From: Ronnie Smith, Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Recovery – Update #83
Posted: December 19, 2008

In spite of the fast approaching holidays, the last two weeks have been very productive. Four more clinical departments were moved into the Clinical Education Building; Dermatology, Anesthesiology, Urology, and OB/GYN. The majority of the work that remained to be completed on the 5th Floor has been addressed and only minor issues remain. As a result, the focus of the ongoing work in the building is shifting to the lower floors.

The renovations to the Dental School auditoriums have progressed nicely. The door frames for the entrance doors have been installed and insulated. The dry wall in both rooms has been primed. The ceiling grid and the HVAC diffusers have been installed in Auditorium B. Work continued in the mechanical and electrical rooms. Conduit, wiring and electrical fixtures have been installed, and chilled water lines insulated. The new audio/visual equipment room has been framed up, the A/C unit has been set in place, and the necessary piping has been run.

The contractor responsible for the 6th and 8th Floor lab renovations in the Dental Clinic Building has completed significant portions of the wall construction. The exposed exterior walls were waterproofed and insulated. Interior and exterior walls have been framed up and insulated. They have started to hang the new dry wall. The terrazzo floors have been honed and polished in some of the rooms.

Floor and perimeter tiles have been laid and grouted in the elevator lobby of the Resource Center Library as part of the Commons project. The contractor began and made significant progress in the installation of the coffee kiosk. The have also begun installing the supports for the custom wood covers that will surround the concrete columns in the Commons area. The frieze that had been removed from 1542 Tulane Ave. and restored has been mounted on the frieze wall. Door frames for the restrooms have been installed and the ceiling grid was hung in the women's restroom. Power has been connected to the air handling unit and the fire alarm subcontractor has begun working. The old fire alarm devices have been removed and they are roughing in for the new devices.

A great deal of progress has been made by the electrical subcontractor working at the Lions/LSU Clinic Building as they move the building electrical service from the old switch gear to the new gear located on the 2nd Floor. They have pulled feeders, installed and connected new electrical panels, connected critical building components to the panels, etc. The mechanical sub has been working in the old laboratory area on the 6th Floor; installing new VAVs and connecting them, and installing new supply air duct in that space. They have also installed plumbing fixtures and water fountains on both the 6th Floor. They continue to remove old storm drains from above the 6th Floor ceiling as necessary and they have installed new storm drain lines in the stairwell. They also installed piping that will connect to the sump pumps to be located in the elevator pit that serves Elevators 1 and 4.

The general contractor working at the Lions/LSU Clinic Building has been completed a significant amount of work on the interior walls. As the electrical and mechanical work behind the walls is completed they are able to begin the finish work. They are installing, floating, priming and painting drywall in a number of locations. Wall tile is being installed on the 1st Floor. They have also laid floor tile in restrooms on both the 1st and 6th Floors. Plaster is also being applied where appropriate. Crews continue to install doors and ceiling grid on the 6th Floor, and the concrete wall for the elevator pit has been poured.

Work in the Medical Education Building, MDL #6 continues. New drain lines are being installed in the ceiling of the 3rd Floor that will serve the lab in its new configuration. New studs and dry wall have been installed above the movable partitions to assist with sound attenuation. Old floor tiles were removed from Room 4117A. Two floors down in the MEB 2nd Floor lobby, the fire sprinkler subcontractor has been fully engaged in running new sprinkler lines in the ceiling. Finally, a new project to make major renovations to Pharmacology lab spaces on the 5th Floor has gotten underway. Following the pre-construction meeting held by the Office of Facility Planning and Control, the demolition phase began. The old lab furniture has been removed. The ceilings in the lab and administrative spaces have been demolished and interior walls in several rooms are being torn down.

The project to expand the lobby of the Residence Hall has continued at a steady pace. Preparations for the installation of the new exterior glass continue as new vertical and horizontal mullions have been installed in front of the temporary wall. Rubber glazing material has also been installed in the new store front. Roof insulation and roof membrane was installed in the roof expansion area. Inside, the mail boxes were removed so that the brick pavers in the mail box room could be removed. Nailers for the roof flashing were installed.

Here are highlights of work that has been accomplished during the past two weeks.

Repair Work at 1542 Tulane Ave.:

• The initial re-occupation of the building continues.
  • The moving contractor delivered furniture and contents for the Dermatology and Anesthesiology departments to their offices on the 6th Floor.
  • Four truckloads of material for OB-GYN and Urology were delivered to offices on the 5th Floor.

