From: Ronnie Smith, Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Recovery – Update #70
Posted: June 6, 2008

Work on the contract to make permanent repairs to the Lions/LSU Clinic Building; elevate the Learning Center to the 6th Floor, elevate critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to the 2nd Floor, create lab space on the 7th Floor and construct an exterior stairwell is progressing on schedule. The interior walls on the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Floors have been framed up and sheetrock is being installed. The rough in work on the electrical systems, mechanical systems, and plumbing systems in the Learning Center and 7th Floor lab is well underway. The front of the building has recently been fenced off, landscaping removed and the exterior slab is being demolished in preparation for the construction of the exterior stairwell.

Several contractors continue to complete work in preparation for reoccupying portions of 1542 Tulane Ave. The final cleaning and remediation work continues, new light fixtures are being installed, and new flooring in being laid. The grinding and polishing of the terrazzo floors on upper floors is underway and new window coverings (mini-blinds) are being installed. Repairs to Elevator #7 are also moving forward.

A number of new projects have gotten underway since the last update was published. Upgrades to the MEB Lecture Rooms A and B have started. This project will include the replacement and enhancement of existing audio/visual equipment that will provide state of the art presentation quality in the rooms. Included in the plans are a new audio system, connection to the Access Grid, new recording equipment, and an enhanced lectern that allows for easy reconfiguration of A/V to suit presentation needs.

The planned renovations of the MEB 2nd Floor elevator lobby began with a significant amount of demolition. This project is converting the area into lounge seating on carpeted islands for students awaiting class or with furniture removed for receptions. It will expand the available space by removing existing Facility Services offices, and will include new ceilings, wall surfaces, flooring and furniture.

The Resource Center Library Commons renovation project is also well underway. A significant amount of the demolition has already been completed. This project creates an interactive student study area and lounge, complete with a Coffee Kiosk. There will be two study rooms with large flat screen displays with IT connections that will enable student group study or the joint development of class projects. The entryway feature displays for historic and artistic pieces. When complete, this space will be available 24 hours a day.

The lobby on the 2nd Floor of the Residence Hall is undergoing an expansion. Plans include the extension and enclosure of the Residence Hall end of the walkway leading to the MEB, the installation of new lobby flooring, and new store fronts that will enlarge the existing lobby area. New casework has been ordered for the planned renovations to Multi-Disciplinary Lab #5.

At the Dental School, significant portions of the new roofing material that was installed on the Administration Building has been removed and replaced to address the penetration of moisture that occurred during the roof replacement project. Additional moisture testing is planned to insure that any other areas that require replacement are identified and addressed. All of the upgrades to Elevator #2 have been completed and the elevator has been returned to normal use.

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

Lions/LSU Clinic Permanent Repairs and Mitigation:

• The dry flood-proofing of the elevator pit that serves Elevator #2 and #3 is underway and progressing on schedule.
• CMI is working on the plumbing systems, mechanical systems, electrical system, sheetrock installation, and fire sprinklers throughout the 6th Floor.
• Preparing for the construction of the exterior stairwell, plants were removed along Gravier side of building and the granite panels were removed from adjacent column.
  • Temporary fencing has been installed around the construction area.
• The removal of the exterior slab that runs in front of the building in the location of the new exterior stairwell has begun.
• Sheetrock is being installed on the new interior walls on the 2nd Floor.
• CMI is working on the plumbing in the new laboratory on the 7th Floor.

Repair Work at 1542 Tulane Ave.:

• Elevator Repairs:
  • Stratos finished installing new rollers for Elevator #7.
  • They replaced a defective safety on the same elevator.
  • Stratos installed the electronic infrared door sensors for Elevator #7.
  • Stratos installed the TLS (terminal limit switch) on Elevator #7.
    • This is an additional safety which measures the speed of the cab.
  • Stratos installed the door guides for Elevator #7.
  • Stratos is changing out the travel cables for Elevator #7.
• Final Remediation and Cleaning:
  • Zimmer cleaned the vestibule in the auditorium on the 1st Floor.
  • Crews re-cleaned Room 109.
  • Zimmer is prepping Room 815 for cleaning.
  • Crews are cleaning the control booth and the storage room in the auditorium.
• Painting:
  • The contractor finished painting the handrails in Stairwell C (Center Corridor).
• Carpet and Tile Installation:
  • RCC patched and prepped Room 115 for the installation of new VCT.
  • RCC installed VCT in Room 114, 115, and the vestibule of the auditorium.
  • RCC prepared Suite 122 for the installation of carpet and VCT.
  • RCC installed VCT and carpet in the corridor behind the auditorium.
• Construction Walls:
  • The contractor has painted the door frames and stained the new doors installed in the construction walls.
  • The construction walls are complete.
• Terrazzo Floors:
  • Premier Source Inc. has ground and polished the terrazzo flooring in the main corridor on the 8th Floor.
  • They have ground and polished the terrazzo flooring on the 7th Floor in the center corridor and in the corridor along Tulane Ave.
  • The contractor ground and polished the terrazzo floor in the main corridor of the 6th Floor and in the corridor along Tulane Ave.
  • The contractor finished grinding the terrazzo in the 5th Floor corridor along Tulane Ave. and they have begun to polish the newly ground surface.
  • Crews have started grinding the terrazo in the center corridor of the 5th Floor.
• Mini Blinds:
  • The contractor finished installing mini-blinds in offices on the 7th and 8th Floors.
  • They have begun the installation work on the 5th and 6th Floors.
• Misc.
  • Trison finished installing the ceiling tiles on the patched plaster ceilings of Floors 1 through 4.
    • The contractor finished painting the installed ceiling tiles on Floors 1 through 8.
  • Trison began patching additional holes in the plaster ceilings on Floors 1 - 4.
  • Hogues & Associates are installing the new corridor lights in the center corridors on the 5th and 6th Floors.

