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Category: Construction Updates

Getting Closer  February 8th, 2011

For those of you following the construction, you’ll notice that most of the windows have been installed.  Construction Crews are well under way framing the interior of the building and in some cases drywall has already begun to go up.  Within the next few weeks the large glass panels in the center of the building will begin to be installed along with the glass alongside the coffee shop and market.

With the September 1st completion date approaching, our Assignments and Room Management Office has begun incorporating building floor plans into the room selection system.  Students will be able to begin selecting their rooms later in March.  For more information about the room selection process check out https://uhds.oregonstate.edu/myuhds/.

For a different perspective on the new facility, start checking for future blog posts from future building staff members!


October Update  October 5th, 2010

As you can see a great deal of work has been accomplished during the summer.  You will now see that construction crews have the decking in place that will be used to form the 4th floor.  Some quick highlights from the project:

  • Running water:  Some people have noticed what seems to be a water leak inside of the building.  Believe it or not this is intentional.  Allowing water to run over the newly poured concrete helps the concrete cure without cracking.  Many of the floors throughout the building will left as exposed polished concrete, so it’s important that we start out right!
  • Building name:  Early this spring a committee comprised of representatives from UHDS and INTO-OSU met to discuss possible names for the new building.  The committee has nearly completed its work and we are hoping that a name will be approved and annouced within the next several weeks.
  • Sustainability:  While the project team has decided not to pursue LEED certification though the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the building is implementing a variety of sustainability measures that will be equivalent to USGBC’s LEED Gold rating.

As work progresses, we’ll be sure to post another update.  Please feel free to post any comments or questions about the project.


Foundation work  June 8th, 2010

This week construction crews will be hard at work to prepare for the pouring of the foundation.  Critical tasks include running all of the utilities (water, electricity, sanitary) that will need to come up through the concrete slab to service multiple areas of the building, forming the concrete reinforcements, and installing temporary water and electrical service to the building site.  To ensure that we meet our construction milestones, crews will be working this Saturday (6/12/2010).  None of the construction related activities are expected to have an impact on this weekend’s graduation events.

Read the rest of this entry »


Construction Update 5/17 thru 5/21  May 17th, 2010

For May 17th – May 21st, 2011, please see the following for what construction will impact.

Significant Impact(s):

  • Limited parking on 17th street (see below for details)
  • Traffic control revisions on Western between 16th & 17th
  • Equipment Noise

Monday:   (7:30am – 4:30pm)

  • Prep for temporary trailer installation delivery (Fortis layout, foundations)
  • Construct temporary construction driveway into site (rock trucks, front-end loader & compactor)
  • Begin mass excavation of the building pad (track hoe, back hoe & rock trucks)
  • Excavate for new sewer connection to the construction trailer (track hoe, back hoe) Read the rest of this entry »

Construction Update 5/10  May 10th, 2010

Significant Impact(s):

  • Limited parking on 17th street (see below for details)
  • Traffic control revisions on Western between 16th & 17th
  • Equipment Noise.

Monday:   (7:30am – 4:30pm)

  • Flaggers & traffic control on Western to sawcut/prep/pour-back for new AC paving patch (sawcutter & AC Paving trucks/equipment)
  • Fill-in & compact foundations at A Ave future parking area where old houses were demo’d (track hoe and back hoe)
  • Construct street section on 16th and A (track hoe, back hoe & rock trucks)
  • Survey & layout for site electrical re-route work Read the rest of this entry »

4/26 – 4/30  April 26th, 2010

IMPACT: Noise & Revised Traffic Patterns

This week the construction team will be focusing on removing the remaining public utilities that run under 17th Street.  Because 17th is now OSU property, the public utilities that run under the street (sewer, water, etc) must be removed.  Crews will also be removing the existing light poles and overhead electrical lines.  Most of the noise this week will come from equipment & truck backup alarms, and from the demolition of 17th street.

Over the next two weeks crews will also begin doing the mass excavation of the site.  This entails digging the footprint of the building to prepare for the pouring of the foundation and installation of concrete footers that will support the building superstructure.

For more information about this project please go to: http://oregonstate.edu/uhds/llc


Stripping & Grubbing the Site  April 22nd, 2010

IMPACT: Some noise expected

This morning crews began the process of stripping and grubbing the site.  This involved the removal of trees and bushes.  Over the next few days crews will be removing the remaining trees, basketball court, and continuing to prepare the site for the foundation excavation.



ROAD CLOSURE  April 19th, 2010

IMPACT: High

Vehicles parked in the following areas must be moved by 11:59pm, Tuesday, April 2oth.  The areas are:

1. SW 16TH STREET BETWEEN SW WESTERN BLVD. & SW A AVENUE
2. SW 17TH STREET BETWEEN SW WESTERN BLVD. & SW A AVENUE
3. SW A AVENUE BETWEEN SW 16TH STREET & SW 17TH STREET

This closure is necessary as crews will begin fencing off the construction site on Wednesday morning.  Remaining vehicles may be subject to towing.


A Quiet Week  March 29th, 2010

This will be a relatively quiet week as the project team finishes many of the administrative details before construction ramps up.  The only noticeable site work will be survey crews, and the installation of additional tree protection and erosion control.

Thursday – 4/1/2010

Impact: None anticipated

  • Locate underground utilities near the building site

Friday – 4/2/2010

Impact: Minimal

  • Traffic control  and parking signage placed at site
  • Remaining tree protection and erosion control installed
  • Site surveyed

For more information about the Living Learning Center, check out the project website.


Welcome  March 26th, 2010

This blog will be your source for updates relating to the new Living Learning Center that is set to open September 1, 2011.  The nature of this project has presented some unique challenges and opportunities for the design team, in that our goal has been to create an environment that blends the academic and residential experiences of the students living in this facility.  But how do you integrate more than 25 classrooms, an auditorium, a coffee shop and market, lounges, and rooms for 350 students?

The design team has been working to answer that question since early September 2009.  With the help of Mahlum Architects, Fortis Construction, and dozens of focus groups, we’re confident that we have answered this question with a phenomenal design that will bridge academics and residential living.