New Science Center - Updates
Click here for New Science Center Final Phase FAQ's - updated 02/11/2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Campus Response to April 1st Vandalism of NSC
As most everyone on campus knows, the New Science Center was broken into and vandalized early April 1st resulting in over $10,000 worth of damages. For all the details please read the Blue & Gold's news story on the crime.
Now that the initial shock of yesterday’s vandalism has worn off, the college will be taking some immediate steps and begin longer term planning to address the unpleasant reality that it could happen again.
The contracted security hours have been extended to cover times that the college is unattended. This means from late afternoon until 6:00 AM Monday through Saturday, and all day Sunday. However, in these tight budget times the college cannot sustain the extra expense incurred for very long. Therefore we have ordered interior security cameras to cover the entrances to the building. When those are installed and operating, we will review the security costs and arrangement. The installation of these cameras should be completed this quarter.
The steps we have taken and are planning to take will also be forwarded to the Facilities Committee, which will begin looking at a campus-wide approach to the subject. We have grown substantially over the past 10 years and with the addition of major buildings; it is time to assess and evaluate our situation. The Facilities Committee, as a standing committee of the Institutional Effectiveness (IE) committee, will solicit and consider campus-wide input as they develop their recommendations.
Thanks to everyone on campus for their support. It is greatly appreciated.
Steve Ward
RETURN TO NEW SCIENCE CENTER HOME
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Classes Begin in New Science Center
Our first day of classes in the New Science Center (NSC) went relatively well, considering the size and number of moving parts in the building. Yet there are still many things to take care of for the NSC to be 100% operational. Yesterday, faculty and staff in the new building informed Facilities Operations & Maintenance (FOM) about several of these issues. We ask that you continue to do this, since it will otherwise be impossible for us to detect every problem related to the new building in anything resembling a timely fashion.
So let us know of temperature problems, noise problems (especially of the mechanical variety), installation issues and anything else that may have been missed in efforts to conclude the building’s punch list. When providing us with this information it is important for it to be written (so we have documentation) and it should include the location, time and an explicit description of the problem. Please send this information to Gil Elder, Director of Facilities & Maintenance at his email address, which is gelder@centralia.edu. When sending these emails to Gil, please CC Sean Mayfield at smayfield@centralia.edu. This will expedite the proces. Here is an example of the type of feedback we need, which we received yesterday from a faculty member. It is the exact type of information we are looking for:
“Just reporting something from this morning. I was lecturing in NSC 111 around 11:30 and a loud whistling started. It paused a few times, but sounded for about 5 minutes, loud enough to be hard to lecture over. As… …suggested, I’ll report anything else unusual I notice.”
As the college’s facilities director Gil is the most capable of determining how to fix the issues we are going to encounter in the most rapid way possible. We really need the attention of everyone on this issue so please keep your eyes and ears open and let us know of any problems you have encountered in the NSC by contacting Gil Elder at gelder@centralia.edu, while CCing Sean Mayfield at smayfield@centralia.edu.
RETURN TO NEW SCIENCE CENTER HOME
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
New Science Center - Final Phase
Overview
We are now entering the finish and wrap up phase of the 70,000 sq. ft. New Science Center (NSC) project. This will include multiple subtasks ranging from punch lists (architectural review with items the contractor must correct or finish) to the restoration of green space in the middle of campus. I hope this outline provides perspective and also answers questions you might have, but please feel free to submit additional questions to smayfield@centralia.edu. We have broken this report down to the following categories: punch lists, furnishing, landscaping, and Lingreen.
Punch Lists
For the month of February, we are wrapping up the punch lists. This process calls for a combination of visual items (such as paint, finishes, nicks and so forth) and physical corrections (drawers, cabinet doors, and so forth) that the contractor will need to correct before the college accepts the building. During this same time frame, we will be working with the various agencies to obtain an occupancy certificate for a March 30th start of classes.
Also in February, after the initial punch list by the architect is completed, we will begin moving in specimens, supplies and equipment that the science departments select for early move. As winter quarter classes progress more moving will be required. Allowing the faculty and staff to tackle the storage and placement of these items in smaller bites will help keep the stress of moving lower.
Furnishings
Furnishings will begin arriving in late February and continue into mid-March. This was delayed a bit due to the elevator not being certified for use in January, as earlier planned. The supplier shifted the college’s place in the production of the furnishings due to the uncertainty of the elevator being available. The necessary elevator inspections have been completed and we are simply waiting for final authorization.
The first delivery will be the furniture for the offices which will begin arriving on February 17th. Following this will be the furnishing for the common and gathering areas, expected on Februray 23rd. Next will be the classroom desks and chairs, with the exception of the large auditorium, on March 9th. Lastly the large auditorium desks, which are custom designed and built, will be installed the week of March 16th. If you are one of the lucky ones to be moving into this facility, it is not too soon to begin inventorying what is currently in your office.
