Classroom Activity -- August 30, 2011

Teachers have been very busy unpacking and arranging classroom supplies and equipment in their new rooms.

George Watson and Laura Nakatani set-up in the First Grade is substantially complete.

Lindsey Sykes is stitching her first classroom activity in Pre-Kindergarten.

David Macleod, Physical Education Teacher, indicates where he will have his PE equipment shed installed.

Fire and Life Safety -- 1000 5th Street, SE

The School has contracted with BFPE International to install our fire detection system and security system for our temporary location. BFPE has been on site pulling cable, installing strobes, sirens, and the control panel. A separate team has installed motion detectors and door alarms to monitor after hours access.

Dent Renovations -- Chimney Removal -- August 30, 2011

Monarc's Ronnie and Kyle high up in a cherry picker to guide a crane to the Dent School's chimney that was damaged by the earthquake. Linton Engineering, LLC, evaluated the structure following the earthquake and has recommended that the unstable portion of the chimneys' crown be removed before Monarc can continue structural work inside the building. The two chimneys are so unstable that there is risk that construction vibration could crumble the chimneys damaging the School's original slate roof.

The crane and cherry picker's arrival on site was delayed as they were deployed to aid in tree removal and PEPCO power restoration. What will be next?

Capitol Hill Day School -- Sign

Jason Gray, Head of School, Stephen Mercer and Lester Edwards from Mercer Contracting, LLC, pose with the sign at the entrance of the School's temporary location at 1000 5th Street, SE.

The sign was designed and crafted by Ted Gerhart, Gerhart Studios, Lancaster, PA.

South Carolina Avenue Furniture Showroom - August 25, 2011

With a large portion of the Dent Renovation Building Project under contract our design team has begun to look at new furniture for the beautiful space we will soon occupy.

Paul Johnson, PJ and Company, the School's long-time furniture supplier, and Carmen Braun, Marketing Manager, VS America, Inc., presented their line of school and office furniture to us. Carmen's van was loaded with samples which she displayed and we tested on South Carolina Avenue's sidewalk -- a beautiful showroom.

Jason Gray, Head of School, Kelly Young, Operations Manager, and Robin McGrew, cox graae + spaak architects, dutifully took each item of furniture for a short test drive.

Earthquake Damages the Dent School

The August 23, 2011 earthquake slightly damaged the Dent School building. One of the east chimney supports is weakened and there is a risk that pieces of brick, bricks, or chunks of the chimney could fall. Please respect the yellow caution tape restricting access to School property to avoid any possible accidents.

The School's structural engineer will examine the building and our contractor, Monarc Construction, will perform necessary repairs in accordance with the engineer's recommendations.

Photo Credits: Mark Bellingham

Swing Site Activity - August 24, 2011

Concrete poured for sidewalks, siding skirt installed on L Street SE end of the modulars, and ramps and stairs assembled ready to be positioned in place.

Swing Site Activity -- August 24, 2011

In a normal year we might have residual touch-up painting, some custom carpentry, certainly trash removal and final cleaning before School opens. What a difference this year.

This morning there is a whole lot more going on. Paxton Van Lines is delivering our furniture and supplies from temporary storage, MC Dean is completing the electrical hookups, Roshal Construction Company is finalizing additional work on the plumbing connections, and Anchor Construction is preparing sidewalks, a pad for the trash dumpsters, and ramp access. Compliant Access Products, Cincinnati, Ohio, has arrived to deliver and place the stairs and handicap access ramps for the modular units. Our install team from Mobile Home Master Movers is completing the tie-downs for final structural inspection. Yesterday's earthquake was a good trial run; their straps and footings held up just fine. Mercer Contracting LLC is hard at work installing shelving and cubbies. BFPE International is running cable for the fire alarm system. Just another busy day.

Jason Gray, Head of School, and Chris Regan, Project Manager, keep their eyes on all the site-work.

Plumbing - 1000 5th Street, SE

The School contracted with Roshal Construction Company, Inc., to complete the plumbing installation to the modular units. The units came with the interior plumbing complete but the manufacturer leaves the pipes for water intake and evacuation and sewer evacuation just sticking through the floor boards. Lenny Roshal and his men connected all these pipes, are setting up the hot and cold water runs, and MC Dean will insulate the pipes so we do not suffer should there be freezing weather before we return to the Dent Building.

Crawling around in the limited crawl space to complete this precision work is not a walk in the park. Not even yesterday's earthquake slowed these men down.

