Dent Renovation Progress July 25 - 29

Monarc Construction estimates that it has completed 77% of the demolition work. Nothing remains of the center core but a small pile of rubble. Excavation work on the footings and the elevator shaft shows progress as well.

Picture Captions:

1. Elevator pit. The elevator pit is at the former entrance to the Kindergarten classroom.

2. Loft "Great Space" Sunlight streaming in on the upper left is from the library entrance. The ladder on the right is where the drama closet used to be.

3. The Science Room minus (or now including) the Head of School's former office.

4. The PE Office.

5. Level One. The small opening on the left is the entrance to the PreK under-the-stairwell storage space. The remaining rubble is where the Receptionists' Office was. The construction debris and dirt unearthed from the footings is carried out bucket by bucket by the demolition crew.

Thanks, DDOT

DC's Department of Transportation installed a new stop sign at the corner of South Carolina Avenue, SE, at 2nd Street.

Bartlett Tree Service gave a haircut to the tree at the corner a few weeks ago. This revealed a pretty dilapidated stop sign that must have caught DDOT's attention.

Thanks, DDOT, for the bright, shiny new red stop sign!

Delivery, July 29, 2011

Cardinal Logistics Management Corporation delivered laminated wood to the site today. Our first major delivery of building material. We will now start to build.

This wood will be used to construct the support framing, or the cage, that will contain the new heating and air conditioning unit for Level 4 -- the Art Room, Library, classrooms and hallway.

We will watch with interest to see how these huge slabs of lumber are transported from the parking lot to the Loft.

Swing Space -- Milestone

MC Dean, the electrical contractor for the modular unit installation at 1000 5th Street, SE, completed the electric panel installation. PEPCO issued its final "ok" inspection today. We now have electric power at the site!

Since the modular units will be installed on a vacant lot the School has to arrange for initial hookups for all the utilities. With electrical completed we move on to water, for which the nearest source is in L Street, SE, and sewer, which DC WASA has permitted us to use an abandoned sewer line that traverses the lot. Verizon and Comcast are working on telephone and T1.

Dent Renovation Progress - July 18 - 22

During the week of July 18 - 22 Monarc Construction continued demolition work in the Dent Building. The classrooms have been restored to their original size -- no more Level 3 bathrooms, the staff room is gone, the manny office is no more. Wow -- the rooms are large! The final design will retain much of the space that has been created through the demo process.

The most dramatic aspect of this phase is the work on the central core running from the main entrance foyer and steps up to Level 2, the Business Office and the Rose Window Room. This entire space is now open. The Head of School's office, an enlarged Rose Window area, and what should be a dramatic entrance foyer will be constructed in this space.

Scrolling through the photographs:

1. Monarc's artist-in-residence has protected the Rose Window symbol over the Level 2 rear exit door.

2. Monarc was surprised to "discover" this new stairway that was not on any plan. It is the former PreK storage closet.

3. Dumpsters come and go as the rubble is moved offsite.

4. The near area is the former secure storage room behind the Receptionist's Office. The far stairwell connected Levels 1 and 2.

5. This is the former Drama Closet on Level 4. The elevator will be located in this spot.

6. Recycled brass hardware from the interior classroom doors.

7. Refinished interior doors that will be reused following renovations.

Sunflowers - July 21, 2011

Renovation Bond Financing Completed July 20,2011

Jocelyn Kho, Secretary, Board of Trustees, Capitol Hill Day School, Jason Gray, Head of School, and Jim Woolwine, Business Manager, signed all the documents to enable the School to borrow $4,500,000 by issuing tax exempt bonds which were purchased by TD Bank. The proceeds of the loan will finance the Dent School Renovation project.


Lender: TD Bank, Patricia A. Lenahan, Senior Vice-President
School's Counsel: Arent Fox, Eve Corbin, Partner
Financial Advisor: Davenport & Company, LLC, Roland Kooch, Jr., Vice-President

Closing was at the offices of Squire, Saunders & Dempsey, LLP, Bond Counsel for the District of Columbia.

First Photo Credit: Eve Corbin

Construction Schedule July 18 - 22

Demolition will continue this week -- All of the interior framing, fixtures, plumbing, and partitions to the Dent Building have already been removed. Now Monarc is jack-hammering into the structure of the building to create the open spaces envisioned by our architects, cox graae + spaak. Concrete, bricks, and debris fly out of the School's rear windows into the dumpsters.

Monarc will also cut and pour footings for the new structural supports.

Middle photo credit: Jason Gray

DC Council Vote -- July 12, 2011

SEVENTEENTH LEGISLATIVE MEETING JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING, COUNCIL CHAMBER TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011 AGENDA FINAL - 7/11/11


4. (Council Rule 339) Capitol Hill Day School Revenue Bonds Committee on Finance and Project Approval Resolution of 2011 Revenue (PR 19-243) Chairperson Evans

At its final session before summer recess, the DC Council gave final approval for Capitol Hill Day School to issue $4.5M of tax-exempt bonds. With this approval the School and its financing institution, TDBank, expect to close on the loan July 20th.

New Windows -- 214 South Carolina Avenue, SE

Renovation of the Dent Building has been our primary renovation focus. 214 South Carolina Avenue, SE, the School's townhouse adjacent to Dent, has received attention as well.

New windows were installed on July 7th. The School selected Renewal By Anderson of Washington DC & Maryland to complete the installation. We replaced our 6 over 6 windows with One over Ones, significantly improving the aesthetics of this classic Capitol Hill townhouse.

Demo Demo Demo -- July 1, 2011

Progress pictures on demolition in the Dent Building. These pictures show Level 1, the Dent Building's ground level.

1. Arches in the original design looking from the Kindergarten to the Pre-Kindergarten classroom.

2. Level 1 Foyer area.

3. Former Pre-Kindergarten bathroom.

4. Pre-Kindergarten Classroom.

5. Former Music Room.

6. Kindergarten Classroom.

7. Former Receptionist's Office.