• Furniture:
  • The furniture vendor set up new furniture in Conference Room 544 and in the 5th Floor lounge.
• The painting contractor completed painting the front stairwell on the Claiborne Avenue end of the front hallway.
  • They completed painting Conference Room 637.
  • They completed painting the Shipping and Receiving area.
  • They completed painting the freight elevator lobby.
  • The painting contractor completed work in the rear stairwell.
• Misc.:
  • The terrazzo contractor completed cove base repairs in the front hallways on the 4th through the 7th Floors.
  • The general contractor installed ceiling tiles in the front hallway on the 5th Floor.
  • The general contractor completed painting in Room 545 and installed switch and outlet plates.
  • The general contractor completed ceiling tile work and carpet work in Rooms 544 and 547.
  • The general contractor completed installing carpet in Room 545.
  • The general contractor continues to install ceiling tiles and grid in the 4th Floor lounge, hallways, and offices.
  • Crews began scraping and patching the walls in the auditorium.
  • Facility Services installed four new flood lights in the rear of the building.
  • Facility Services power washed the Lakeside Lot.

Dental School Auditoriums A & B:

• Auditorium A.
  • The general contractor installed the entrance door frame to Auditorium A.
  • They finished the installation of the ceiling grid in Auditorium A.
• Auditorium B.
  • The mechanical contractor installed diffusers and flex duct.
  • The general contractor installed the entrance door frame.
  • The walls in the Auditorium B were primed.
• The electrical contractor installed conduit, wiring, and light fixtures in the electrical closet and mechanical room.　
  • They installed conduit for the new air handling unit.
  • Additional conduit was installed for the electrical panel power feeds.
• The mechanical contractor set the new A/C unit and installed the drip pan in the A/V room (Room 4202).　
  • Crews installed piping for the A/C unit in A/V Room 4202.
  • They insulated the chilled water supply lines for the auditorium A/C units.
• The general contractor installed metal framing for the audio/visual room.　　
  • They sanded and prepped the sheetrock at the entrances to Auditoriums A and B.
  • The contractor installed foam insulation inside the new door frames.

Dental School 6^th and 8^th Floor Lab Renovations:

• The contractor applied water-proofing mastic to the exterior walls.
• Sheetrock was installed on the southwest walls.　
  • Crews installed sheetrock on the interior walls in Rooms 8405D, E, and F.
  • Sheetrock was hung on the exterior walls in Suite 8405.
• They installed insulation on the exterior walls in Rooms 8405B and 8405K.
  • Insulation was installed for all interior walls.
• The corridor wall framing was extended to the slab of the deck above.
  • Framing support rods were installed for all walls in Suite 8405.
  • Blocking was installed for the walls in Rooms 8405C, 8405D, and 8405G.　
• The general contractor honed and polished the terrazzo floors in Rooms 6333 and 6335.
  • The terrazzo in Room 8405A and Room 8405J was honed and polished.
• The electrical contractor connected the electrical circuits to the electrical panels.

Library Commons Project:

• The contractor laid additional floor tiles at the Library entrance and grouted the tiles.
  • They installed and grouted perimeter floor tiles in elevator lobby and the restrooms.
• The contractor is installing wood supports around the concrete columns in the Commons area that will allow custom wood column covers to be affixed.
  • Crews began the installation of custom wood panels around the columns.
  • They installed wood panels around the column nearest the coffee kiosk.
• The contractor began installation of the coffee kiosk.
  • They installed the coffee kiosk cooler and wall panels.　　　　　
  • The contractor installed cabinetry for the coffee kiosk.
  • The countertops and shelving for the coffee kiosk were installed.
• The contractor installed the frieze on the frieze wall.
• Doorframes for the restrooms have been installed.
• Ceiling grid was hung in the Women's restroom.　　　
• The contractor installed sheetrock on the center bulkhead.　　　
• LSUHSC electricians completed the electrical rough-in in the center head wall.
  • Power has been provided to the air handling unit.
• The fire alarm subcontractor removed old fire alarm devices.
  • They began rough-in for fire alarm devices.

