From: Ronnie Smith, Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Recovery – Update #55
Posted: November 9, 2007

Early in the morning of November 9, 2007 we received word that FEMA had approved our first major building repair and hazard mitigation project. Approximately $9.2 million has been obligated to fund the proposed work at the Lions/LSU Clinic Building. The project features rebuilding the Isadore Cohn Learning Center on the 6^th Floor to prevent any risk of flood damage in the future. A lab will be moved to the 7^th floor to clear the site for the construction of the Learning Center. All of the critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment that supports the building operations will be elevated above flood levels; most will be placed on the 2^nd Floor. Portions of the 1^st Floor will be repaired using materials that can withstand flooding and will be easily cleaned. The elevator shafts will be sealed to prevent flood water from entering the elevator pits and damaging the equipment located below the elevator cabs. 1^st Floor windows and exterior doors will be repaired or replaced as needed. The damage done to the building roof by Hurricane Katrina will be repaired.

The architects are completing their construction and bid documents at this time. The Office of Facility Planning and Control will begin to be advertised the bid next week so that bids can be received prior to the Christmas holidays. We are hopeful that this schedule will allow bids to be evaluated and a contract to be awarded that will allow work to begin on the building early in calendar year 2008. We will provide updates on the bid process and the contract award as they are available.

We wish to acknowledge all of the assistance and support that has allowed us to reach this significant milestone in the recovery. The Office of Facility Planning and Control, the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the FEMA Health and Research Team and the Section 406 specialists, and our team of architects and engineers have all played critical roles in this success. We look forward to reporting on similar successes as the recovery process moves forward.

The preconstruction conference for the contract to replace the roof of the MEB was held on November 9^th and the contractor has been issued the Notice To Proceed. Work is scheduled to begin on November 19^th. The bids for the replacement of the Dental School roofs had to be cancelled and re-issued to correct a technical deficiency in the bid. An expedited bid process was approved by the Office of Facility Planning and Control and the new bids will be opened on November 20^th.

Work on the temporary repairs to 1542 Tulane is progressing well. Faculty and staff members have been busy cleaning out offices and removing personal items in for the start of the final remediation contract. Ordes Electric is completing the last of the repairs that were covered by their contract. The installation of the new fire alarm system is progressing.

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

Permanent Building Repairs and Section 406 Hazard Mitigation:

• FEMA has just approved a $9.2 million Project Worksheet for the permanent repairs and Section 406 Hazard Mitigation at the Lions/LSU Clinic Building. The project includes rebuilding the Isadore Cohn Learning Center on the 6^th Floor to insure that it would not be damaged by any future flood events. A lab will be moved to the 7^th floor to clear the site for the construction of the Learning Center. We will also elevate all of the building critical mechanical, electrical and plumbing components to protect them from flooding. Most of this equipment will be placed on the 2^nd Floor. Repairs will be made to the roof, and portions of the 1^st Floor will be repaired using finishes that will withstand water and can be easily cleaned.
  • The consolidated comments on the Construction Documents for the Lions/LSU Clinic Building permanent repairs and 406 Hazard Mitigation have been delivered to the architects to be incorporated into the final bid documents.
    • Some additional documentation has been requested by FEMA to assist in preparing an additional version to the PW to address the projected construction costs.
  • We anticipate that the bid documents will be prepared shortly and that the bids will be advertised next week. We are hopeful that a contract can be awarded promptly and that work can begin early in calendar year 2008.
• A meeting was recently held with FEMA, GOHSEP and LSUHSC to review comments prepared by FEMA on the Design/Development documents submitted for the Allied Health/Nursing Building, the Residence Hall, and the Resource Center.
  • Only a few issues remain to be addressed by the architects.
  • FEMA will begin the of the versions to the appropriate PWs and the corresponding Section 406 Hazard Mitigation proposals and will incorporate the comments from the architects as they are received.
  • We believe that these three projects will be recommended by the FEMA Health and Research team.

