From: Ronnie Smith, Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Recovery – Update #54
Posted: October 26, 2007

The proposal for the permanent repairs and Section 406 Hazard Mitigation of the Lions/LSU Clinic have been prepared, reviewed and approved at the local level by FEMA. The proposal has been forwarded to Washington, DC for the final approval. Once approved at that level the funds will be obligated. Concurrently, LSUHSC, the LSU System and the Office of Facility Planning & Control have been completing their reviews of the construction documents. The final comments are due to Facility Planning on 10/31/07 where they will be consolidated and returned to the architects to be incorporated into the final bid documents. We are cautiously optimistic that this major project will be out on bid prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

The downtown campus design team completed their conceptual packages for permanent repairs and Section 406 mitigation to five additional buildings or structures. The packages have been forwarded to FEMA and GOHSEP for their preliminary review. The next phase will be the preparation of the Design/Development packages which FEMA will use for their eligibility determinations. The concepts proposed address 1542 Tulane Ave., the Central Utility Plant, the District Energy Parking Garage, the Roman St. Parking Garage, and the Walk to Wellness.

Prices are currently being solicited for the demolition of a number of buildings on the back campus of the Dental School. These buildings were determined by FEMA to have been damaged by the storm and post-storm flooding to the extent that repairs were not cost effective. The buildings include the five Human Development Center buildings, and some of the smaller buildings previously used by LSUHSC Facility Services. The solicitation of prices should be completed within the next 10 days to 2 weeks, and contracts for the demolition of these buildings will be issued shortly thereafter.

The contract for the replacement of the roof of the Medical Education Building has been signed by all the parties. The Notice To Proceed has been issued to the contractor for November 19^th and the preconstruction meeting has been set for November 9^th. The project contemplates that the work will be completed within a six month period, but we are hopeful that the work may be completed in advance of that deadline. Occupants of the building can anticipate some inconveniences during the completion of the work, but we will work with the contractor to minimize the impacts.

Our emphasis on preparing 1542 Tulane Ave. to be partially re-occupied has continued. The repairs to the building fire alarm system are progressing on schedule. The repairs to selected building elevators are also well underway, although the contractor has been delayed by the challenges of removing flood damaged elements that were severely corroded. Still, two elevators are certified for normal use and repairs are progressing well on three others. The contract to complete the final remediation and duct cleaning of the building is on the street, the pre-bid conference was held and bids are due on October 31^st. We would expect to award that contract in the near future. Due to the extended period of time that the building experienced high levels of humidity and heat, a significant amount of paint has peeled off various wall and ceiling surfaces. A painting contract is already on site removing the damaged paint, patching the surfaces, and priming and repainting.

Work at the Dental School has focused on the 1^st floor lobby of the Clinic Building, the 2^nd floor conference room in the Administration Building, and the repairs to the building elevators. Much of the work in the Clinic Building lobby has been completed. The specialty ceiling is the main element that has not yet been completed. The 2^nd floor conference room is progressing on schedule and four additional elevators should be ready to be inspected and certified in the near future.

The bids for the replacement of the roofs of the main buildings on the Dental School campus were opened on 10/23/07. Eight bids were submitted ranging from $1,040,226 to $1,487,000. The bids are being examined and evaluated at this time and we hope to make an award recommendation in the near future

The downtown landscaping project has continued to show progress. Most every day reveals new elements being completed around the Medical Education Building and the Allied Health/Nursing Building. The project to enhance exterior security lighting has begun a new phase. Lights mounted on the roof of the MEB are being replaced with new brighter lights that will improve the lighting of the pedestrian areas and streets near the building.

The MEB Morgue work has continued and is nearing completion. The contractor is now focusing on completing the various start-up procedures and insuring that all of the new equipment is functioning properly. Work on the MEB cafeteria continues to progress as well.

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

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to 1542 Tulane Ave.:

• Fire Alarm System:
  • Siemens pulled wires to all of the fire alarm device boxes in the basement and on the 1st floor.　
  • The contractor tied-in and programmed the water flow and tamper switches on the valves for the sprinkler system.
  • Siemens is currently installing and programming the fire alarm system smoke detectors.
  • The contractor installed the fire alarm device back-up power supply boxes on Floors 1 - 8.
  • Siemens has installed all of the fire alarm speakers and strobes in the basement, the mezzanine and 1^st floor.
• Elevator Repairs:
  • Current Status:
    • #1 – Repairs are underway. Stratos is demolishing the platform and pit components.
      • (Emergency phone line available)
    • #2 – Certified for normal use, but temporarily shut off until protection for the interior of the cab can be provided.
      • (Emergency phone line available)
    • #3 - Certified for normal use and in operation.
      • (Emergency phone line available)
    • #4 – The scope of repair has recently been determined.
      • Additional documentation of the storm-relatedness is being prepared and the State Elevator Inspector will review the scope of repair and approved.
      • It will then be forwarded to FEMA for their review and comment.
    • #5 (Old Library) – No activity. This elevator was not in operation prior to the storm and will not be put back into service.
    • #6 (Loading Dock) – No activity.
    • #7 - Repairs are underway. Stratos is changing the door track.
      • (The availability of an emergency phone line is not determined.)
    • #8 - Repairs are underway. Stratos is changing the cab and replacing the platform.
      • (The availability of an emergency phone line is not determined.)

• Final Remediation and Duct Cleaning:
  • Bid specifications have been developed for the final remediation and duct cleaning that is required within the building.
    • The pre-bid conference was held on October 16^th. A large number of potential bidders were in attendance.
    • Bids are due to open on October 31^st.
  • The packing of office contents in preparation for the remediation will begin early next week.

• Painting: The extended exposure to heat and humidity caused significant amounts of paint to peel off the walls and ceilings in a variety of locations throughout the building. A painting contract has begun work to remove the peeling paint and to patch and prepare the surfaces for repainting.
  • The painters have been working in Stairwell C and all of the peeling paint has been removed in the stairwell on floors 1 through 9.
  • The painting contractor has primed the handrails from floors 1 - 8 in the stairwell.
  • The contractor is priming and patching the surfaces to prepare them for new paint and they have already patched and primed the stairwell on Floors 9, 8, and 7.
• Misc.
  • The steam pipes are being tested for leaks.　
  • The broken CHW lines that used to feed the cafeteria units were capped and the system has been refilled.
  • Arc Mechanical worked on rewiring the water softener.
  • Ordes terminated and connected electrical power to the wiring for the Parking Garage lighting and the exhaust fans.　
    • The contractor also continues to pull wiring for the new HVAC controls.
• Ordes is installing the wiring for the Parking Garage exhaust fan starters.
  • The contractor is checking the exhaust fans and Parking Garage lights to insure that they are operating properly.
• Ordes continues to work on pulling wires for the electronic controller (PLC) serving the Energy Transfer Stations (ETS).
• Arc Mechanical is on site working on the water softener. 　
• Entergy Thermal turned off the steam to the building so that the leaks can that were identified during the testing can be repaired.
• Ordes continues to install the wiring required by the electronic controller (PLC) serving the Energy Transfer Station (ETS).
• Ordes installed the control wiring for the exhaust fans in the parking garage.
  • They also installed the 110v wiring for the heating hot water pumps.
• Ordes Electric Co has removed the pressure switches for the Entergy Transfer Station and has run the wiring for new pressure switches.

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to the Dental School:

• 1st Floor Clinic Building Projects:
  • The contractor has completed the installation of the wood veneer throughout the Clinic Building 1^st floor space.
  • The curved ceiling features are being installed in the 1^st floor lobby.
    • The contractor has started the installation of the Curviture ceiling in the elevator lobby.
    • The ceiling tiles have been installed in the vestibules.
  • The recessed can lights have been installed in the Composo ceiling near the curved wall.
  • The metal doors have been installed for the mechanical room, the Facilities Office and the Central Supply area on the Clinic Building 1^st floor.
    • These replace the temporary plywood doors that had been put in place to secure the areas while waiting for the delivery of the doors that had been specified in the contract.
    • The hardware for the doors has been installed.
  • The plastic laminate doors for the first floor of the Clinic Building have been delivered to the site.
    • All of these doors have been installed.
    • The door hardware/locksets have been installed.
  • The air handling unit serving the temporary Central Supply area has been turned off because the drain used for condensate is clogged and cannot be cleared.
    • The assessment of repair options continues.
• 2nd Floor Conference Room Administration Building:
  • Landis prepared the walls to begin the sheet rock installation.　
  • The large viewing windows and the concrete steps to the studio have been removed which completes the demolition.
  • All of the drywall has been hung and the windows have been installed.
  • The new drywall is being taped, floated and prepared to receive paint.
  • The viewing windows have been framed and enclosed with sheet rock on one side.　
  • New duct work is being installed in the conference room.
  • The electrical rough in for the lights and power outlets has been completed.
  • Painting of the new walls has begun.

