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From: Ronnie
Smith, Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Recovery – Update #32
Posted: December 22, 2006
The architects recently met with
representatives of the Dental School and LSUHSC
administration to determine what final preparations
are necessary to re-occupy the upper floors of the
buildings and to return the School to operations in
New Orleans for the next academic calendar year. The
final environmental remediation, provision of
sterilization capabilities, temporary space for
Facilities personnel, and Receiving were among the
items identified. LSUHSC has taken responsibility
for executing the environmental remediation contract
and plans are to have work beginning in early
February, 2007. The architects are pursing options
for providing for the sterilization in ways that
FEMA will reimburse. Repairs to air handling units,
thermostats and related items throughout the two
main buildings continue. Pricing has also been
received for a repair to the computerized HVAC
monitoring system that will give the limited
Facilities staff the tools necessary to monitor
basic building conditions and to respond when
needed.
The project to improve the lighting
at the Student Parking lots on the downtown campus
has been completed. All new light poles and fixtures
have been installed to provide much improved
illumination and a safer environment for the
students to park in.
At 1542 Tulane Ave., a variety of
repair work continues to be performed. The elevator
contractor has increased his presence and has been
working some weekends to expedite repairs to both
the freight elevator and to the bank of four
passenger elevators located at the center rear of
the building. The repaired building systems are
being tested and leaks are being repaired as they
are discovered. Much of the flood damaged switch
gear and transformers have been removed from the
basement. Old gas pipe has been removed and new sump
pumps are being installed in the basement. An
additional transformer is being installed and the
feed repaired so that the final portion of the
building will have electrical power restored.
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.:
- New conduit for the wiring to connect an
emergency generator has been installed.
- The flood damaged switch gear is being
removed from the basement.
- A specialty contractor removed the oil
from the old transformers that were located
in the vault under the Lakeside lot in
preparation for their removal.
- The Lakeside lot has been closed for the
week of 12/18 through 12/22 to allow a large
crane space to operate safely as it removes
the switch gear, transformers, and other
heavy items from the basement and the
Lakeside vault. A new switch gear will also
be installed in the basement.
- The six old transformers are now in the
Lakeside lot waiting to be picked up.
- The 1542 Tulane elevator contractor has a
crew of 4 men working on the main elevators in
the building; the bank located in the rear hall.
- Repair work also continues on the
freight elevator.
- Conduit has been installed for the
electrical wiring to the new disconnects serving
the new basement sump pumps.
- The new disconnects are being installed
in Room 117B.
- The three new submersible sump pumps
have been installed.
- A leaking fan coil in Room A328 has been
capped off.
- Miscellaneous leaks are being repaired as
the new pumps are tested and the plumbing system
is returned to normal operations.
- Some drains in the basement have been
clogged and are being cleaned out.
- The water treatment contractor inspected the
chemical feed pots for the chilled water and
heating water loops.
- FEMA team members have been on site
examining some of the additional damage in the
1542 Tulane basement as part of the scope
alignment process.
Project to Make Temporary Repairs to
the Dental School:
- The sub-contractor providing the
dehumidification units at the Dental School
changed out all of the air monitors on the units
to analyze the air in the building.
- The units are keeping the humidity at
approximately 40% which is sufficient to
keep mold from growing.
- As needed repair work continues on the
various air handling units in the Dental School
Clinic and Administration Buildings.
- Repairs are being made to thermostats and
zone actuators throughout the Clinic and
Administration Buildings.
- Exposed ducts in the basement and 1st
floor are being capped off.
- The inspection and assessment of the boilers
by the manufacturer to determine the extent of
the storm damage is underway. The assessment
will help to determine the repairs that may be
needed to get the boilers back into operation.
- The elevator contractor continues to make
needed repairs to the elevators.
- Repair personnel worked over the weekend
of 12/9 and 12/16 installing parts for the
freight elevator. Repairs underway or
completed:
- The exterior elevator doors in the
basement have been replaced.
- The new gates on the elevator itself
as well as the counterweights and the
rail have been installed.
- All of the parts necessary for the repair of
the flood gate have arrived. Repairs are
underway.
- The shut off valves on the four sump pumps
in the basement have been installed.
- The contractor started running the water in
the buildings to clear the system and to check
the water pressure.
- All of the old copper pipe has been removed
from the 1st floor.
- A specialty contractor inspected the tunnel
connecting the Power Plant to the Dental School
basement to check for the presence of any
asbestos and the presence of any chlorine in the
piping.
Project to Provide New Lighting for
the Student Parking Lots:
- Parking Lot #2: The new lights are working,
the fence has been restored and the clean up of
the site is complete.
- Parking Lot #3: The installation of the new
lighting fixtures and the related electrical
connections has been completed. The clean up of
the site is complete.
- The new lights are all working in Student
Lot #2 and #3. The final adjustments of the new
light fixtures to reduce shadows and provide
even illumination throughout the parking lots
have been completed.
Miscellaneous Work:
- The de-ionized water system in the CSRB has
been sanitized.
- The contractor put a 35% hydrogen
peroxide solution into the system, changed
the final filters, ran the de-ionized water
system in the labs to clean out the delivery
system, and performed testing to confirm
that the sanitizing was complete.
- The atrium on the 3rd floor of
the MEB is undergoing an exciting renovation.
Within a few weeks, we hope to produce a
welcoming and comfortable multi-function space
where students can gather to study, socialize,
and eat. The atrium will be divided into 2 main
areas. At the entry will be a spacious lounge
area with contemporary sectional sofas, plush
club chairs, and occasional tables. Beyond the
lounge will be an updated eating area with ample
seating at café-style tables. The space will
also offer wireless technology, untethering
laptops from the perimeter of the room. We
expect that the project will take approximately
30 days to complete.
- The old ceiling tiles and grid have been
removed from the atrium.
- The old ceiling tiles and grid was
completely removed from the hallways. New
grid has been installed in the connecting
hallways in the MEB.
- All of the HVAC duct work has been
raised. New connections are being made.
- All of the grilles and flex connections
have been removed.
- All return grilles and supply grilles
were removed from the 3rd floor
MEB hallways.
- All of the concrete floor demolition is
complete.
- The old ceramic wall tile has been
removed.
- The de-ionized water line to Allied
Health has been relocated.
We encourage you to follow the
details of our progress through the daily updates
which are posted on the web site.
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