commercial buildings. Precast concrete systems expanded rapidly after World War II, when demand for efficient large-scale construction increased.
Why are the holes still visible today?
After installation, the lifting point may be left open, covered, or patched, depending on the building’s finish and maintenance choices. In places like parking garages or utility structures, builders sometimes leave them visible because appearance is less important than function.
So, while the hole may look odd, it is actually a sign of a very practical engineering method. It is most likely a lifting point used to move and install a precast concrete load-bearing column. That small circular opening played a big role before the building was ever finished.
