BASKETBALL ANYONE?

Weeks 28-30
What a thrill to walk in the gym and see backboards and rims in place for the main court. High above the backboards are the motors that will retract the backboards and the brackets for the mid court fabric divider to create two gym areas. The gym interior is now painted bright white and new HVAC duct straps are in place ready to receive the four foot diameter ducts that will supply heat and humidity control to the main gym floor area.

The construction team met this week with the gym floor manufacturer to discuss the procedure for installing the floor. We were told that the building heat and humidity has to be completely controlled by the HVAC system before the wood floor company will begin the installation. They use very sensitive humidity and moisture detection equipment to determine the amount of moisture in the air and the concrete slab floor. Building moisture affects both the wooden floor and the surface oil finish curing time.

Heat and humidity control equipment is in place and ready to be started up once the gas line is completed by the utility company. Because of the recent rain and confusion acquiring the state permit the gas pipe installation is running behind. Depending upon when the gas is turned on the completion date of the wooden floor could be delayed. In the big picture this is not an issue but it would certainly be nice to be totally completed with the project on May 28th as expected.

The architect has designed a light filled building. The gym has windows all around and light travels through the wrestling and fitness rooms into the gym. Locker rooms have solar light tubes which wash the locker rooms with natural light eliminating the cave feel typical of most locker rooms. All offices have abundant windows.

Every day there are 30 or more workers from all trades very busy in the building. Tilers are now installing ceramic tile in the shower and bathroom area of the locker rooms. Sheet rock and joint taping is complete in the conventional building and the walls are ready for painting. Joint taping is almost complete in the wrestling, fitness and gym areas.

The local power company will be shutting off the power to the Prep and some of the neighbors for two hours at the end of next week in order to energize the electrical transformer which feeds power to the new gym. Lighting fixtures should start arriving soon. Data wiring was installed recently for wireless computer signal transmission and security cameras. The pad was poured this week for the new emergency generator.

Final design issues will be resolved this coming week on line pattern and color for the gym floor, exterior sign configuration and wooden inlaid logo for the entry floor. This logo will be a combination of teak and stained birch and is expected to be stunning.

Exterior work continues on the siding and soon the shingled roof will be installed on the barn entry roof now that the skylights are in place. An enclosure will be installed soon to visually screen the HVAC equipment. The screen will match the color of the building.

May 28th is not far off. Basketball anyone??

Dave Seiter
Director of Facilities