From: Ronnie Smith, Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Recovery – Update #92
Posted: May 8, 2009

We have recently learned that our proposal for making permanent repairs to the Clinical Education Building and elevating the critical building systems into a raised addition has been approved by all levels of FEMA. The additional $10.7 million should be obligated within the next few days. LSUHSC and the Office of Facility Planning and Control have forwarded their comments regarding the Construction Documents for this project to the architects. When the comments have been incorporated into the plans and specifications, bid documents will be prepared and the bids can be advertised.

FEMA representatives recently met with the downtown campus architects to discuss a few minor issues that remained to be addressed in the permanent repair and mitigation proposals for the Allied Health/Nursing Bldg., the Student Residence Hall and the Resource Center. FEMA has already completed new drafts of these proposals. They will incorporate the information gathered from the architects into the proposals and they will be submitted for formal review and approval. Based on the new guidance received from the FEMA Decision Team led by Charlie Axton, we anticipate that the proposals will be received favorably and approved promptly. The bid documents for these three buildings are nearing completion.

The next significant move of clinical faculty and staff into 1542 Tulane Ave. is expected to occur late this month. The 3rd and 4th Floors of the building will be re-occupied at that time. Work continues on the 1st and 2nd Floors to prepare them to be placed back into use later in June. The Department of Auxiliary Enterprises, Duplicating and Printing operations have already been moved back into the spaces they occupied on the 1st Floor prior to the storm.

We expect to receive "constructive occupancy" of the Cohn Learning Center on the 6th Floor of the Lions/LSU Clinic Building late in May or early June. This will allow the Health Sciences Center to prepare the space for use in advance of the start of the next academic year. The architects are working closely with the contractor to develop punch lists and monitor their progress on the work that remains to be substantially completed on the floor. The finishing work on the exterior stairwell is progressing rapidly as the interior walls are being dry-walled, taped and floated. The windows have been installed and the mullions/trim pieces are being applied to the window. The electrical contractor remains busy completing the work related to the elevation of the mechanical and electrical equipment.

Punch list items are being worked in the Library Commons and the project approaches completion. The opening in the ceiling of the elevator lobby was patched. Workers installed two return air grilles and one access panel in the elevator lobby. They relocated lights in the wooden ceiling and installed the ceiling frame in the back office area. The contractor painted the elevator lobby ceiling, installed wall covering in the elevator lobby, and installed fire sprinkler caps. The fire alarm devices have been tested.

Renovation work is nearing completion in the MEB Pharmacology lab area in the MEB. Receptacle raceways, light fixtures and doors have been installed in the laboratory area. Sheet vinyl flooring was installed in the animal care room. Floor tile has been installed throughout. Ceiling tiles have been installed in the administrative and lab areas and the network wiring contractor is pulling network cable.

The contractor installed surface mount light fixtures throughout the MEB 2nd Floor lobby. The wall panel contractor installed wall panels on the Campus Office Stores side of the lobby. The glazing for the new windows in Campus Office Stores and Medical Center Stores has been installed. Crews continue to finish the interiors of the two Stores.

The new double-doors for the Dental School Auditoriums A and B have been installed. The contractor completed ceiling tile installation in Auditorium A, and started in Auditorium B. Carpet was installed on the top two tiers of Auditorium A. Sheetrock and floor tile were installed in Room 4202B and the sheetrock was taped and floated. Electricians ran conduit for electrical services in Room 4202B and they pulled wires for the electrical transformers and panels in Auditorium B. The contractor roughed-in chilled water piping for the 2nd Liebert unit.

At the Student Residence Hall, the contractor completed installing ceiling grid for the sheetrock ceiling underneath the mezzanine level of the A & B & C Towers and in the expanded lobby area. The slab was cored for new floor boxes to be installed between the A & B Towers. The mechanical contractor ran wires for pull stations and fire alarm devices in the extended lobby area. Plenum boxes were installed along the expanded storefront windows. Crews installed sprinkler heads beneath the mezzanine level between the A & B lobbies and the sprinkler line underneath the mezzanine level was raised. The sprinkler heads have been adjusted to the center of the tiles in the drop ceiling. New network closets in the expanded lobby area have been framed up and dry walled.

The re-roofing of the Allied Health/Nursing Building is well underway. The contractor removed the remaining portions of the old roof on the main building and installed the temporary cap over those areas of the roof. This phase of the work on the roof is complete. Workers removed the old roof from the walkway roof and installed insulation and the cap sheet. The roof drains were cut on the walkway and the roofing membrane has been attached to the metal roof. The old roof materials were removed from the 4th Floor lower level roofs and the new insulation and a cap sheet were installed.

