Tower excavation. This week our building really began to take shape; there was lots of activity in the excavation area and part the structure is now almost as high as the fourth floor of Daniels. Steel columns roughly 60 feet tall were delivered, erected, and installed. Two 25,000-pound beams were lifted into place and fastened to those columns.
By Friday afternoon the steel framework was nearly ready for installation (probably early this week) of the
100,000-pound trusses that will support the building above the larger lecture room and learning studio. Pictures at the right, below, and on the next page tell the story best.
Tower Crane. Because of potentially stormy and windy weather this past weekend the second phase of erecting the tower crane—installation of the jib, counter-jib, and counterweights—was postponed until next Saturday, May 25. Unless the weather is windy or stormy, you should be there in the morning for the best views.
Mills Street and Sub-Basement. Removal of the layer of stones that protects the flat roof over the second-floor labs on the Mills Street side of Daniels was postponed from last week to this week, so we can expect a lot of noise (something like having a jet engine outside the windows). Rebar is in place for extending the wall of the north area well (outside the northernmost organic lab) and concrete forms were being moved into place Friday afternoon. In the Daniels sub-basement concrete was poured for footings of new walls and a first course of concrete masonry units (concrete blocks) was in place. On Friday workers began using a large saw to cut through the Mills-Street wall of the sub-basement for future installation of louvers that will bring outside air into the building. The diesel generator that provides electricity to run the large saw generates fumes that are sucked into Daniels.
Charter Street. The retaining wall at the end of the loading-dock driveway has been completed; with luck the tree above the wall will survive its winter ordeal. Concrete has been poured to finish the sidewalks on the east side Charter Street, next to Shain tower and “The Crossing”. The northbound lane of Charter Street will continue to be closed for some time because it provides a staging area for our building project.
Loading Dock. There are no scheduled loading-dock closures this week, but there may be short interruptions at unpredictable times.
This information is up to date as of Friday afternoon. Email bulletins will be provided as needed.
John Moore and Bob McMahon