KEC Week 40

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

This past month the push was on to get weather sensitive exterior work completed ahead of winter and we made it!  The October snow storm and what seemed like continuous rains since we started in April made us think we would be in for a rough winter.  We were convinced we would get buried in snow and see below-freezing temperatures all December, but we finally caught a break.  All of the exterior stonework is substantially complete.  The high area metal roofing is wrapping up around the stair tower where the mason's staging will be coming down as he washing down the stonework.  The exterior siding, which is less tied to weather, is about half complete and is on track to be substantially complete by February.  Below are some progress shots of the exterior work.

[north elevation]

[north elevation from entry road]

[north elevation]

[north elevation]

[north elevation]

[south elevation stair tower at end of dorm wing]

[south elevation stair tower at end of dorm wing]

[east elevation of courtyard]

[south elevation of courtyard]

[east elevation of courtyard]

[south elevation of courtyard, massive topsoil stockpile behind bldg has started to be respread]

[south clerestories into seminar cathedral ceiling]

[profile of metal roofing in progress]

[faculty metal roofing from stair tower staging]

[north elevation siding] 

[west elevation siding at classroom wing] 

[west eleavtion siding at classroom wing]

[siding at faculty apartment]  

[siding at faculty apartment]  

[cedar at underside of eaves]

Interior construction continues with MEP rough-in and fire rated sheetrock barriers.

[sprinkler main installation in wall cavity of cathedral areas] 

[spray foam insulation in exterior wall cavity]  

[sheetrock at top of rated walls and ductwork in dorm wing] 

[sheetrock rated ceilings in second floor dorms] 

[electrical distribution in dorms] 

[cathedral ceiling and fireplace in common living room]  

[fire rated ceiling and electrical distribution in dorm first floor]

KEC Progress shots

We are well positioned heading into the cold season with roof and masonry substantially complete next week and siding to be complete in mid to late January.  The focus will shift to the interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection fit-out above ceilings and in walls.  As the expression goes...a picture is worth a thousand words.  Here is the monthly progress this fall heading into the winter.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER 

DECEMBER

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]