Friday, October 26, 2007:
A progress meeting was held at 1:00 pm in my
office. The biggest concern was the
placement of trailers for subcontractors that will be on site by Monday,
November 5th. Bill and I
decided to restrict parking south of the building (west of the football field)
to allow contractors to use that area for their trailers. Additionally, I will be attending the
As far as progress, preliminary excavating has been
done to allow the contractor to pour concrete supports to reinforce the walls
of the existing building. Next week,
work will continue on underpinning the foundation of the existing building, as
well as final excavation prior to footings being poured. After that, plumbing subs will be on site to
rough plumb the project prior to block and finish concrete work beginning. We decided to hold bimonthly progress
meetings in the cafeteria. The project
superintendent, Jeff has been consulting with Bill on appropriate times to
remove the steps to the entrance near the cafeteria and we will attempt to
coordinate this to be a minimal disruption to the educational process.
Friday, November 9, 2007:
The exterior brick has
been selected (Lawrenceville #103, smooth face, modular, Severe Weather rated,
$470/M from Chad Kaeb, Darnall Concrete Products Company, 309-452-4469). The quoted cost includes all bricks for Phase
1 and Phase 2 as one run, with Phase 2 stored at a “to be approved”
location for delivery in late 2008 or 2009 as needed. Russ is working to confirm the estimated
brick count so we can adjust the contract accordingly. He believes the
count is somewhere in the 50,000 - 60,000 range. The original allowance
is $550/M, so we anticipate around $4,000 to $4,800 credit to be determined by
Otto Baum's final count to be ordered.
Excavation is about
complete on Phase 1. The exterior steps
near the cafeteria have been removed.
Footings have been poured and we expect that plumbers will be in next
week to start laying out their work prior to the block layers coming in. Jeff Riebel, Project Superintendent, has met
with John Embry regarding the location of the fiber optics that come into the
building to supply our internet access.
McLeod communications, who owns the fiber, has agreed to come out to
assist with locating the cables. Ideal
and Associates have been out to take asbestos samples of the science room and
areas slated for demolition. Preliminary
reports look good as there should not be a major (and costly) abatement
project. Next week, I am meeting with
Russ, Bill, and the science teachers to look at casework submittals prior to
approval.
Friday, November 30, 2007:
Vanguard
reports that the foundation is compete, as well as the exterior
waterproofing. Next week they will begin
backfilling and have the masons start building the walls. After the first course of blocks is laid, the
floor slab will be poured. The plan is
to provide cover for the masons so that they may work through the winter. Currently, they are removing the steps from
the exit between the academic wing and the cafeteria.
Plumbers
report that they have the east end and storm drainage completed. They will need access to the classrooms on
the north side of the building by Thursday, December 5th and will schedule with
Mr. Lamb to minimize disruptions.
Electricians
will have their preliminary work completed by Thursday, December 5th,
which includes all of the underground conduit and concrete tunnels to relocate
the transformer for service to the entire building. We discussed the appropriate time to
transition to the new service, which will require the district to contract with
Ameren to install the new transformer and remove the existing. I received a bill for $17,000 from Ameren for
this work in August, but have held off paying until necessary, to maximize
interest earnings. I anticipate that this
bill would be submitted for approval by the January Board of Education
meeting. It was tentatively agreed upon
that Spring Break (March 21-28) would be the optimal time, as the building will
be without power for eight hours during the transition.
The
district reported that McLeod communications had been contacted regarding the
location of the fiber optics serving the building, which is used for
communications and internet access. The
fiber is a minimum of forty-two inches below the surface and runs near the
road. McLeod is willing to come on site
an assist in the excavation, which will be necessary later in preparation for
the concrete to be poured for the parking directly north of the new
building. Additionally, Ideal
and Associates will be back on site on Tuesday, December 4th to
complete their inspection of the underground tunnels for any asbestos
materials. We should have a final report
and the abatement plan by the next progress meeting. This information will be critical to
scheduling the demolition of the 1914 structure.
The next meeting was scheduled for Friday, December
14, 2007, 1:30 pm in the cafeteria.
Friday, January 4, 2008:
All is going nicely with
bearing walls going up and projected to be completed by some time next
week. The masonry work is under an
enclosure with heat being provided. Due
to the precipitation in November and December, the ground has not yet dried out
to enable the contractors to pour the floors.
The kitchen footings are in and protected from the elements. Vanguard, has reported that the steel beams
are in and ready to be set after the bearing walls are completed. Architect, Russ Middleton will contact Union
Roofing about tearing out the gutters on the north side so that phase one walls
can be completed.
Electricians have been
following the masons and have been able to provide rough-ins for electrical and
fire protection as the walls go up.
Plumbers have water proofed
the storm sewer that will tie into phase two work. Next week, plumbers will be meeting with
general contractors to determine rough-ins for the kitchen area and when they
can proceed with the work. Shop drawings
have been sent for Heating/Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) work.
Jeff
Riebel, Project Superintendent, discussed the need to shut down the road
directly north of the construction site, when cranes are brought in to set the
beams. Jeff will communicate with the
district and the families directly impacted by this road closure. Further, Jeff indicated that he will be
bringing in some rock to cut down on the mud being tracked into the street.
The next meeting was scheduled
for Friday, January 18, 2008, 1:30 pm in the cafeteria.
Friday, January 18, 2008:
We were unable to meet
today due to scheduling conflicts. The
meeting was rescheduled for Friday, January 25, 2008 at 10:00 am in the
cafeteria.
