Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Move-in begins

Carpenters with Interstate Office Partitions are finalizing work on the third floor assembling office furniture. At the same time, staff from the New England Regional Council of Carpenters has started to move in to their office space on the floor. The move is scheduled to be complete by the end of this weekend.

There are some final punch list items to be completed by subcontractors throughout the building, all items are scheduled to be complete by the end of next week. A few items that will be finished this spring include landscaping, fencing and exterior painting at the terrace (including handrails).

The FFE (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) work on the second and first floors will be coordinated by the Boston JATC and are scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks.

Friday, January 15, 2010

First and third floors complete

Volunteer members from Local 2168 have been installing wood flooring on the second floor.

Before floor installation began, crews working for Allegheny Contract Flooring completed preparatory work on the existing concrete floor (see past post and video).

Floorlayers working for Pavilion Floors have completed installation of carpet in the office spaces, vinyl flooring in storage rooms, and cork flooring in break rooms. Walnut wood flooring is currently being installed by Local 2168 volunteers in the main lobby, corridors and the communicating stair connecting the second floor to the first floor.



Final touch-up painting is scheduled for completion on the first floor later today. While that is going on, crews with Pavilion Floor are completing the vinyl base board work.

With the first floor painting complete, the crew will move up to the second floor to complete the final coat and touch up work. As on the first floor, Pavilion Floor will then install the vinyl baseboard. Baseboard is a functional feature that covers the joint between the wall surface (drywall) and the floor.

In areas where there is wood flooring, wood baseboard will be installed by carpenters working for Archer Corporation. The wood baseboard was manufactured by carpenters at the Millwork One factory located in Rhode Island.

By the end of the work day today, the first and third floors will be complete. The second floor is expected to be complete by the end of next week.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Certificate of Occupancy (temporary) Issued

As of Thursday, January 14, 2010 the City of Boston’s Inspectional Services issued a Certificate of Occupancy (temporary).

The certificate is temporary because there is additional work, which does not affect life-safety issues, to be performed in the building.

This clears the way for furniture, files, and all other items to be moved into the building.

A final certificate will be issued when all work is complete.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Carpenters Going Green: Point Breakdown Category 5- Indoor Environmental Quality

9 points Attained

Prerequisite - Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control – the entire building has been designated as non-smoking. Any exterior smoking must be 25 feet away from entries, outdoor air intakes and operable windows.

1. Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring – the building is designed with a permanent CO2 monitoring system in all higher occupancy spaces

2. Increased Ventilation - designed to comply by allowing the mechanical system to provide breathing zone outdoor air ventilation rates and at least 30% above the minimum rates

3. Construction IAQ Management Plan – During Construction Suffolk Construction is committed to implementing a construction IAQ management plan in accordance with LEED requirements

4. Low-Emitting Materials – Adhesives and Sealants (VOC limits) Specified adhesives and sealants that comply with the South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule #1168 and Green Seal Standard

5. Low-Emitting Materials – Paints and Coatings (VOC limits) Project uses paints and coatings inside the building envelope that complies with the Green Seal Standard GS-11 for paints and primers Standard GS-03 for anti-corrosive paints and the South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1113 for finishes, stains, and sealer



6. Low-Emitting Materials – Carpet Systems (CRI Green label program and VOC limits). The project uses carpets and carpet cushions that meet the testing and product requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus Program. All of the carpet’s adhesives will meet VOC limits.



7. Low-Emitting Materials – Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products - Will not use composite wood and agrifiber products that contain urea-formaldehyde resins inside the building’s envelope.

8. Lighting – individual controls for 90% of occupants. There are lighting controls for every regularly occupied space. Private and shared offices have two-level occupancy sensors, individual workstations have flexible, integrally-switched task lights, and classroom/conference spaces have multiple levels of switch controls to allow for adjustment of lighting levels in accordance with the activity.



9. Thermal Comfort Design - targets to maintain 75 degrees and 50% relative humidity in the summer and 72 degrees in the winter.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Project Update: first and second floor work continues



A few projects have been completed in the pavilion entrance of the building including the installation of the reception desk, painting, and flooring. The flooring in this area includes stone tile on the main floor and wood on the the stair treads connecting the entrance to the second floor.

The wood chosen for the Pavilion stairway is called Ipe. Ipe, pronounced "ee-pee," is also known as "Brazilian Hardwood" and is one of the hardest woods known to man. It is a deep dark brown colored wood with exceptionally fine graining. It is one of the densest woods available and is fire resistant. The exterior stairs are also being laminated with Ipe.



Fourteen welding booths have been received and installed in the welding area. This is located on the Northeast portion of the building and the large glass windows makes this training area visible to those traveling on the Expressway.


Meanwhile, interior signage has been hung throughout the building. These include office numbers, room names (i.e. electrical closet, pump room), non-electric life and safety signs (exit signs), floorplan signs, and fire alarm pull switches.



Finished lighting fixtures, which are complete on the third floor, are being installed on the second floor.


Elevator inspections were held last week. Each elevator (passenger, freight, and wheel chair lift) passed inspection. Fire alarm inspections are scheduled to happen this week. Boston Inspectional Services will conduct initial inspections and provide a temporary certificate of occupancy, which will give clearance for furniture to be moved in to the space. The Final inspection is slated for January 28th.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Then and now

December 2008



January 2010

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Third Floor nearly complete

Work is nearly complete on the third floor of the Carpenters Center. The flooring has been installed, which includes carpet in the offices and hallways, hardwood in the lobby, linoleum in the storage closets and cork in break room.



Architects from ADD, Inc. completed a walk around of the third floor last week and created the punch list for the floor. During a punch list walk around the architects look for things such as nicks in walls, scratches in the paint, light bulbs that need replacement, defects in products, caulking and seal of windows, and door lock function. A list is created of every item that needs to be addressed and yellow sticky notes are attached to the area to specify location.


Yellow sticky notes mark punch list items.

The various trades will respond to the punch list and make the necessary repairs and finish work.

Once the punch list is complete the final cleaning for the floor will begin. After the cleaning, each room will be locked shut until the furniture is moved in, which will happen in late January.

While crews work on punch list items, carpenters working for Pappas Co. began installing venetian blinds throughout the floor.





A little over a year ago....

Monday, January 4, 2010

Carpenters Going Green: Point Breakdown Category 4- Materials and Resources



Prerequisite 1, Storage and Collection of Recyclables: The Carpenters Center will have recycling areas that serve the entire building for paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals. Storage rooms for the recyclable materials are provided on levels 1,2, and 3.


3 Points Attained

1. Construction Waste Management – divert 50% from disposal
2. Construction Waste Management – divert 75% from disposal - Suffolk Construction implemented a Construction Waste Management Plan as a means to ensure that a minimal amount of waste debris is disposed of in a landfill, and that all LEED requirements are met.

3. Recycled Content – 10% by cost (post-consumer + ½ pre-consumer) - A minimum of 10% of the total materials cost needs to be the recycled content value of the project.

Post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content is in the building’s materials and products. Some materials and products that contain recycled content include structural steel, carpet, flooring, and acoustical ceiling tile.


This box of carpet squares reads:
"High Recycled Content. 100% Recyclable."

98%!

As of January 4th, construction of the Carpenters Center is 98% complete!