...from the Project coordinator's perspective
Work on the new Campus Center continues at good speed. If you look on the webcam you can see the form of the building actually rising out of the ground. The foundations are being poured and have been completed around the perimeter of the new building except for the south west corner of Sage, where excavating must continue before further pouring is undertaken.
Despite the deluge rains forming a rather muddy pool at the lowest point of the excavation work preventing further digging, the construction has continued, and we are only two weeks behind our initial schedule. I continue to be amazed with the detail accomplished by large pieces of equipment. We are now into “neat digging” which allows the details of the structure to be provided “in the ground.” Due to the high clay content of the soil at this depth we are able to use the soil as the form into which the concrete is poured. Large back-hoes carve the exact measurements (“neat digging”) to prepare for the concrete pours. If you look at the webcam you can see the steps for the west side of the building, which have been poured. Neat digging!
As you can also see on the webcam, the tower crane has been erected. I am told this is the highest crane and boom used in the Fox Valley to date. At 180 feet tall, this crane and boom can be seen up and down the Fox River as well as from the interior of the campus. A “house” has been built at the bottom of the crane to provide security for our “attractive nuisance.” Sporting three flashing red lights and one bright spot light, our crane is visible at night! Recently the Appleton Fire Department did safety training on the crane, training in the event there was a need for rescue on our site. It was quite a sight to see all sizes and shapes of garbed fire fighters up on the boom of the crane.
The creation of the nine caissons was another interesting feat of engineering. The caissons, which are drilled down to bedrock, are dug with an immense auger, which periodically surfaces to get the excavated earth out of the hole. When the hole reaches a depth specified by the engineers a metal sleeve or casing is inserted into the hole to prevent the walls from collapsing. The sleeve/casing is lowered as the hole deepens and more sleeve added as necessary. Once the ultimate depth is reached the concrete is poured as the casing is “jacked up” and removed.
One of the processes taking place in which we can take great pride is the reuse of materials. We are in line for a silver LEED certificate (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) which endorses the reuse of materials. The LEED certification is explained in detail on the link found on this website. Three good examples of the reuse of materials and efforts are (1) the tower crane needed to be erected on a five foot thick concrete pad. This pad is located exactly where we are going to install the west side elevator. When the tower crane is dismantled, the pad will remain for the elevator. (2) Previously, I told you about the 60,000 cubic yards of earth to be hauled away. Instead of all the earth going to a landfill, the topsoil has been stock-piled, to be returned to the site when landscaping takes place. (3) When the present footbridge is demolished the piers will be deconstructed and pulverized into chat. The chat will be used for underlayment on the John Street Plaza and other paved areas. The entire LEED certification is well worth the effort put into it. It certainly entails more paper work for the architects and contractors but insures future savings for Lawrence and for our earth.
Working with Boldt Construction has been an enlightening and positive process. When next I log on, you'll hear more about this. Check out the webcam and the LEED link.