The project to replace the air handlers in the MEB is well underway. The contractor removed the old rooftop unit number one, installed the new unit and patched the roof. Workers completed connections to the existing ductwork, insulated the piping, installed the control cabinet, made the electrical connections and started the unit. The balancing and testing was completed. The contractor disconnected ductwork and piping leading to the existing rooftop unit number two and removed it. They installed the new rooftop unit number two and began making connections to the existing ductwork, making piping and electrical connections.

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

Repair Work at 1542 Tulane Ave.:

• Painting:
  • Crews finished painting the auditorium.
  • The rear elevator lobby on the 2nd Floor was painted.
  • The walls in Room 312B were patched and painted.
• Lounge Areas:
  • The mechanical contractor installed flexible duct and diffusers in the 1st and 2nd Floor lounges.
  • Workers completed installing the ceiling grid in the 1st Floor lounge.
  • The electrical contractor installed ceiling lights in the 1st Floor lounge.
  • The sprinkler contractor installed sprinkler heads in the 1st Floor lounge.
  • The walls in the 1st Floor lounge are being primed.
  • The furniture vendor installed furniture in the 3rd Floor lounge.

• Misc.:
  • Duplicating and Printing was relocated from their temporary location in the Residence Hall to Rooms 110, 111 and 111A.
  • The light fixtures have been installed in Rooms 341, 342 and 343.
  • Carpeting and cove base was installed in Rooms 341, 342 and 343.
  • The furniture vendor installed furniture in the 3rd Floor conference room, and in all offices on the 3rd Floor.
  • The general contractor started cleaning the auditorium floor.

LIONS/LSU CLINIC PERMANENT REPAIRS AND MITIGATION:

• The contractor installed new sprinkler lines in the landscaping at the front of the building; replacing lines that were removed during the excavation for the new exterior stairwell.
  • The contractor installed plants in the new landscaping area.
  • They completed the extension of the metal platform on the roof for the electrical panel.
  • Workers installed carpet on the Gravier St. side of the 6th Floor.
  • The contractor installed floor tile in the 1st Floor restroom.
  • Workers installed ceiling grid on the CSRB/S. Prieur St. side of the 1st Floor.
  • Ceiling tile is being installed on the 1st Floor, CSRB/S. Prieur Street side.
  • They repaired the wall by the switchgear room following the installation of new fire pump breaker.
  • Crews installed restroom partitions and ceiling grid in the restrooms on the Bolivar St. side of the 1st Floor.
  • Crews applied the 2nd coat of epoxy in the mechanical and electrical rooms on the 1st Floor, Bolivar Street side.
  • The final coat of epoxy was applied to the floors in the old PBX room, the mechanical room, the electrical room, the control room and the stairwell on the 1^st Floor.
  • They plastered the new wall in the old PBX room on the 1st Floor.
  • Workers installed wall tile on the Bolivar St. side of the 1st Floor.
  • Crews grouted the 1^st floor marble wall tile and the 1^st Floor restrooms wall tile.
  • The contractor installed floor tile on the 6th Floor in the computer lounge for the new floor boxes.
  • Workers completed waxing the 1st Floor lobby floor.
• External Stairwell:
  • Workers continued to waterproof the granite wall panels on the new stairwell.
  • Workers installed trim for the windows of the stair tower at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th levels.
  • Crews framed up the shaft walls of the stairwell at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd levels.
  • The new shaft walls on the 3rd through the 6th levels have been taped and floated.
  • Crews applied a second coat of mud on stairwell shaft walls on the 3rd through the 6th levels.
  • The stairwell handrails on the 1st through the 6th levels of the exterior stairwell were painted.
  • A French drain was installed around the new stairwell slab.
  • A crew continues to install metal for the mullions in the stairwell.

• The electrical contractor began terminating the new fiber cables in the 6th Floor network closet.
  • Electricians installed breakers for the elevator sump pumps.
  • They ran wire for the sump pumps in the elevator pits.
  • Door closures were installed on the Bolivar St. side of the 6th Floor.
  • The contractor installed light fixtures on the 1st Floor, CSRB and Bolivar Street side of the building.
  • They roughed in an exit light on the Bolivar St./Gravier St. side of the 1st Floor.
  • They secured the fire pump controller to the wall and wired flow switches and valves in the fire pump room on the 2nd Floor.　
  • The new breakers for the fire pump motor on the roof and on the 2nd Floor were installed.
  • The electricians installed a 600 amp breaker for EMDP panel and the 1600 amp breaker for the fire pump motor on the roof.
  • The electrical contractor installed wire for the 1600 amp breaker for the fire pump motor on the roof and began piping in the 1600 amp breaker on the 2^nd Floor.
  • They installed smoke detectors and strobes on the Bolivar St. side of the 1st Floor.

LIBRARY COMMONS PROJECT:

• The contractor patched the opening in the ceiling of the elevator lobby.
• They installed an access panel in the elevator lobby and installed a temporary panic bar at the fire door.　
• Workers installed two return air grilles and one access panel in the elevator lobby.
• They relocated lights in the wooden ceiling and installed the ceiling frame in the back office area.
• The contractor painted the elevator lobby ceiling, installed wall covering in the elevator lobby, and installed fire sprinkler caps.
• The fire alarm devices have been tested.
• Crews patched the sheetrock underneath the stairwell.

