Two more important change orders to the contract to make temporary repairs to 1542 Tulane Ave. have been approved. Parts are on order and some of the early demolition work has already begun. A few small change orders remain to be addressed, but none appear to influence the critical path at this time.

BellSouth/AT&T is working at the Dental School on the 2^nd phase of the project to restore telephone service to the buildings. They are pulling new fiber optic cables that will supply the new telephone switch and making all of their terminations. BellSouth/AT&T will also provide temporary telephone lines that address fire and safety matters; telephone connections to the elevators, and to the fire alarm system. The new switch is also on order and current plans are to have the switch installation completed by early June.

The Invitations To Bid for two important projects at the Dental School are being advertised this weekend. The Central Sterilization project will establish the old sterilization function in a new location on the 3^rd floor of the Clinic Building where it will be protected from any basement flooding. The ceiling tile project will replace all of the ceiling tiles, ceiling grid and lighting fixtures on the upper floors of the Clinic and Administration buildings. Both have been approved by Facility Planning and Control for an expedited bid process and are scheduled to open on May 10^th.

The re-bid of the environmental remediation and duct cleaning contract has been completed. Bids were opened on Wednesday and the contract documents have been forwarded to the low responsive and responsible bidder. We expect that the contract will be executed quickly and that work will begin in the near future.

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:

• The project to remove carpeting from the Clinic and Administration buildings has progressed rapidly.
  • The carpet has been removed from the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th floors of the Administration Building.
  • Carpet has been removed from the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th floors of the Clinic Building.
• MCC has completed the installation of the Chemical Treatment System in the Power Plant and the condenser water treatment system has been programmed.
• The project to upgrade the network infrastructure in the Clinic and Administration buildings is underway.
  • LSUHSC Network Wiring and Boe-Tel has identified space to stage the materials that they will need for the project.
  • Boe-Tel delivered the cable trays and placed them in the halls and lobbies of the building where they will be installed.
  • Boe-Tel began installing the new cable trays above the ceilings on 2^nd and 3^rd and 4^th floors of the Clinic Building.
  • They are also removing the old network wires in the ceiling area.
• The 2^nd phase of the restoration of telephone service has begun. Phase 1 prepared Room 5312 in the Clinic Building to be the new location for the terminations of incoming fiber optic cable from BellSouth/AT&T, and to house the related equipment including the replacement switch. Phase 2 involves BellSouth/AT&T installing their equipment, pulling fiber optic cable and making the necessary terminations.
  • BellSouth/AT&T started running the new fiber optic cable in the basement and working up the building to the 5th floor.
  • BellSouth/AT&T needed electrical power to load software onto the system in Room 5312. When the outlet provided did not have power, Pflueger Electric was called out. They were able to identify and resolve the problem.
  • BellSouth/AT&T and ADC worked together installing new equipment and related software.
  • They installed a new cable assembly board in the Power Plant.　
  • They also worked on the connection for the new fiber optics from the 5^th floor to the penthouse in preparation for the change over from the microwave dish to the new fiber cable. This microwave dish was installed for the cell tower after the storm.
• The re-bid of the environmental remediation and duct cleaning contract with revised specifications has been underway.
  • The pre-bid walk through was conducted last week.
  • Bids opened on Wednesday, April 25, 2007.
  • Zimmer-Eschette was the low responsive and responsible bidder for the environmental remediation and duct cleaning contract. While preparing their contract documents for signature, they have already delivered three trailers of equipment in preparation for starting work.
• A project to replace the fencing around the Dental School campus has been initiated.
  • The specifications have been prepared and the bids have been solicited.
• The pre-bid conference was recently held in the lobby of the Clinic Building. Schindler Elevator has pulled electrical wires through the 2 inch conduit that they ran for the Administration Building elevator motors and control panels.
• One of the architects was on site inspecting the porch area on the 5^th floor of the Clinic Building looking for caulk joints and ceiling areas that may have been compromised by the storm.
• Landis and their sub-contractor were on site to measure the exterior doors and store fronts on the first floor of the Clinic and Administration Buildings as they prepare to make repairs and/or replace doors as required by the State Fire Marshal.