• Permanent Roof Replacement:
  • The bids for the replacement of the roofs of the main buildings on the Dental School campus were opened on 10/23/07.
  • Eight bids were submitted ranging from $1,040,226 to $1,487,000.
  • The bids are being examined and evaluated at this time and we hope to make an award recommendation in the near future.
• Elevator Status:
  • Clinic Building:
    • #1 – Certified for normal use and fully operational.
    • #2 – Certified for normal use and fully operational.
    • #3 – The new motor is being installed.
    • #4 – The new motor is being installed.
    • #5 – The repairs are close to being complete.
      • The elevator recalls and shunt trip modules need to be installed.
      • The telephone line for the emergency phone must be installed.
  • Administration Building:
    • #6 – The repairs are completed.
      • The telephone line for the emergency phone must be installed and the inspection can then be scheduled.
    • #7 - The repairs are completed.
      • The telephone line for the emergency phone must be installed and the inspection can then be scheduled.
    • #8 – The repairs are approximately 90% complete.

• Miscellaneous:
  • Some of the damaged laminate wall panels on the 2nd floor of the Clinic Building were replaced with sheet rock and will be painted to match the color of the panels in the area.　
  • Work on the temporary repairs to the flood wall surrounding the loading dock ramp into the basement has been completed.
  • The library books that were removed from the Dental School library shortly after the storm, cleaned and stored until the building was ready to be reoccupied are now scheduled to be returned to the Dental School early next week.

Lions/LSU Clinic Permanent Repairs & Mitigation:

• LSUHSC has been completing their review of the construction documents for the proposal to make permanent repairs to the building and to elevate the Cohn Learning Center to the 6^th floor and the critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment to the 2^nd floor.
  • FEMA is evaluating the cost data that has been submitted to insure that the estimates represent "fair and reasonable" figures.
  • The versions to the related Project Worksheets have been written and submitted for internal reviews by FEMA.
  • The internal FEMA reviews have been completed and the project has been forwarded to Washington, DC for the final approval and the obligation of funds.

MEB Roof Replacement:

• The contract for the replacement of the roof of the MEB has been signed and the contractor has been issued the Notice to Proceed effective November 19^th.

Downtown Campus Landscaping Project:

• The crews completed making the drain pipe connections in the catch basins.
• All of the garden edging has been installed on the Gravier St. side of the Allied Health/Nursing Building and the grading has been finished.　
  • All of the plants have been installed in the graded beds.
• All of the sprinkler nozzles on the Gravier St. and Bolivar St. sides of Allied Health/Nursing Building have been installed.
• Crews started trenching for the irrigation piping and wiring on the Bolivar St. side of the MEB.

Cafeteria Project:

• The counter top for the feature wall has been installed.
• Advanced Millwork continues to work on the installation of the booths on the elevated deck at the rear of the cafeteria.
• The contractor is installing cove base and building the steps for the raised platform.
• The general contractor continues to work on a variety of punch list items.

MEB Morgue:

• The project is nearing completion.
  • The contractor continues to work on start up of the new condensing units.
  • The contractor continues to work on addressing the remaining punch list items.

Permanent Building Repairs and 406 Hazard Mitigation:

• The design team prepared and submitted their initial design concepts for the permanent repair and 406 Hazard Mitigation of five additional buildings/structures. Those buildings are:
  • 1542 Tulane Ave.
  • Central Utility Plant
  • Roman St. Garage
  • District Entergy Garage
  • Walk To Wellness
• The design concepts are currently under review by the 406 Hazard Mitigation team with GOHSEP and by LSUHSC.

Allied Health Flooring Enhancement:

• A project to enhance the appearance of the floors within the School of Allied Health is underway. The old tile is being removed and new tile installed. The new tile will enhance the appearance of the hallways and rooms, and will be easier to maintain.
  • The installation of the new floor tile and wall base molding on the 6th Floor has been completed.
    • The contractor is addressing the punch list items.
  • The old floor tile has been removed from the 7^th floor and the sub-floor has been patched and prepared to receive the new floor tile.
  • The new floor tile has been installed in the 7th floor Elevator lobby and in all of the corridors.
  • The base molding is currently being installed.

Exterior Lighting Project:

• As part of the project to enhance the exterior lighting around the campus, new exterior can lights are being installed on top of the MEB in the area on the corner of Perdido St. and Bolivar St.
  • The demolition of the old lights has started on top of the area on the corner of Perdido and South Roman Streets.

We encourage you to follow the details of our progress through the daily updates which are posted on the web site.