Landscaping
We began planting the grounds late last year, and pulled off pending the completion of the irrigation and grading subcontractor. We have started again with the trees along the esplanade planted in January, and will continue when the subcontractor completes his work. This will be completed in February.
Lingreen
Please keep in mind that the overall goal is to have the area where Lingreen currently sits available for commencement this June. In order to meet that objective, we will be demolishing Lingreen as soon as possible during spring quarter. This sub-project begins with vacating all faculty and staff in the building during the March move into the new science building. As soon as the building is vacated, we will commence with the hazardous material survey and abatement (removal). This process is required before any demolition is allowed. We expect to begin this process on March 30th and complete it by April 10th.
Immediately following will be the demolition phase. In order to comply with LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) standards, the contractor will be a co-mingled construction waste recycler. This process will require a large piece of equipment (excavator) to break the building down and place it into trucks for hauling to the recycling site. We are currently investigating one of two methods to bring the trucks in, both of which will be somewhat disruptive. The good news is that it should only be around one week to 10 days of noise and construction traffic, mostly impacting Kemp Hall.
The two routes under consideration are: from the south, through the parking lot and steel plates across the esplanade, and from the north, off CC Boulevard and plates across the side walk to the NE corner of Lingreen. The final route has not yet been decided, so please forward any concerns to smayfield@centralia.edu and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Once Lingreen is removed, the next step will be to replace the temporary communication strung over Kemp Hall via the new conduit between Student Center and the pull box at the edge of the plaza by the NSC. The pull boxes (large cement vaults in the ground) were put into place as part of the NSC contract, pending the final connection through the area Lingreen occupies.
The final step in this process will include topsoil, irrigation, and sod. We hope to have the grass in place one month prior to commencement.
If you have any questions about what is going on at the construction site, please send an email to the Director of Facilities and Maintenance, Gil Elder or you may contact him at extension 434.
RETURN TO NEW SCIENCE CENTER HOME
Thursday, November 6, 2008
NSC Scheduled to Open For Spring Classes
With construction progressing ahead of schedule, the New Science Center (NSC) is scheduled to be turned over to the college during the winter quarter and it is scheduled to be open for classes for the beginning of the spring quarter. Selection of furniture and fixtures for the new building has already begun and it is anticipated that faculty and staff will be able to begin transitioning to the new building during the latter part of the winter quarter and during spring break.
If you have any questions about what is going on at the construction site, please send an email to the Director of Facilities and Maintenance, Gil Elder or you may contact him at extension 434. Below is a recent photo of the NSC:
RETURN TO NEW SCIENCE CENTER HOME
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
NSC Construction Update:
Starting this week, contractors began laying the brick exterior of the NSC. Work began on the north side of the building and this portion should be completed in three weeks time. Once substantial progress has been made, photos of the brick work will be added to the website.
RETURN TO NEW SCIENCE CENTER HOME
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
NSC Construction Update:
In slightly less than one month’s time the steel structure of the new science center’s east wing is almost complete. The main framing for all three floors has proceeded to the point that the total size of the building can now be appreciated. On the north wing, the concrete deck of the 3rd floor is now complete, while the columns still must be poured. This along with the installation of the sheet metal sub-decking on the south wing steel structure means there will be a substantial amount of disruptive noise on the job site for the foreseeable future.
If you have any questions about what is going on at the construction site, please send an email to the Director of Facilities and Maintenance, Gil Elder or you may contact him at extension 434. Below are some recent photos of progress made on the site:
RETURN TO NEW SCIENCE CENTER HOME
Friday, January 4, 2008
NSC Construction Update:
In just two days (and rainy days at that) steel workers on the construction site of the NSC have made substantial progress in erecting the steel frame of the East/West Wing. Below are some photos of the progress thus far:
RETURN TO NEW SCIENCE CENTER HOME
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
NSC Construction Update:
Since
our last NSC update there has been a great amount of activity on the
construction site. Electrical work connecting the new building to the power grid
required the removal of a portion of the concrete sidewalk across from
Washington Hall. Inclement weather has delayed replacing the concrete removed.
Once there is a dry enough stretch of weather contractors will complete these
repairs.
The
foundation of the North/South Wing has been completed, along with most of the
concrete skeleton of the first and second floors. The building is truly starting
to “take shape” and its foot print provides ample evidence of just how
tremendous this structure is going to be. For the next few weeks contractors
will be constructing the steel frame of the East/West Wing making extensive use of
the large tower crane, which has been on site for the past several weeks. The
safety requirements of this operation mean there will be no tours of the
construction site during this time.
If you have any questions about what is going on at the construction site,
please send an email to the Director of Facilities and Maintenance,
Gil Elder or you may contact
him at extension 434.
FOR UPDATES PREVIOUS TO JANUARY 2, 2008 PLEASE CLICK THE NSC UPDATE ARCHIVES LINK.
RETURN TO NEW SCIENCE CENTER HOME