From: Ronnie Smith, Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Recovery – Update #35
Posted: February 2, 2007

At 1542 Tulane Ave. the contractor continues to install additional electrical components necessary to fully power up and light the building. New submersible sump pumps are being installed that will protect the basement spaces from the intrusion of ground water during heavy rains. Repair work on various building elevators continues. Several change orders have been priced and the remaining issues related to FEMA reimbursement of those change orders are being addressed so that the work can be authorized. The design team and FEMA have also been making good progress on the scope alignment process related to the permanent repairs to downtown campus buildings.

LSUHSC’s Industrial Hygienist is reviewing the environmental remediation and duct cleaning needs at the Dental School so that he can evaluate the bid specifications prior to issuing bids for the work. A separate contract was issued to remove the old ceilings from the 1^st floor lobbies in both the Clinic and Administration buildings. The work has been completed in the Clinic Building and should be finished in the Administration Building shortly. The temporary dehumidification equipment has been disconnected and removed. The new motor control center has been delivered to the Power Plant and the preparations for removing the old center and installing the new one are underway. Elevator repairs have progressed well. Smoke alarms need to be installed in the elevator shafts before they can be certified for use. Once this has been completed, we will request inspection of two passenger elevators and the freight elevator in the Clinic Building.

LSUHSC Facility Services is working with the Dental School architects to complete plans for replacing the old ceiling tile in both the Clinic and Administration Buildings. Plans are to use upgraded tiles that are humidity resistant, mold resistant, and that will enhance the appearance of the ceilings. A portion of the cost will be reimbursable by FEMA due to damage done by the extended exposure to high heat and humidity during the months following the storm.

The enhancements to the MEB atrium are continuing. All of the drywall has now been installed; taped and floated. The final sanding has been completed and painting will begin next week. The installation of flooring will follow and the new light fixtures are on order and should be delivered by mid-February. The State Fire Marshal has inspected the placement of the fire suppression sprinklers and we anticipate receiving his written report shortly.

Here are highlights of work that has been accomplished since our last update was posted two weeks ago.

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to the Dental School:

• Daily tests of the interior air at the Dental School that were done for approximately a week demonstrated that the humidity levels were being sufficiently well controlled to allow the temporary dehumidification units to be removed from the buildings.
  • The contractor disconnected the power lines supplying power to the units.
  • All of the dehumidifiers have been removed from the Dental Clinic and Administration buildings.
  • The contractor then covered all of the outside air intake louvers that had been utilized by the dehumidification units.
• A project to remove the old ceiling in the 1^st floor lobbies of the Clinic and Administration buildings began approximately 2 weeks ago.
  • The demolition of the ceiling in the 1^st floor lobby of the Clinic Building is complete.
  • The demolition of the ceiling in the 1^st floor lobby of the Administration Building was completed today.
  • Only minor clean up activity remains to be done.
• The FEMA team met with representatives from LSUHSC, the design team and the company that assessed the boilers located in the Power Plant, as part of the follow up on the report issued by the assessment company.
  • Additional assessment work will be completed and information provided to FEMA to help in defining and refining the scope of the damage to the boilers caused by the flood waters.
• The new motor control center for the Dental Power Plant has been delivered and the installation process is underway.
  • The contractor uncrated the motor control center and prepared it to be lifted up to the mezzanine of the Power Plant.
  • The electrical subcontractor has identified all of the electrical connections at the old motor control center that are needed for the new device.
  • The new motor control center is being assembled in preparation for installation.
  • Plans are being developed to allow for the installation of the new motor control center that will minimize disruption to buildings’ systems operations.
• The initial phase of the project to restore telephone service to the Dental School Clinic and Admin buildings has begun.
  • The contractor started by running new conduit in the basement that will carry the telephone trunk lines to the 5^th floor computer room.
  • The contractor ran 3", 2", and 1/2" conduit in the penthouse of the Dental Clinic Building.
• The elevator contractor continues to make repairs to the freight elevator and the passenger elevators in the Clinic and Administration buildings.
  • They have been coordinating their work with the project to remove the 1^st floor ceilings; working in one building while the demolition of the ceiling is underway in the other.
• The mechanical subcontractor started changing the control valves for the re-heat coils in the Dental Clinic Building.
• The final parts have been installed on the three air compressors in the Power Plant. They are now on line.
• The insulation subcontractor measured the steam line and condensate return lines in preparation for the re-insulation process.
• The emergency, truck mounted chiller that had served the Dental School Clinic and Admin buildings until the temporary chiller repairs were made was removed from the site today.
• LSUHSC Facility Services has started replacing the batteries in the automatic flushing mechanisms in the Dental School Clinic Building.

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to 1542 Tulane Ave.:

• The contractor continues installing conduit and pulling electrical wiring in the basement to supply power to the basement lights.
  • New electrical panels have been installed in the basement.
  • They are also installing conduit and wiring for the transfer switches and to connect an additional transformer that will supply power to the elevators.
  • Three way switches to control the basement lighting have been installed.
• The new submersible sump pumps have been delivered and the preparations for their installation are well underway.
  • The mechanical subcontractor has removed the old pipes from the damaged sump pumps.
  • The old sump pumps and the plates that support them have been removed.
  • The conduit and wiring for the sump pump switches and starter station has been installed.
  • New circuit breakers for the sump pump disconnects have been installed and the switches and starter stations are being connected.
  • Two of the new sump pumps have been set in place. The third sump in the front of the building is being cleaned in preparation for placement of the third pump.
• The insulation subcontractor has started insulating the chilled water pipes in the basement.
  • The insulation and related supplies have been delivered to the site and is being installed.
  • Once the insulation has been installed, it will be labeled.
• The elevator contractor continues to make repairs to the various building elevators.
  • They have been working on elevators # 1 and #2; replacing components in the panels and hauling debris to the first floor.
  • Damaged parts have been removed from the elevator penthouse and disposed of.

MEB Atrium Renovation:

• The remaining light fixtures were installed in the MEB 3^rd floor corridors, including the installation of a new down-light by each restroom door for the restrooms located behind the bank of elevators.
• The fur downs and drywall have been installed over the space that had been blocked off to afford protected access through the atrium during the earlier construction.
• All of the drywall has been taped and floated. The final sanding is being completed and painting will begin next week.
• Construction of a knee wall along the elevated potion of flooring will be constructed next week.
• The State Fire Marshal has reviewed the placement of sprinklers and we anticipate receiving his written report shortly.
• New light fixtures are on order and should be received on or about 2/12/07 and installation would begin shortly thereafter.
• The installation of the flooring is expected to begin on 2/12/07.