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Building TogetherUnited Methodist Retirement Communities

HFA Expansion

Construction Update NewsletterIssue

www.elzinga-volkers.com

June2014

18

Executive SummaryCranes, Trains and Automobiles...It was exciting to once again see the booms of tall cranes in the air of the HFA expansion project. This week, HVAC units were installed on the building roof, making way for the startup and operation of the building heating and cooling systems. This will be a welcome relief for the workers inside the building as they have not had any air conditioning on the site this warm weather! Of course the building is still dusty, so we will wait a few more weeks until the dustiest jobs on the site are complete before starting the units.

Elsewhere in the building, drywall, paint and ceramic tile installation continue. Quadrant #4, which is the furthest along, is receiving tile showers in all the resident rooms. Quadrant #3

is receiving finish paint and Quadrant #2 is being primed for paint. Drywall finishes continue in Quadrant #1.

On the exterior, brick installation is being completed and the new parking expansion and intersection north of the building are being prepped for curbs and sidewalks. The building is really coming together and there will be additional updates soon!

- John Parker, Project Manager jparker@elzinga-volkers.com

Upcoming Milestones » Quadrant #1 Drywall Start » Quadrant #4 Painting Complete » Siding Installation Start

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Quality ControlAs mentioned in the executive summary, the building is not heated or cooled at this point. This can make the installation of certain materials tricky. Paint and drywall mud don’t dry well in high humidity and if concrete is too moist, we cannot install flooring. To mitigate this risk, Elzinga & Volkers and its trade contractors test the humidity and moisture content of concrete before we proceed with any installation. If the humidity or moisture content is high, we take steps to reduce it, and then test again. All this preparation avoids costly repairs later.

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Aluminum windows installed at Quadrant 3 living room

Crane setting roof top units on the flat roof

Safety SpotlightWhen we get to this part of the project, many of our trade people are working on ladders. Falls from portable ladders are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. Here are some tips to use them safely:

» Avoid electrical hazards! – Look for overhead power lines before handling a ladder. Avoid using a metal ladder near power lines or exposed energized electrical equipment.

» Always maintain a 3-point (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) contact on the ladder when climbing. Keep your body near the middle of the step and always face the ladder while climbing (see diagram on left).

» Do not use a self-supporting ladder (e.g., step ladder) as a single ladder or in a partially closed position.

» Do not use the top step/rung of a ladder as a step/rung unless it was designed for that purpose.

» Do not place a ladder on boxes, barrels or other unstable bases to obtain additional height.

» Do not move or shift a ladder while a person or equipment is on the ladder.

» An extension or straight ladder used to access an elevated surface must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support (see diagram on left). Do not stand on the three top rungs of a straight, single or extension ladder.

» The proper angle for setting up a ladder is to place its base a quarter of the working length of the ladder from the wall or other vertical surface (see diagram on left).

Following these simple tips (and some common sense) keeps our tradespeople safe each day.

Project Progress and Major Milestones

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This week, we would like to BMC Masonry. BMC has been great to work with on the project and is really moving quickly with the completion of all of our brick work.Thank you for all your hard work so far on the project!

Two Week Look AheadOver the next two weeks you will see Quadrant #1 continue to catch up with the other quadrants as ACP continues to hang and finish the wall board in this area. As wall board is hung in the resident rooms the MEP contracts will continue to focus on their above ceiling rough-ins in the corridor. On the exterior of Quadrant #1 BMC Masonry will proceed with the masonry veneer. In Quadrants #2 & #3 B/C Contractors will continue painting the finished wall board and CIR will continue laying flooring in each of the resident restrooms. In Quadrant #4 finishes will begin to be installed in each of the resident rooms and the acoustical ceiling tile grid will be installed in the corridor. Kril Enterprises will be on-site to begin flashing and siding the entire exterior of the building. Once the siding is completed the exterior of the building will really start to show what the finished product will look like!

- Jordan Gougeon, Asst. Project Manager jordang@elzinga-volkers.com

Resident room HVAC unit installed with diffuser and thermostat

Wall board finished in Quadrant #2

SUBCONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT

Foundations Complete

Building Enclosed

Steel/Wood Framing Complete

Drywall Complete

Interiors Complete

Ready for Move In

Ground set chiller unit installed