Lions/LSU Clinic Permanent Repairs and Mitigation:

• The mechanical subcontractor set plumbing fixtures on the CSRB side of the 6th Floor.
  • They demolished old storm drain that was run above the ceiling on the 6th Floor, Gravier/Bolivar St. side.
    • Storm drain pipe is being installed in the new stairwell from Floors 5 and 6.
  • The mechanical subcontractor set water fountains on the 6th Floor, S. Prieur St. side.
    • Crews tested water fountains and fixtures in the Women's restroom on the 6th Floor, S. Prieur St. side.
  • They installed heating hot water pipes on the 6th Floor, Bolivar St. side.
  • The mechanical subcontractor installed VAVs on the 6th Floor Gravier/Bolivar St. side.
    • They ran pipe to the VAVs on the 6th Floor, Gravier St. side and installed return air lines on the 6th Floor, S. Prieur St. side.
  • The mechanical subcontractor installed medical gas outlet boxes on the 6th Floor in the simulation rooms.
  • They installed piping for the sump pump in the pit of Elevators 1 and 4.
  • The mechanical subcontractor installed supply duct on the 6th Floor on the Gravier St./Bolivar St. side.
• The electricians wired Panel 2AC to the switchgear on the 2nd Floor, wired the switchgear to Panel 2AC2A, and installed the emergency junction box on top of the switchgear.
  • The electrical subcontractor installed Panel LA6A on the 6th Floor.
  • They ran conduit for lights on the 6th Floor, Gravier/Bolivar St. side.
  • Entergy installed electrical service to the building.　　
  • The electrical subcontractor pulled wires for the switch gear from 1st Floor to the 2nd Floor.
  • The electrical subcontractor wired Panel 2AB and the B riser to the new switchgear.
  • They ran conduit for Panel LA6A, wired domestic water pumps to Panel AC2A, wired Riser B to the switchgear breakers on the 2nd Floor, installed and wired Panel 2AB on the 2nd Floor and installed cable tray on the 2nd Floor, Gravier hallway side.
  • The electrical subcontractor ran conduit from Panel LA6A to the 6th Floor junction box, pulled two feeders for bus duct Riser A (Bolivar side of building) on the 1st Floor to the new switchgear and installed additional cable tray on the 2nd Floor, Gravier hallway side.
  • Electricians pulled the last 2 feeders for bus duct Riser A (Bolivar side of building) on the 1st Floor to the new switchgear on the 2nd Floor.
  • They wired the switchgear to the clean power conditioner on the 3rd Floor,　installed cable tray on the 2nd Floor and ran wire from the new switchgear to the ATS on the 2nd Floor.
• The fireproofing subcontractor painted the main structure beams on the 5th Floor of the new exterior stairwell.
  • The fireproofing subcontractor painted the exterior beams in the new stairwell; Floors 1 through 6.
• The sprinkler contractor rerouted sprinkler piping on the 6th Floor, S. Prieur/Gravier Street side.
  • The sprinkler subcontractor installed sprinkler heads on the 6th Floor, Bolivar St. side.
• The contractor completed a wide variety of work throughout the building.
  • Crews installed studs and sheetrock on the 2nd Floor by the new stairwell on the Gravier St. side.
    • They installed metal studs and sheetrock on the 2nd Floor between the new fire pump and the medical air/vacuum pumps.
    • The contractor taped and floated sheetrock on the 6th Floor, S. Prieur/Gravier Street side.
    • They primed the 6th Floor walls on the Gravier/Bolivar Street side and painted marker boards on the Perdido Street side.
    • Crews installed studs and sheetrock in the 2nd Floor electrical room and plastered the 1st Floor CMU wall on the S. Prieur Street side.
    • They installed studs and sheetrock in the 2nd Floor mechanical room.
    • The contractor painted the 6th Floor walls on the Gravier/Bolivar Street side.
    • The contractor taped and floated walls in the mechanical room on the 2nd Floor.
    • The contractor painted the 6th Floor walls on Gravier and S. Prieur Street side of the building.
    • Crews installed studs and sheetrock on the 2nd Floor on the CSRB side.
    • The contractor painted on the 6th Floor, Gravier St. side.
    • Sheetrock on the 2nd Floor CSRB side was floated.
    • The contractor painted walls on the 2nd Floor, CSRB side.
    • They applied fire retarded paint to the plywood for the network and phone rooms.
  • Crews continued to plaster the 1st Floor CMU wall on the S. Prieur Street side and install wall tile in the restrooms on the 1st Floor, S. Prieur Street side.
    • They finished laying floor tiles in the Men/Women bathroom on the 1st Floor, S. Prieur Street side.
    • Wall tile was installed in the lobby area on the corner of Gravier and Bolivar Street.
    • They grouted wall tile in the 6th Floor restrooms.
    • The contractor applied plaster for the 1st Floor lobby walls on the corner of Gravier and Bolivar Street.
    • They applied first coat of plaster on the 1st Floor restroom wall by the elevators.
    • A crew plastered the restroom on the 1st Floor, Bolivar/CSRB side.
    • They installed restroom accessories on the 6th Floor.
    • They installed CMU on the front of the 1st Floor lobby by Elevators 1 and 4.
  • Crews demolished concrete blocks of Elevators 1 and 4 on the 1st Floor.
    • A crew framed the wood block for the Elevators 1 and 4.　
    • The contractor poured concrete for the new wall by Elevators 1 & 4.
    • A crew ground down the cement in the pits of Elevator 1 and 4.
  • The contractor installed door frames in the back rooms of the 6th Floor, Gravier and S. Prieur Street side.