MEB PHARMACOLOGY LAB RENOVATIONS:

• The contractor installed receptacle raceways and light fixtures in the laboratory area.
• The doors in the laboratory area have been installed.
• Sheet vinyl flooring was installed in the animal care room.　
• Ceiling tiles have been installed in the administrative and lab areas.
• The network wiring contractor started pulling network wires.
• Return air grilles have been installed in the new doors.
• They completed the installation of the floor tile.　

MEB 2nd FLOOR LOBBY RENOVATIONS:

• The contractor installed surface mount light fixtures throughout the lobby.
• They taped and floated the walls around the new doors across from the elevators.
• The wall panel contractor installed wall panels on the Campus Office Stores side of the lobby.
• The contractor installed glazing for the new windows in Campus Office Stores and Medical Center Stores.
• Crews continue to finish the interiors of the two Stores.
• The wall panel contractor installed metal trim pieces for the wood wall panels adjacent to the elevators.

MDL-3 RENOVATIONS:

• The contractor abated the floor in the MDL.
• Workers raised the support beam for the partition.
• The electrical contractor installed MC whips for light fixtures.

DENTAL AUDITORIUMS A & B RENOVATIONS:

• The contractor installed sheetrock and floor tile in Room 4202B.
• They taped and floated the new sheetrock in Room 4202B.
• The new double-doors for Auditoriums A and B were installed.
• Electricians ran conduit for electrical services in Room 4202B.
• The contractor installed the transformers and sub-panels for the electrical services in the auditoriums.
• They pulled wires for the electrical transformers and panels in Auditorium B.
• The contractor completed ceiling tile installation in Auditorium A, and started in Auditorium B.　
• The contractor painted the 1st coat of paint in Room 4202B.
• Carpet was installed on the top two tiers of Auditorium A.
• The contractor roughed-in chilled water piping for the 2nd Liebert unit in Room 4202B.

RESIDENCE HALL LOBBY EXPANSION:

• The contractor completed installing ceiling grid for the sheetrock ceiling underneath the mezzanine level of the A & B Towers and in the expanded lobby area.
• Workers completed installing ceiling grid for the acoustical ceiling between the B & C Towers.
• The contractor cored holes for floor boxes between the A & B Towers.
• Workers installed break metal along the fur down of the extended storefront.
• The mechanical contractor ran wires for pull stations and fire alarm devices in the extended lobby area.
• Plenum boxes were installed along the expanded storefront windows.
• The interior contractor patched the wall where the fire alarm devices were installed in the lobby.
• Crews installed sprinkler heads beneath the mezzanine level between the A & B lobbies.
• They framed the network closets in the expanded lobby area and gypsum board was hung.
• Gypsum board was installed to fur out the concrete wall in the back corner lobby area along S. Roman St. and Poydras Ave.
• The mechanical contractor raised one sprinkler line underneath the mezzanine level between the B & C Towers.
• They adjusted sprinkler heads to the center tile of the drop ceiling.
• The interior contractor began taping and floating the wall in the back corner lobby area on S. Roman St. and Poydras Ave.

ALLIED HEALTH/NURSING ROOF REPLACEMENT:

• The contractor removed the remaining portions of the old roof and installed the temporary cap over those areas of the roof.
  • This phase of the work is complete on the roof of the building.
• The contractor removed the old roof from the walkway roof and installed insulation and the cap sheet.　
• They tarred around the edge of the walkway between the MEB and the Allied Health/Nursing Building.　
• The contractor cut the roof drains on the walkway.
• They attached the roofing membrane to the metal roof.
• Workers removed the old roof materials, installed new insulation and a cap sheet for the 4th Floor lower level roofs.
• They installed a cap sheet on the roof of the walkway between the Allied Health/Nursing Bldg. and the MEB and on the 4th Floor lower level roofs.

MEB AIR HANDLING UNIT REPLACEMENT:

• The contractor removed the old rooftop unit number one, installed the new unit and patched the roof.
  • The new air handling unit was piped in.
  • Workers completed connections to the existing ductwork, insulated the piping, installed the control cabinet, made the electrical connections and started the unit.
  • The balancing and testing has begun.
• The contractor disconnected ductwork and piping leading to the existing rooftop unit number two and made preparations to install the new unit.
  • Workers disconnected and removed the old rooftop unit number two.
  • They installed the new rooftop unit number two and began making connections to the existing ductwork, making piping and electrical connections.
  • The roof around the new unit was repaired.

EXTERIOR/LANDSCAPING:

• Facility Services planted Algerian Ivy under the rear corner of the Resource Center.

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