Email #32 – Right on Schedule

At least one of you have expressed concern that the renovation of Architecture Hall seems to be going slowly and won't be ready for classes by Fall 2007 as scheduled. Looking at all my pictures of big empty gutted rooms stripped back to 1909, there's clearly a LOT of work that needs to be done in the next year. Too much?

No. Although I'm not privy to all the details, I'm pretty sure the building is on schedule, or close to it, despite the month-long concrete strike. What we've been seeing so far is the interior demolition and the "core & shell" construction. The big issue is the construction of the new seismic shear walls. Once this part of the critical path has been traversed (by mid to late October) the building will appear to move more quickly.

But to assure you that the building is almost ready, Mr. Worrier, I've attached a photo showing the new stud wall just installed in the basement studios of the south wing. In this area the shear walls are finished and a brand new concrete floor has been poured. So they're getting ready to rock down there.

To help you visualize the future space I've included a photo of the same space taken last March 11 at the end of Winter Quarter. The students shown are in the acclaimed Oshima-Pagenkopf Arch 301 Studio. The usage and size of the room will stay the same.

Ho hum.

In the next email I'll show you a view from the other side of the stud wall.

John Stamets
Sept. 25, 2006

See also #bb and #33