Fall/Winter 2003/4 - Construction Work at IOTA

In September 2003, major construction work began at the IOTA site. Service connections are renewed and an extension building is added. Despite these daytime activities, obstructions for nighttime observations are currently (amazingly enough) not expected.

Check back regularly for an updated progress report and new site pictures of the current month.

Picture Gallery

	September
	October
	November
	December
	January 2004
	February 2004

Progress Report

9/10
     UPS disconnected
     Building removed
     UPS reconnected in building

     Blue stake search for trench
     Sidewalk demolished
     Dig to find trench - only waterline found 3' down
     Trench to check power lines
     Find 3 conductor power line rather than 4
     Find exit of conduits - Telephone not in conduit
     Preliminary footing dig
     Exit slab removed
     Dry well for draining 1 AC unit
10/1 
     Foundation to go below frost line 3'4" down
     Bedrock not found to that depth in most places
     Ground rod removed from foundation area
10/6
      continue digging foundations
      refill dry well temporarily to enable digging foundation
10/7-8
      upgrade fire alarm system at IOTA
10/13
     Compacted dirt test -passed
     Dry well all set with steel plate over top - car safe
           12" diameter Perforated pipe 4-5' long on end
     AB fill added and compacted to center area
     front footing dug
     ladder removed
     Steel subcontractor checking dimensions
 10/16
     ground rod put back into ground
     lines layed to show location of foundation edges
     rebar being installed for first foundation pour
           pour in bottom of trench, no forms, 1-2' deep

10/17
        Plumbing contractor came in to verify route
        for sink pump to an outside barrel.  The
        dry well has been compacted away and the
            sink is not draining well.  Work will
        probably happen on it next week.

10/23
      concrete pour #1 at IOTA 
             (10 yards to anchor building could have used 1 more)
      one truck for IOTA and one for CB.
      No revised schedule yet.
10/29 
     Forms for slab foundation installed
10/30
     Plumber looking at sink drain pump and storage tank
     rebar for new building started
11/5
     concrete floor poured - 3+ trucks worth, 30cu yds
11/10
     Steel work erected
11/12
     new power cables installed
11/14
     new power cables connected
11/20
     steel framework skeleton completed, sidewalk framed
11/21
     ground ring installed
11/26 
      sidewalks poured
      Steel work delayed by administrative/insurance issues
12/2
     river rock distributed around parking area
12/3 
     met with roofing contractor on membrane roof- Duro-Last
     plumber working on pipes to drain sink
     contractor drove off road
12/4
     meeting
     Steel workers put on metal roof
     Stairs Welded in place
12/5 
     sink completed
     electrical layout in expansion started
12/6
     Masonry work at commons
12/9  
     Electrical conduit to be installed
     Partition wall to be erected
     Waiting for steel wall panels.
12/10
     panels arrive at basecamp
12/11
     meeting
     new roof approved, 2 weeks to construct
12/12
     electricians roughing out work
12/18
    meeting
    roof work next week
12/23
     Pour concrete for Commons deck
     Roof at iota
     red iron framing of windows & AC
12/24
     Weld door frames in place
     finish roof
12/29
     cut wall panels to size - clips don't work
12/30
     attach wall panels
1/9
     Install electrical conduits, plates
1/16
     install East window, lightning protection
1/20
     install doors and lights     
1/27
     install 3 Western windows
2/4
     Seal wall openings, flash window interiors
2/5
     move exterior doors
     Corners being sealed with flashing
2/6
     Install storage room AC unit
     Install Main room Interior AC unit
2/10
     walls painted
2/13 
     sink installed
2/16
     Doors painted with second coat
2/18
     carpet installed
     door thresholds installed
2/19
     UPS moved, permanent wiring made
2/20
     New Transformer installed
2/23
     AC Condenser unit mounted
     most door handles installed
2/28
	cut opening between old/new buildings
	install blackout shades
Future ***
3/2
     fix roof leaks
3/4
     final inspection

Commons building

     basement area excavated
     deck demolished
     power line ripped out
     Water line hit
     Water line repaierd
     power line repaired
     floor leveled and re filled
10/2 Walt hospitalized
10/4 Rebar in place
10/7 pour concrete foundation  & floor 
10/14 Block delivered - working on wall forms.
10/23 Retaining wall poured ~ 9 yards
10/24 Framing walls for rooms, demolishing deck
10/28 Building block wall
11/11 New support beams added, deck demo continues
11/26 lift area apron poured
      Block wall finished
12/23 Deck concrete poured
1/9  Install garage door
1/16 Paint walls
1/27 Fireproofing
1/29 Ceiling grid installed
1/30 Ceiling panels completed

Electrical/Fire alarms
10/3     Bowl dorm connections added
10/5     Common building redone
10/8     IOTA done
10/10     work started at MMT
11/12	  work started at APT