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to 1542 Tulane Ave.:

• Ordes Electrical continued working in the basement of the building.
  • All of the old flood damaged starters have been removed.
  • Control wiring has been run to Elevators #1, #2, and #3.
  • Flood damaged electrical panels have been removed.
  • All of the sump pumps have been put into operation and are now online 24/7.
  • Wiring has been pulled to the Fan Coil Unit controllers.
  • They continue to work on the air handling unit power and related control panels.
  • They are replacing flood damaged, cloth insulated wiring that was in the flooded basement.
  • Ordes is pulling old wires and conduit from the chase and installing panels for the riser in the old engine room.
  • Ordes is also removing old wires and electrical panels in the old carpentry shop and hauling debris to the dumpster.
• Arc Mechanical has completed all of the repairs on the steam station and the condensate return system, with one exception. One trap cannot be repaired because a nearby valve is leaking and will require a steam shutdown by Entergy Thermal to be repaired.　
  • Valves for the heat exchanger have been delivered to the site.
• Stratos Elevator continues to work on elevator repairs.
  • Wiring has been run to Elevator #1, #2, and #3.
  • The counterbalance weights for Elevator #3 have been delivered and installed.
  • The elevator safeties are being installed.
  • They are installing roller guides, leveling switches and safeties on each floor in the elevator shaft.
• Ordes unloaded the new emergency generator.　 The frame that the generator will be installed on is out of level.　 　
  • Stabilization of the site on which the generator will rest is required. A proposal has been prepared and forwarded to FEMA for their review.

• Arc Mechanical is working on the demolition of old pumps and air compressors in the basement.
• Arc Mechanical started removing the flood damaged heat exchangers in preparation for their replacement.
• Arc Mechanical removed the flanges from the ETS to run a hydro test on the ETS.

Irrigation Project:

• All the new water meters are now installed. Most of the damage to the streets and sidewalks has been repaired.
• All of the sleeves that LSUHSC Facility Services personnel can install under the sidewalks at the Lions/LSU Clinic and the CSRB have been installed.
• The installation of the irrigation pipe and electrical wire has begun for the irrigation system.
  • Trenching for the sprinkler lines at the corner of S. Prieur and Gravier St. has been completed. 　
  • The main line to the circle drive at the Lion’s/LSU Clinic Building is completely installed and buried.　
  • Piping for five stations of the irrigation system have been installed and buried.　

MEB Cafeteria Project:

• A major renovation is about to transform the cafeteria dining area in the Medical Education Building. We are honored to have John Williams as our architect. He has designed some of the most notable restaurants in New Orleans, including The Redfish Grill, G.W. Fins, The Bourbon House and The Pearl. Renderings of his design concept and finished floor plan are posted in the cafeteria for your review.
  • The new design will create an enhanced dining experience in a modern restaurant atmosphere and will feature comfortable multi-level seating. Already installed is a set of sliding glass panels that will close off the food service area and allow the rest of the facility to serve as a student lounge/study area which can remain open 24/7. This area will be available for student use immediately through the exam period. The new seating area will be equipped with wireless technology and ample connections for power and data connections.
  • Some preliminary demolition and mechanical work is already underway, but the bulk of the construction will not begin until mid-May. We will coordinate with each school to minimize noise and inconvenience during the exam period. Our objective is to have the enhanced facility completed when you return in the fall.
  • It is our intent to keep the kitchen and food delivery area intact and serving a full menu throughout the construction period. Once construction begins, the seating area will be moving across the hall to Seminar Room 4 and, if necessary, also to Seminar Room 5.

Miscellaneous:

• The equipment that allows the MEB elevators to operate under emergency power conditions required repair and testing. This was conducted on Saturday, April 21^st from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM. During that time, there was no elevator service in the MEB.
• LSUHSC Facility Services will be making some repairs in several buildings on Saturday, April 28^th starting at 8:00 AM.
  • The Clinical Sciences Research Building (5^th floor only) will have a shutdown of the domestic hot and cold water. This work will be completed by 4:00 PM.
  • The Lion’s/LSU Clinic Building will have a shutdown of the medical air system to make a connection. This will be completed by 1:00 PM.
  • The Medical Education Building will have a shutdown of the vacuum and medical air to cap lines, as well as a heating hot water shutdown to make some repairs. This work will be completed by 4:00 PM.