Ken’s Construction Corner

Check here for regular updates from Ken Soistman, president, on the progress of our new construction. All construction photos can be found HERE.

So exciting – stay tuned next week for more updates. 

3/5/2021

• The new dumpster enclosure continues to be built.
• Former superintendent, Diane Bialkowski and former assistant superintendent, Maureen McCabe take a “hard hat” tour of the expansion.
• Active board and committee members, Dorothy and Dave Hilgrove get a close up look at the build-out.
• Security wires have been installed along with new updated keypads and monitoring system.
• Interior walls have been painted with primer.

2/26/2021

• The canopy slab and a new slab for the dumpster were poured on Tuesday.
• Former assistant principal, Patricia Pitts and Carolyn Chambers take a “hard hat” tour of the expansion.
• All classrooms and offices are completely enclosed with drywall 90% complete.
• Intercom and security wires will be installed in the next week or two.
• LOOKING AHEAD: The elevator will arrive in about a month!

2/19/2021

• The masonry veneer is complete
• New entrance and canopy are progressing with storefront come soon.
• Interior drywall is coming close to finishing.
• Temporary heat in the expansion is allowing work to continue with the adverse weather.
• Intercom and security wires will be installed in the next week or two.
• LOOKING AHEAD: The elevator will arrive in about a month!

2/5/2021

• The masonry veneer will continue and could be close to completion pending weather next week.
• The mock up for siding and the team meeting to review will progress this week.
• The cored drilling for the drain at the stairwell should be complete this week.
• The air and water barrier will be installed on the second floor framing weather pending.
• Interior drywall will continue to progress.

 1/22/2021

• Damp-proofing and framing of the elevator shaft
• Framing and masonry begun on the exterior walls
• Several successful inspections will allow work to continue
• The second floor exterior framing and the second floor roof framing progressed
• The above ceiling electrical will progress and should wrap up this week.
• Continued giving “hard hat” tours to staff/faculty this week

1/15/2021

• Started giving “hard hat” tours to staff this week
• Today the drywall was delivered which should go up in the next week or two
• Steel re-enforcements of the stairs has been completed.
• Vapor panels and waterproofing of walls etc. is 90% complete.
• Masons should be back next week to begin brick laying on outside walls.
• Lots of inspections taking place tomorrow and Monday for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC

1/8/2021

• Electrical lines have been run from the school boiler room through the school and to the new expansion, supplying all of the power needed for the new rooms.
• Religion room and existing Kindergarten room had their new back walls painted over the Christmas break.
• HVAC lines and domestic water has been extended from the school to the new expansion for heating and cooling and fresh water supply for bathrooms and water cooler.
• New classrooms and offices are taking shape.
• The new front entrance is getting closer to adding windows, doors, and colorful panels.

12/18/2020

• Due to the rain, waterproofing has been delayed. Many projects will continue over the holiday break, including drywall, installing door and window frames etc.
• Over Christmas break, intercom wires will be run from the existing office to the new office and new classrooms.
• Main electrical power feed from the panel in the boiler room will be run through the school and to the new panel in the expansion area.
• Brick has been ordered for the exterior of the expansion.

12/11/2020

• A number of projects are continuing and will continue over the next few weeks: including drywall, installing door and window frames etc.
• Next week and over Christmas break intercom wires will be run from the existing office to the new office and new classrooms.
• Main electrical power feed from the panel in the boiler room will be run through the school and to the new panel in the expansion area.
• Brick has been ordered for the exterior of the expansion.
• Waterproofing has been taking place this week and will continue next week.

12/04/2020

• All of the projects scheduled to be done over the Thanksgiving break were completed.
• The back stairway has been opened up
• All three of the new classrooms as well as the new reception area, clinic, administrative assistant office, principal’s office and new bathrooms have all the metal studs installed.
• Work on the new entrance and canopy continue to progress.
• Window openings will continue to be framed out.
• In the next couple of weeks, drywall will begin to be hung, door frames to arrive, outside brick to be laid.

11/20/2020

• Exterior walls have been framed with metal studs and siding attached. During the next 2 weeks the exterior concrete block and brick will begin to be added.
• Window openings will continue to be framed out.
• The new hallway corridor is now looking like a real hallway.
• Starting on Tuesday, November 24th, (when we break for Thanksgiving) the back walls of the existing Religion room and Kindergarten will have the windows closed in making a solid wall between those two rooms and the new classrooms.
• Also next week, demolition will take place upstairs in the Math room coat closet to open up the hallway for entrance to the new elevator.

11/13/2020 – RAIN OR SHINE

Work is progressing this week even though we had a lot of rain.

• Majority of exterior walls have been framed with metal studs.
• Window openings also framed out.
• Interior masonry walls have been started and the new hallway corridor is starting to take shape.
• Next week we are looking for door frames to arrive.
• Interior framing will begin.

11/6/2020 – What an exciting week: The entire student body and staff had the opportunity to sign their name on one of the main steel beams for the new front entrance. We also made sure to include all of the virtual students’ names. See all the photos HERE.

• The concrete floor for the expansion was poured on Wednesday. It was so cool to see the small trucks carrying concrete to the appropriate spots. (see photos)
• Masons are beginning to install interior walls as well as the exterior walls.
• Students and staff were able to sign one of the “I beams” before it was installed on the future canopy.

10/30/2020 – I am learning quite a bit about construction: namely don’t count on everything to happen on time! Things change, get moved to a different time, etc. etc. So you will see some repeats from last week and hopefully they will be completed this coming week.

This week we continued to see the elevator tower being built.

• The concrete floor for the expansion will be poured next Tuesday and Wednesday
• Masons will begin to install interior walls as well as the exterior walls (hopefully)
• New condensation drain lines from the existing HVAC system had to be replaced.
• Students and staff will be able to sign one of the “I beams” before it is installed on the future canopy.

10/22/2020 – This week we can see the elevator tower being built

• The concrete floor for the expansion will be poured next Tuesday and Wednesday
• Masons will begin to install interior walls as well as the exterior walls
• Permanent electrical lines and panels will be run from the existing boiler room through the school and into the new expansion.
• New drain lines from the existing HVAC system will be installed.

10/16/2020 – Leipertz Construction Company installed a black covering on the fence making it more challenging for all us to see the progress being made on the expansion. However, I did manage to sneak over and get some pictures and check on the progress:

• footers have been poured with a few layers of block installed.
• electrical and plumbing lines have been laid and ready for the concrete floor to be poured next week.
• steel beams have been put up for the new entrance/canopy and elevator!