From: Ronnie Smith, Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Recovery – Update #58
Posted: December 21, 2007

The bids for the contract to make permanent repairs and complete the 406 Hazard Mitigation project at the Lions/LSU Clinic were opened on December 12, 2007. Three contractors submitted bids on the project. The lowest responsible and responsive bidder was identified and the bid verified. The architects, LSU Health Sciences Center and the LSU Systems Office recommended to the Office of Facility Planning and Control that the bid be awarded to that contractor. The contract documents are being prepared and will be sent to the successful bidder for execution. We remain optimistic that this will allow the actual work to begin in early 2008.

FEMA is finishing their review of the Design/Development submissions for permanent repairs and 406 Hazard Mitigation for the Allied Health/Nursing Building, the Residence Hall, and the Resource Center. The last of the outstanding data requirements have recently been met by the architects. The FEMA Health & Research Team reports that they are finalizing drafts of the versions to the appropriate PW’s and the related Section 406 Hazard Mitigation Proposals. The current projections indicate that we should have the drafts of these documents for the Residence Hall and the Resource Center by mid-January, 2008. The documents related to the Allied Health/Nursing Building will follow shortly thereafter.

The combined design concept for the permanent repairs and Section 406 Hazard Mitigation for the CSRB and the MEB are under review by FEMA at this time. We have been asked to provide some additional information regarding various options that were considered for these buildings and that information has been provided. The preliminary benefit/cost analysis done by GOHSEP indicated a solid, positive ratio for the proposal. Since the Lions/LSU Clinic project is about to get underway, the Office of Facility Planning and Control has added this proposal to their list of "Top 10" projects. This will insure that it will receive the focused attention of FEMA, GOHSEP and FP&C in the months ahead.

The final remediation and duct cleaning project is progressing well at 1542 Tulane Ave. Most of the duct cleaning has already been completed and test samples have been taken. Significant amounts of debris have been removed from most of the floors of the building. Damaged carpet is being removed from several areas. Ceiling tiles are being removed throughout the building and damaged floor tile is being removed in selected locations. The final remediation/cleaning and the removal of peeling paint is well underway. Repairs on the elevators in the building continue to progress.

The project to replace the roof of the MEB is underway. The gravel has been removed from the roof and temporary 2-ply coverings are being installed at various areas of the roof. Old lightweight concrete is being removed. Some additional damage that was concealed from view has recently been discovered by the contractor. The architects and FEMA have been asked to inspect the newly discovered damage and the contractor is preparing cost proposals to make the additional repairs.

The contractor who will replace the roofs of the main buildings on the Dental School Campus has received the Notice To Proceed dated January 7, 2008. A pre-construction meeting has been scheduled for that day, and the actual construction should begin shortly thereafter.

Contracts for the demolition of nine buildings located on the back campus of the Dental School are going to be issued to the contractors shortly. Once the contracts are received, executed and returned to the Office of Facility Planning and Control, the corresponding Notices To Proceed will be issued. The schedule for actually beginning the demolition work remains somewhat uncertain, due to the impending holidays. Our best estimate at this time would be that the demolition would begin in mid-January.

The initial work on the construction of a temporary bookstore facility in the Dental School Administration Building has begun. Materials have been delivered. A temporary curtain wall has been put up to protect the rest of the Library from the construction activities. The location of the new walls has been laid out.GarageG

Two new projects that will enhance the downtown campus have recently begun. The elevated walkway that connects the Student Residence Hall and the MEB will be resurfaced and the terrazzo floors on the 3rd and 4th Floors of the MEB are being restored. Both projects were initiated shortly before the holidays and much of the work is scheduled to be completed before we return. We hope that this approach to scheduling the work will reduce and minimize the inconvenience to faculty, students and staff.

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

Lions/LSU Clinic Building Permanent Repairs & 406 Hazard Mitigation:

• The bids were opened on December 12, 2007 and three bids were received.
• The recommendation of the architects, the LSU Systems Office, and LSUHSC was to award the contract to the low responsive and responsible bidder.
• The office of Facility Planning and Control is preparing the contract documents which will be sent to the contractor for signature.
• We remain optimistic that construction will begin early in calendar year 2008.

MEB Permanent Roof Repairs:

• The gravel has been removed from the entire roof surface.
• The lightweight concrete and old asphalt has been removed from the area between the penthouse and Stairwell 7.
• New flashing has been installed on all of the four stairwells around their respective exhaust fans.
• A temporary 2-ply material has been installed on the penthouse roof and the front elevator.
  • The asphalt has been applied.
• Temporary 2-ply asphalt has been put in place on the Bolivar St. side of the building in front of Stairwell 7.
  • It has been glazed and sealed to prevent leaks.