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to 1542 Tulane Ave.:

• Fire Alarm System:
  • Siemens has finished installing the new fire alarm speakers, strobes and wiring for the 1^st Floor, the 7^th Floor and the 8th Floor.
  • Siemens is currently installing the new fire alarm system wiring, speakers, and strobes on the 6th Floor.
• Elevator Repairs:
  • Stratos Elevator installed the cab walls and roof of Elevator #8.
    • They have installed the interior door hardware for the cab of Elevator #8
    • The elevator cab has been leveled.
    • The contractor is installing the wiring for the Elevator #8 controller.
  • Stratos is removing the counter-weights and elevator cab frame for Elevator #1.
  • The contractor is working in the penthouse wiring the controller for Elevator #7.
    • The elevator safeties have been installed.
    • The tape selectors which aid in the automatic cab leveling are being installed.
  • The contractor installed plywood in Elevator #2 to protect the interior so that it can be used.
  • The contractor is installing the temporary control wiring for the Elevator # 8 controllers. This will allow them to call the elevator up or down and begin rebuilding the cab.
• Final Remediation and Duct Cleaning:
  • Bids were opened on October 31^st. The bid has been awarded to Zimmer-Eschette and work us scheduled to start on November 19^th.
  • Faculty and staff members are cleaning out their offices and removing personal items on upper floors to prepare for the final remediation and duct cleaning.
    • Work has been completed on Floors 5, 6, 7 and 8.
    • Work is currently underway on Floors 1 and 2.

• Painting: The extended exposure to heat and humidity caused significant amounts of paint to peel off the walls and ceilings in a variety of locations throughout the building. A painting contract has begun work to remove the peeling paint and to patch and prepare the surfaces within the building stairwells for repainting. (The balance of the paint removal and repainting will be done as part of the remediation and duct cleaning contract.)
  • The contractor has finished priming and repainting Stairwell C.
  • The contractor mobilized crews to begin working in Stairwell D.
    • They have removing the peeling paint on Floors 1 through 9 and in the basement.
    • The contractor has patched and floated the walls on Floors 1 through 9.
    • The walls on Floors 1 through 9 have been sanded.
    • The walled have been primed in this Stairwell.
    • The contractor primed the ceilings and began priming the hand rails on Floors 4 – 8 in Stairwell D.
  • The contractor has mobilized crews to begin work in Stairwell B.
    • The peeling paint has been removed on Floors 1 through 8.
    • The contractor is floating the walls on Floors 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
• Misc.
  • Arc Mechanical repaired a leaking steam line.
    • They also worked on the soft water system; draining the tank and removing hoses.
  • Ordes installed the contacts/relays for the Parking Garage exhaust fan starters.
  • Ordes removed the Entergy Thermal control box (PLC) which monitors and controls the Energy Transfer Station.
    • They are labeling wires in for the installation of the new Entergy Thermal control box (PLC) which monitors and controls the Energy Transfer Station.
    • The installation of the new PLC is in progress.
  • Ordes finished installing the starters for the Parking Garage exhaust fans.
  • The building steam lines were re-energized and they are being checked for leaks and proper operation.
  • Ordes Electric disconnected the power from the fire pump motor and removed the motor.
    • It has been sent off to be rebuilt.

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to the Dental School:

• 1st Floor Clinic Building Projects:
  • The installation of the Barrel ceiling has been completed.

• The Curviture ceiling installation is complete with the exception of a few panels.

• The contractor is waiting on a few additional chandeliers to arrive and to be installed before the last panels can be put in place.
• Landis has installed most of the small chandeliers in the 1^st floor lobby of the Clinic Building.
• All of the carpeting has been installed in the 1^st Floor lobby space.
• The lobby reception furniture arrived and the installation is complete.
• The contractor installed the sprinkler heads in the Barrel ceiling.
• The veneer wraps for the columns behind the curved wall are on order and should be delivered shortly.
• The contractor has completed the fur-outs that cover the supply air ducts and diffusers above the curved wall in the main lobby and they have been painted.
• Most of the other ceiling mounted fixtures have been installed throughout the 1^st Floor lobby of the Clinic Building.
• 2nd Floor Conference Room Administration Building:
  • The painting of the 2^nd Floor conference room in the Administration Building is complete.
  • The 6 new exterior windows have been installed.
  • The installation of the new duct work in the room is complete.
  • Landis finished the installation of the electrical outlets and switches.
  • All of the ceiling tile has been installed.
• Permanent Roof Replacement:
  • The bids for the replacement of the roofs of the main Dental School campus buildings were opened on 10/23/07. During the evaluation process, several of the low bids were found to contain technical deficiencies that required that they be rejected. It was determined that it would be in the best interests of the State to reject all bids and re-bid the project with adjustments to the specifications.
    • The State has agreed to use an expedited bid process that will allow the new bids to be opened on November 20^th.
• Elevator Status:
  • Schindler programmed the emergency telephone lines for Elevators #6 and #7.
  • They began the ceiling installation in Elevator #5.
  • Schindler finished running wires to the machine room for Elevators #3 and #4.
  • They installed the interior lights in the freight elevator.