• Doors were installed on the 6th Floor, Gravier/S. Prieur St. side.
• They installed doors on the 2nd Floor.

• The contractor installed ceiling grid on the 6th Floor on the Gravier/S. Prieur side.
  • They installed ceiling grid in the simulation rooms.
  • The contractor installed ceiling grid in the middle of the 6th Floor.
• Crews primed the marker boards in the 6th Floor simulation rooms.
  • The contractor installed trim and trays for the marker boards on the 6th Floor, CSRB side.
• Projection mount poles were installed on the 6th Floor.

MEB MDL 6 Renovations:

• The contractor completed installing studs frame around the steel support for sound attenuation in the main MDL room.
• The old floor tiles were removed from Room 4117A.

• The contractor installed piping for hot/cold water and drainage in the 3rd Floor ceiling for MDL 6.

• They installed sheetrock above the movable partitions.

MEB 2nd Floor Lobby Renovation:

• The sprinkler subcontractor installed sprinkler pipe along the walls by the lecture halls and in the middle of the ceiling on the Roman Street side.
  • The contractor installed sprinkler main piping on the Bolivar St. side of the lobby.
  • They began installing sprinkler branch piping on the Bolivar St. side of the lobby.
• The contractor touched up the paint after the sprinkler pipe installation.
  • They removed ceiling remnants on the Bolivar Street side.
  • Crews installed the knife edge ceiling grid trim on the S. Roman Street side.
  • The center ceiling framing was installed on the S. Roman Street side.
  • Obsolete computer wiring has been removed from the center of the lobby.

MEB Pharmacology Laboratory Renovations:

• The Office of Facility Planning conducted the pre-construction meeting.
• The contractor removed the ceiling and lab furniture in the large laboratory area.
  • They removed the ceiling grid in the administrative area.
• The contractor began removing walls in Rooms 5221, 5220, 5124, 5218, 5218A, 5219, 5220, 5220A and 5124A.　

MEB 6109 & 6148 Lab Renovations:

• The contractor installed new cove base in both rooms.

Residence Hall 2nd Floor Expansion:

• The contractor installed five vertical mullions above the entrance of the Residence Hall.
  • They installed additional vertical and horizontal mullions in front of the temporary wall.
  • Horizontal mullions for the new curtain wall below the roof have been installed.
• The contractor taped and floated the interior temporary wall.
• Crews patched the plaster ceiling on the Bolivar St. side of the enclosure.
• The contractor removed the mailboxes.
  • They removed the brick pavers under the existing mailbox room.
• Wood nailers for roof flashing above the walkway were installed.
• The contractor installed roofing insulation and roofing membrane on the roof of the lobby expansion.
• Two doors between Tower A and Tower B on the Perdido St. side were removed.
• The contractor installed rubber glazing for the expanded storefront system on Perdido St. to prepare for glass installation.

Exterior/Landscaping:

• Facility Services installed landscape edging and mulched the planting beds in front of the Resource Center.
  • Crews removed old vegetation in front of the Resource Center.
  • They installed irrigation lines in front of the Resource Center.
  • Facility Services activated the new irrigation station on the front corner of the Resource Center closest to Tulane Ave.
• The contractor started the sidewalk construction and landscape grading at the corner of Gravier St. and S. Claiborne Ave.
  • They placed the base course for the new concrete sidewalk along the Gravier St. side of the District Energy/Gravier St. Garage.
  • Crews continued site work and grading at the corner of Gravier/S. Claiborne.

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