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.

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.