Repair Work at the Dental School:

• Permanent Roof Repairs:
  • Needham Roofing has begun replacing the water damaged roof material on the Administration Building.
    • Crews tore off and replaced 52 squares of the base material.
  • Needham Roofing finished installing the granulated cap sheet on the roof of the Administration Building and is nearing completion on the 5^th Floor balcony roof. 
    • The flashing has been installed on the Administration Building roof.
    • They pressure washed the Clinic Building penthouse and parapet walls.
    • They have begun pressure washing the parapet walls on the Administration Building roof in preparation for the application of the waterproof sealant.

Elevator Repairs:

• The upgrade of Elevator #2 is complete and it has been released for normal use.
  • Schindler started the upgrade work on Elevator #1. 
  • They have removed the cab interior.

Downtown Landscaping Project:

• Crews installed sleeving under the concrete walkways on the Bolivar St. and Gravier St. sides of the Resource Center in preparation for running the control wiring for the 2" irrigation main pipe valve.
• The crews completed the trenching around the Resource Center for the 2" irrigation main and the valve control wires.
• Crews completed the installation of irrigation valve control wiring around the Resource Center.
• The crews completed the installation of the 2" irrigation main pipe and all seven control valves around the Resource Center.
  • The new 2" irrigation main was activated. 
• Crews completed the installation of pipe and sprinklers for Irrigation Station # 4 which serves the grassy area on the Bolivar St. side of the Resource Center. 
  • The nozzles have been installed on these sprinklers.
• They flushed Station # 3 to remove debris from the lines. 
• Approximately one half of Station # 5 which serves the planting beds was installed. 
• The automatic controller has been installed in the generator room.
• Power was connected to the Resource Center Building automatic irrigation controller.
• Crews installed conduit to run the irrigation valve control wires inside the building to the controller.
• The irrigation valve control wires have been run through the conduit from outside the building to the automatic controller located inside the generator room.

Parking Lot Improvements:

• Boh Bros installed the new wheel stops and striped the new parking spaces in the I-10 Lot #3.

MEB 2nd Floor Lobby Renovation:

• The contractor removed the ceiling tile from the lobby and former Facility Services offices.
• They completed the removal of all the storefronts.
• Zimmer is removing the old floor tiles.

Resource Center Library Renovations:

• The temporary dust barrier around the interior stairwell is in place.
• All the walls, flooring, ceilings and grid, the rest of the storefront including the automatic doors and the storefront ceiling braces have been removed from the elevator lobby.
• In the areas outside of the elevator lobby, all the walls, lighting, electrical, and ductwork has been removed.
  • The temporary string lights have been hung.
  • The emergency egress route has been marked on the floor.
• The restroom walls and ceiling requiring demolition have been completed. 
• The interior construction walls have been modified to allow public access to the Library via Elevators #1 & #2, and to prevent access via Elevator #4.
  • This will allow the demolition of additional walls near the restroom to proceed.

Elevator Upgrades:

• Elevator #5 in the Allied Health/Nursing Building has been inspected and certified for normal use.
• All of the contracted upgrades for elevators in this building are complete; however Schindler will be rewiring Elevators #1 and #3 to be consistent with the others.
  • The rewiring of Elevator #1 is in progress.

Residence Hall 2^nd Floor Expansion:

• Zimmer continues the demolition of the old flooring in the middle of the lobby area.
• The replacement of the air handling unit serving the 2^nd Floor has begun.
  • The demolition of the wall enclosing the AHU has been completed. 
  • Demolition of the old AHU has begun. 

MEB 4^th Floor - MDL #5 Renovations:

• The new casework is on order.

MEB Lecture Rooms A & B Renovations:

• Trison is completing the installation of new electrical conduits in Lecture Room A and continues to work in Lecture Room B. 
• New floor duct will be installed under the slab for the new A/V wires at the podium.

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