Construction Update May 2007
Filed under Campus Renovations
Posted by Facilities, May 21, 2007
View all posts for May 2007
Here is the latest update on construction of the underground garage and new building.
We are now over halfway through excavation to the second garage level. This means we are currently in the layer of soil with the highest concentrations of organic materials, which is what produces the “rotten egg” smell. The pre-emptive odor control measures already in place are continuing, including treating the soil with several different neutralizers, and managing the removal of the soil so there is minimal open exposure of the soil above ground. Fortunately, the thick steel and concrete of the plaza level of the garage is serving as a “cap” to help mitigate odors and prevent it from being even worse than it is. The contractor recently added plastic coverings at all access points to further contain the odors below ground. They have also recently purchased some industrial sized “air fresheners” aimed at masking the odor.
In addition, as air conditioning season sets in, less outside air will be drawn into our existing buildings, helping to mitigate smells inside. We have fiddled with the set point on the air conditioning so that it comes on at slightly lower temperatures to help prevent the odor entering the buildings but without making it uncomfortably cool.
Excavation of the organic materials producing these odors is taking slightly longer than originally anticipated. We should be done with the current level within approximately four weeks, by the end of June. During this time odors will be intermittent depending upon where on our site the excavation is being done, and when the trucks are being loaded and removed. After we get beyond this level we expect that the odors will diminish significantly.
If you haven’t stopped to look at the site recently, be sure to take a peek - the steel for the new building has arrived and is now being put up! More details regarding the building construction schedule and any anticipated impacts will be sent out soon.
We appreciate your understanding and patience. Please contact Dominic Bisignano, project director at dominic.bisignano@simmons.edu or at ext. 2063 if you have any additional questions or comments.