• Miscellaneous:
  • Siemens has completed the installation and connection of the controls for the new inline dampers in the Clinic Building.
    • Landis has finished reinstalling the ceilings at the damper locations on Floors 6, 7, and 8 with the exception of one area on 7, where the damper for location (7BD) is on order.
    • They are now working on the 5^th floor of the Clinic Building.

MEB Roof Replacement:

• The roof of the Medical Education Building was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The contract to replace the roof has been issued and work is scheduled to begin on November 19, 2007. Equipment and supplies will be staged in the parking lot across Roman St. from the building. A lift will be mounted on the side of the building to move men and materials to the roof. The contract allows 120 days for the contractor to complete the work. We are hopeful that the contractor may be able to finish their work in advance of this deadline.
  • Prior to beginning the removal of the old roof, the contractor will be surveying all of the rooms and spaces on the top floor of the building to identify any damage that existed prior to the initiation of the roof replacement. This will assist in identifying any additional damage that might occur during the replacement process, which will be the responsibility of the contractor. You may expect to see the contractor representatives on the 7^th floor seeking access to all of the rooms. This should be a relatively quick process and any inconvenience to the room occupants should be minimal.
  • Depending on the phase of construction, wind direction, etc., building occupants may also expect to notice odors related to the installation of the new roof. Asphalt-based products will be used and they will naturally create some odors that may enter the building from various air intakes located at lower levels on the building. We hope that this will be minimal, and building occupants may be assured that there is no health or safety risk associated with any odors that they may perceive.

Downtown Campus Landscaping Project:

• Irrigation Stations #23 & #24 on the Bolivar St. side of the MEB have been activated.
• Flowering annuals have been planted at the Lions/LSU Clinic Building flagpoles and at the memorial bench.
• 1,400 variegated Algerian ivy plants were planted under the overhang and elevated walkway on the Bolivar St. side of the Allied Health/Nursing Building.
• The crews sprayed herbicide on old vegetation on the S. Roman St. side of the Allied Health/Nursing Building in for re-landscaping.
• They sprayed herbicide in various parking lots and performed routine landscape maintenance.
• The installation of plants and mulch on the Bolivar St. side of the MEB has been completed.
• Channel drains have been installed on the Gravier St. side of the Allied Health/Nursing Building.
• The installation of irrigation stations 7 and 8 on the S. Roman St. side of the Allied Health/Nursing Building has been completed.
• Crews removed all of the old vegetation and started added topsoil to the sections that will become planting beds in the same area.

Cafeteria Project:

• Advanced Millwork has been installing the maple veneer walls and the booths on elevated deck of the cafeteria.
• Zimmer continues to work on addressing the outstanding punch list items.
• The doors have been installed.
• Zimmer also started preparing the four columns in the cafeteria for the ceramic tile installation.

MEB Morgue:

• The contractor has finished insulating the pipes for the condensing units.
• The stainless steel strips for the cooler panels have been installed.
• The hose with reel for washing the coolers is now installed.
• The contractor is now beginning work on punch list items as the contract nears completion.

Exterior Lighting Project:

• The demolition of the old lights from underneath the patio areas on both sides of the MEB and the cutting for new access panels is complete.
• The new lights are now working on the top part of both MEB patios.
  • The demolition of the old lights is in progress.

Allied Health/School of Nursing Flooring:

• All the new floor tile has been installed in the 8^th Floor elevator lobby and in Corridors A and B.
• The tile installation in Corridors C and D has also been finished.

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