KEC Week 19

This month MEP coordination continues and we have been using Building Information Modeling (BIM) for some of the more complicated spaces.

[perspective looking at building from the North]

[interior view of the attic mechanical space over the kitchen from the service hatch]

Onsite the underslab electrical and plumbing in the basement was completed.  A vapor barrier is installed to prevent moisture from working its way up from the ground through the slab and into the building.  Without the moisture barrier below the slab, moisture can come up through the slab and start deteriorating building materials such as wood framing and sheetrock and can also lead to mold growth.  The moisture barrier has been added to ensure good indoor air quality in the building.

[basement slab pour]

After the concrete slab is poured it must be properly cured.  There are several methods for properly curing a slab.  Curing compounds can be added to mix designs to help accelerate project schedules, however most agree that a "wet cured" slab is a better quality job.  To wet cure a curing paper is spread over the entire slab and it is kept wet for typically 7 days depending on the structural engineer's requirements for the project.  While this is happening, not much other work can happen on the slabs which is why some projects try to use a curing agent to allow work to continue on the slabs right away.  Again most would agree a wet cured slab is a better job and this is what we have done for this project.

[wet curing the basement slab]

At the North and West wings, activity has focused on underslab plumbing, underslab ductwork, and underslab electrical.  You have to install the deepest work first and then work your way up.  All work needs to be carefully coordinated so that the piping does not conflict with other piping and to also make sure it comes up from below the slab in the walls and not in the middle of a corridor or room where it doesn't belong.

 [underslab supply air duct]

 [underslab earth duct]

 [these underslab supply ducts will supply conditioned air to the corridor spaces through floor grills]

[here is a row of the floor gills in the corridor before being backfilled]

 [here is the row of floor grills after being backfilled]

 [forming the greenhouse stem walls]

 Slab prep is underway in anticipation of pouring the slab on grade for the West Classroom Wing and starting the timber frame installation next week.

  [underground electrical piping in lab areas]

 

[vapor barrier being installed under slab in lab areas]

The mason started the CMU block stairwell walls and elevator shaft and the framer has started in the East Residential wing.

[temp stair tower for access to basement]

[staging at the stair tower and elevator shaft]

[stair tower and first floor framing sill plate]

The timber pedestrian bridge will start next week.  Steep slope erosion control as well as disturbance limits and silt fence are installed to minimize impacts of construction on adjacent wetlands areas.

Geothermal well drilling is complete and they will focus next on the horizontal piping between the wells and the vault just outside the basement mechanical room.

[geothermal well field]