Dent Renovations - August 15 - 19, 2011

Monarc Construction and its subcontractors continued the massive demolition work to set the structural steel. Last week's post showed the shoring in the Pre-Kindergarten classroom that would temporarily hold up the floors above so the arched wall could be removed. The temporary support is now gone and a 27" I beam is now doing the job.

This week's pictures chronicle more demolition. Once the steel is in place we should be reporting construction rather than destruction.

Photos:

1. The former Computer Room
2. From the Loft looking down the hallway to the Humanities classroom. Math on the left.
3. 4th Grade Classroom minus (now including) the Staff Room and the IT/Kitchen nook.
4. The former Music Room

Swing Space Activity - August 19, 2011

MC Dean, the School's electrical contractor, buries cable from the electric panel to two sub panels that will be mounted on the modular units. Once this connection is made the contractor will run power to lights, heating/air conditioning units, and plugs.

Looking towards M Street, SE the trailers are gradually filling the lot. One unit, at the end, is moving into place.

Jimmy Welsh, Master Movers' site supervisor, guides a modular unit into alignment. He guides the yellow Bobcat remotely using a set of many levers that he has fastened around his waist. Jimmy is so experienced in this maneuver that the unit quickly moves into position and then is raised to plum. Another machine raises the the other end of the unit into position. Other installers quickly bring in the ABS pads, cinder blocks, and shims to provide permanent support. The precision and synchronization that these skilled workmen bring to the task of assembling these units is amazing.

Modular Units Arrive -- August 16, 2011

The modular units arrive in groups of two or three on schedule at the School's temporary site location, 1000 5th Street, SE. We require sixteen (16) modular sections; each is customized to meet the School's educational requirements. As a result, they have to arrive on site in order. The lot is too small to store sections on site so our "staging ground" is in Richmond, VA. One truck cannot get ahead or fall behind another. When the sequence is disrupted, which does happen, the entire delivery and set-up cycle may be delayed impacting the work of all the firms we have hired to complete work to get the units prepared for the opening of school.

Our installation subcontractor, Master Movers, uses the yellow Bobcat, shown below, to rapidly align the modular units as they arrive with those that have already been installed. This versatile piece of equipment quickly and almost effortlessly swings the huge modular sections on to the site and into place. Precision work expertly done. At the same time the exterior crew sets the modular units on ABS pads and seals the roof an interior crew is bolting the joists and completing the finish work.

Electrical Panel Inspection - August 16, 2011

MC Dean, the firm that the School selected to complete the power installation for the modular units at 1000 5th Street, SE, completes last minute preparations and final review prior to inspection. Great news! The inspection was favorable. With this approval the School will request PEPCO to deliver power to the panel.

Dent Renovation Project - August 15, 2011

The first load of steel was delivered today. Two huge 27" I beams will go in Level 1's ceiling to support the three higher floors.

Dent Renovation Progress August 8 - 12, 2011

Monarc Construction and its crews were in full gear last week. Demolition continued on the interior bearing walls. The lumber delivered earlier is up in the loft with the area for the new heating and air conditioning system taking shape. Concrete was delivered and many, substantially sized footings were poured.

Picture Descriptions:

1. The PreKindergarten classroom. Minus the first set of interior arches.

2. The Science Room.

3. The Library. The interior wall looks so different!

4. The Loft. The former bathroom is to the left of the brick wall.

5. Level 1 Foyer Area. Even at this early stage of the renovation project it is possible to visualize how this enlarged foyer area will be a welcoming, functional space for early childhood teachers, students, and parents.

Progress Report 1000 5th Street SE - August 12, 2011

The District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) issued a building permit to allow us to assemble the modular classroom units on our temporary location, 1000 5th Street SE. Our supplier, Mobile Modular, has contracted with Mobile Home Master Movers of North Carolina to set up and trim out the units. We have received two sections and fourteen more are on the road from Florida, where they were assembled, to the site and are expected to arrive over the next few days.

Master Movers will set the units on their foundations, secure the units to each other, and trim out or finish the ceilings and floors so the final space appears seamless.

Once the modular units have been assembled electrical, plumbing, fire and life safety, security and communications personnel will complete specialized tasks in their areas of expertise.

Jimmy Welsh, Master Movers' Site Supervisor, reviews the work-in-progress with Chris Regan, Capitol Hill Day School's Project Manager, and Juan Garzon, Third Party Inspection Coordinator, Amar Group, LLC.