Friday, January 15, 2008:
The
sub zero weather has significantly and negatively impacted progress, as there
has been no work done this week. On
Monday, January 28th, contractors will be using a crane to set
hollow core and as such, will need to close the portion of
Mr.
Lamb discussed his preferences for keying the building and it was agreed that
the subcontractor providing the door hardware would contact Mr. Lamb
directly. Architect Middleton informed
us that the newer security systems allow for keying from inside the room so
that teachers would be able to go to lockdown from inside the classroom in the
event of a security breach.
Mr.
Lamb and I also discussed furniture needs and change orders with Architect
Middleton. Mr. Lamb will be contacting
vendors to have them submit proposals for the conference room, office area,
library/media center, other offices, and classroom furnishings. Proposed change orders are related to
upgrading the electrical and shelving in the science room renovations. The electrical upgrade cost $3,300 and would
allow for a better solution for providing outlets at the science tables. The shelving upgrade cost $8,470 and provides
a better solution for securing and storing chemicals and glassware.
The
next meeting is scheduled for Friday, February 8, 2008 at 1:30 pm in the
cafeteria.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Mr.
Matt Balagna, Vice President of Vanguard Contractors, reported that over the
last three weeks little progress had been made due to the extreme winter
weather that we have experienced this year.
However, over that time period, the contractors have worked to attempt
to dry out the floor of the first level so that the concrete floor could be
poured and finished. After sealing the
windows and openings with plastic sheeting, sealing gaps in the hollow core,
and using fans and heaters to dry out the ground, a geo-tech fabric was
installed and fill rock was spread. All
the underground conduit and plumbing was completed as well. The floor was poured on Friday, February 29,
2008.
Mr.
Balagna anticipates that next week more concrete will be poured for proposed
ramp areas on the lower level and that the masons will return to begin internal
walls on the first level. It is thought
at this point that once the masons return to the job site, then they will work
under cover while the weather is bad and then move to the second floor as the
weather improves. Within the next two
weeks, steel decking should arrive and be installed over the hollow core and
then the floor of the second story can be poured.
Mr.
John Embry, District Technology Coordinator, discussed his plans to re-route
the phone lines prior to demolition of the 1914 building. Mr. Embry proposed running conduit from the existing
boiler room to the existing principal’s office, which after project completing
will be the Technology Office and host phone, internet, fire and security
systems. John will be coordinating this
effort with Mr. Greg Guilliams, District Maintenance Director, and the private
vendors responsible for providing our phone, internet, fire and security
systems.
Additionally,
asbestos abatement and Science room casework color schemes were discussed. Ideal and Associates, a licensed asbestos management
and removal company, has already been on site to inspect and plan for any
asbestos removal, which will be done after school is recessed for the summer
and prior to demolition. Mr. Russ
Middleton, District Architect, will be putting together proposed color schemes
for science casework so that materials could be ordered. The science room renovations will be done
over the summer so that the room will be available for use at the start of
school in August 2008. Mr. Steve
Yarnall, Superintendent, will contact Ameren IP to relocate the transformer for
power over Easter Break, which is March 21-28.
The
next meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 14, 2008 at 1:30 pm in the
cafeteria.
Friday, March
14, 2008
Electricians from Oberlander report that they have
met on site with AmerenIP to be sure that they will have completed all
necessary work for Ameren so that they can transfer power from the existing
transformer to the new transformer. The
work that Ameren must do has been scheduled for spring break as the power will
need to be off for approximately 6 hours during the transfer process.
Masons have been working on the enclosed portion of
the project and are building interior walls on the first level of phase
one. The electrical contractors are
following them installing conduit.
In the coming weeks fill will be brought in after
the rough plumbing has been completed for the kitchen area. Masons will continue work on interior walls
and move to exterior walls as the weather improves.
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 28,
2008 at 1:30 pm in the cafeteria.
Friday, March
28, 2008
Steve Yarnall has been in contacted with AmerenIP
regarding the transfer of power from the old transformer to the new site. Oberlander electric has completed all
necessary work for the transfer to take place.
We are waiting on Ameren to schedule their crews to install the pole and
complete the movement of the equipment.
After Ameren has done their work, Oberlander crews will need to pull the
wires and reestablish the power connections.
This must be done prior to demolition of the 1914 structure and will
require a power outage at the building.
Although, we had attempted to schedule this work for Easter break, when
no classes were being held, Ameren was unable to comply with our request.
Vanguard VP, Matt Balagna issued a
new schedule of activities that became necessary after an extreme winter caused
many work stoppages. We continue to plan
on demolishing the 1914 building on or around June 16, 2008. Prior to the demolition, district staff will
need to move equipment and furniture from the structure and asbestos abatement
will need to be completed. We are
working on details now to get that work scheduled.
Project Superintendent,
Jeff Riebel reported that the fill and rough plumbing was completed for the new
kitchen and that he anticipates that the floor will be poured next week. Also, at that time, the floor to the second
story of phase one will be poured.
Masons continue to work on site and have begun the second floor exterior
walls, while completing the first floor interior walls.
The Heating, Ventilating
and Air Conditioning Contractors discussed temporary lines that will be run in
the boiler room to service phase one after the 1914 structure has been removed. We anticipate that the HVAC will be
operational in phase one by the time school starts.
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 11,
2008 at 1:30 pm in the cafeteria.