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to 1542 Tulane Ave.:

• Fire Alarm System:
  • The old fire alarm wiring is being removed from the 2nd Floor.
• Elevator Repairs:
  • New frame rails have been installed on Elevator #1.
    • A new platform has been installed.
    • A stabilizing beam is being installed that will counter-balance the cab and platform.
    • Components for the elevator cab have been delivered.
  • New cab walls are being constructed for Elevator #7.
  • New hoist cables have been installed for Elevator #8.
    • New door track and accessories are also being installed.
    • New traveler cables are being installed
• Final Remediation and Duct Cleaning:
  • Duct Cleaning Status:
    • The ducts on Floors 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the mechanical & animal care rooms on the roof have been cleaned.
    • They have all passed the visual inspection and samples have been taken.
    • Duct Sample Results:
      • The 8th Floor ducts have been cleared.
      • The 7th Floor ducts have been cleared.
      • The 1st Floor ducts have been cleared.
  • Carpet Removal:
    • Zimmer has removed the damaged carpet on the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Floors.
  • Debris Removal:
    • Debris has been removed from the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Floors.
  • Final Remediation/Cleaning:
    • The following areas have had the peeling paint removed and have been remediated/cleaned:
      • The 8th Floor.
        • Re-cleaning is underway.
      • The 7th Floor.
        • Re-cleaning is underway.
        • Sheetrock with visible mold growth behind the baseboards is being removed.
      • The 6th Floor.
        • Re-cleaning is underway.
        • Sheetrock with visible mold growth behind the baseboards is being removed.
      • Suite 122 and 123.They have removed the peeling paint and cleaned Suite 123 on the 1st floor.
      • 1st Floor Main Hallway.
      • After inspection, air samples will be taken.
    • The peeling paint has been removed from the 5th Floor.
      • The final remediation and cleaning is in progress.
    • Sample Results:
      • Suite 122 has passed.
      • Suite 123 has passed.
      • Samples taken on the 6th, 7th, and 8th Floors did not pass and re-cleaning of the floors is in progress.
  • Ceiling Tile Removal:
    • Ceiling tile has been removed from the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Floors.
  • Floor Tile Removal:
    • Floor tile has been removed from Rooms 126, 357, and 445.
      • These rooms passed the visual inspection.
    • Tile is being removed from the 1st Floor.

Project to Make Temporary Repairs to the Dental School:

• Roof Replacement:
  • The contract to replace the roofs on the main Dental School buildings has been executed.
  • The Notice To Proceed has been issued for January 7, 2008.
  • A pre-construction meeting is scheduled for the same day.
• 1st Floor Clinic Building Projects:
  • The ceiling has been closed in around the new column wraps.
  • The correct laminate door and hardware for the entrance to the north stairwell from the 1st Floor has been installed.
  • The plastic laminate has been installed on the transom of the rest room doors.

• Temporary Bookstore:
  • Materials have been delivered to the site.
  • The carpet in the area where the bookstore will be located has been covered to protect it from damage during construction.
  • The location of the new walls has been laid out.
  • A curtain wall to separate the construction area from the rest of the Library has been installed.
• Elevator Repairs:
  • Schindler is installing a new hoist way for Elevator #3.
    • A new bronze frame work has been installed for the front paneling to be mounted on.
    • Work is underway on the floor indicator.
    • The installation of new grippers (brakes) is finished.
  • Work is underway on the hoist way for Elevator #4.
    • Work is also in progress on the wiring for the car operator panel.
    • A second set of grippers (brakes) are being installed.
    • Work has begun on the wiring of the car top. This includes the door operator selector, the photo edge, the inspector station, the lights and fan.
• Miscellaneous:
  • The old chiller has been removed from the Power Plant.
  • A new mixing damper (7BD) has been delivered to the site and installed.

Downtown Campus Landscaping Project:

• The irrigation system has been installed on the S. Roman St. side of the MEB at the entrance/exit to the loading dock area.
  • The final grading of this area has been completed.
  • The irrigation zones have been activated.
  • TThe new trees and plants have been installed.

Exterior Lighting Project:

• Work is underway on the project to replace the bollard lights on the downtown campus. The bollard lights are the cylindrical lights that line the sidewalks. Many have not been functioning.
  • The bollard lights around the MEB have been replaced.
  • The lights around the Allied Health/Nursing Building have been replaced.
  • The lights along the Lions/LSU Clinic Building and the CSRB have been replaced.

Resurfacing of Elevated Walkway:

• Work on a project to resurface the elevated walkway that connects the Student Residence Hall with the MEB.
• Work is scheduled to be completed by January 4, 2008.
• The walkway is closed during this period of time.
• Until the campus closes for the holidays, the University Police are temporarily providing 24-hour security at the 1st Floor of the MEB to facilitate easy access while the walkway is closed.

Terrazzo Floor Restoration:

• A project is underway to restore the terrazzo floors on the 3rd and 4th Floors of the MEB.
• Work has been scheduled to be done after normal hours to minimize the impact to faculty, students and staff.

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