KEC Week 35

With December upon us the focus is on completing all weather sensitive work ahead of cold temperatures and snowfall.  Above is a progress shot of the North elevation showing the metal roof and stone veneer in progress.

Exterior sitework is focused on finishing all the utility work ahead of the winter weather.  Below are the PV electrical ductbanks that will connect the equipment from the main electrical room in the basement to the circuit breaker located on the East side of the building, before it continues out to the PV field on the north of the site.

[ pv ductbank]

[concrete encased pv ductbank]

The large greenhouse underground storage tank has been installed to the West of the greenhouse.  A hold down pad is required to properly anchor the tank.  When full, the tank would be more buoyant than the soil around it.  If it was not properly anchored, the tank would literally float out of the ground.

[underground storage tank hold down pad]

[10,000 gallon storage tank ready to be dropped into place]

[installed underfround storage tank]

Fall landscaping has advanced to install as many plantings during the final planting days so that they may harden off for the winter and be established by next spring.

Exterior stone veneer continues.  Recent mild temperatures have been very favorable for masonry installation with limited cold weather methods required.  Typical cold weather methods include heating the water and sand used in the mortar, covering installed work at night with curing blankets or electric heat blankets to protect the mortar from freezing, and enclosing the staging with flame retardant tarps for temporary heat within the staging area. 

Exterior prefinished cement siding and cedar trim is underway.  The siding shimming and exposure on this project are custom design and many mock-ups and even performance testing were performed to fine tune the design details prior to starting the permanent installation on the building.

[here you can see the shimming used to pad out the bottom edge of the siding.  also visible is the flashing at the butt-joints and painted edge of the siding.  all cut edges need to be sealed prior to installation per manufacturer requirements]

[cedar soffit over window head]

[here you can see the trex base watertable course.  this material was selected due to its proximity to grade and its ability to resist moisture and deterioration]

[red color was inspired by New England barns in the area]

[outside corner detail]

Interior partition framing and hollow metal door frames continue.  Also mechanical equipment and ductwork continue.

[hollow metal door frames ready for installation in classroom wing]

[door frames installed in basement wing.  sprinkler mains and branches installed]

[sheetrock at tops of walls in residential wing is sequenced ahead of mechanical rough-in so that work is accessible]

[BIM model screenshot of ductwork in mechanical room 212]

[print out of 3D ductwork layout of mech room 212 onsite to help installer visualize the layout]

[equipment and ductwork being installed in mech room 212]

[ductwork stored onsite in dry location with sealed ends to prevent contaminants from air stream in compliance with LEED indoor air quality requirements]