Sustainable Building Construction: KEC Week 23

"Our Common Future"

In 1987, the United Nations released the Brundtland Report, which defines sustainable development as "development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

Seven generation sustainability is an ecological concept that urges the current generation of humans to live sustainably and work for the benefit of the seventh generation into the future. It originated with the Iroquois - Great Law of the Iroquois

"People don't want gas and electricity. They just want hot showers and cold beer" -Amory Lovins

Friday, September 9, 2011

KEC Week 23

Site activity this month was focused on underslab MEP’s, slab pours, timber framing, and stick framing.

Foundations are complete. Concrete slabs in the building are complete. Foundation waterproofing, damproofing, and insulation is substantially complete. Foundations are being backfilled. CMU block work for the stair towers and elevator are out of the basement and up to level two. They will be completed after 2^nd floor framing is installed. Underslab electrical and ductwork is complete. Slab pours for slabs on grade in the building are complete. Geothermal well drilling is complete. South access road prep is complete. Timber framing of the West wing is substantially complete and the crew will move to the North wing next week.

The pedestrian bridge is in progress. Framing in the residential wing is in progress. The site contractor will continue with utility work outside the building including tel/data, electrical, and geothermal distribution and earth duct installation.

The team remains focused on the milestone of weather tight by the end of September and continues to work the crews long days and Saturdays to reach this goal.

MEP overhead coordination continues. Most of the equipment access for mechanical room 212 has been resolved however the design team is reconfiguring mechanical and structural layout to accommodate the kitchen exhaust fan. The team is also working to improve access to the motorized dampers. Other attic mechanical rooms are tight but have not been as problematic as 212. Shawmut has been using BIM to help the team visualize what future service access will look like.