Hi everyone. Sorry it's been two weeks since my last post on our building blog. I was on vacation for one week and my computer apparently got jealous and decided to take a vacation as well on the following week. Well, actually, our temporary communications connections have been flumoxing us all. Some of the staff have operating computers but no phone (everyone but me). While others have operating phones but no computer (me). We'll get this straightened out very soon.
Meanwhile, the construction project is moving full speed ahead! Over the past few weeks it's been all about infrastucture, infrastructure, infrastructure.
Let's begin with the Jefferson Courtyard area. I am particularly proud of what we've done here. We have installed a truly innovative water run-off leaching system. This is a system of underground drainage pipes, varying from 4" to 10" in diameter, which carry all rain run-off water from our roofs and hardscape surfaces to four underground leach tanks. These tanks are located under the future grassy areas in the new jefferson Courtyard. They slowly allow the run-off water to soak into our property rather than run down surface streets to the ocean. It's a brainchild of our "green conscious" architects & civil engineer and will not only help save the ocean but add signifigantly to our qualification as a "green campus". This was a golden opportunity to do this work at a fraction of the cost of retroffitting an existing site.
We have been re-wiring all of Parish Hall. One of the new features is the replacement of all eight, constantly illuminated, 30 watt exit signs. Our new LED exit signs, w/ battery backups, will use only a very small fraction of the electricity used by our old ones. We also are completely wiring the building for the computer age with digital phone & computer outlets in every workspace. Finally, the hall is being wired for an entirely new audio/visual system which will include a rear projection movie screen, new stage lighting, new public address system and a new, "rocking" music system.
The plumbing work has been extensive due to the expansion & remodel of all three bathrooms in Parish Hall. A new main sewer line has been run all the way out to the street. A great new water softening system has been plumbed and will sit just outside the kitchen along the exterior wall. The extensive network of leaking gas lines underneath the hall are being replaced. The gas lines, water lines and phone/computer lines which run from Parish Hall to Blake & Jefferson are being replaced.
The floor in the Parish hall library area and in the minister's office has been lowered. A concrete slab has been poured in the minister's office. Concrete has also been poured for some of the underpinning to support the sanctuary foundation.
All of this work will soon be covered up and you might wonder, "What have they been doing all this time?" Well, it's a lot and it's important. It's just the kind of stuff that makes a facility manager feel "giddy".
Our Building Project
Welcome to our Building Project website!
Here you will find frequent updates and photos on the exciting progress of the USSB Building Construction Project.
To learn more about the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, return to our website at www.ussb.org
Here you will find frequent updates and photos on the exciting progress of the USSB Building Construction Project.
To learn more about the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, return to our website at www.ussb.org
Building Project Slideshow
Here We Go!
Ground Breaking Ceremony, June 8, 2008
2 comments:
Sir,
We always enjoy hearing about energy saving projects involving electrical emergency lighting and exit signs. This sort of project is a good idea for all the right reasons.
For your next project, you might consider using EverGlow photoluminescent exit signs and exit path markings. In a properly lighted egress, you can benefit from the energy savings of a non-electrical, code compliant exit sign. And, you can benefit from the reduced maintenance costs. EverGlow photoluminescent exit signs do not use lamps and batteries; EverGlow signs contain no toxic or radioactive components. In California, photoluminescent exit signs are a commonly used replacement for electrical signs. Floor level photoluminescent exit signs and exit path markings are now required in some types of buildings. For more information, please visit our website, www.everglow.us.
Way to go Ken, nice to have your observations back on line. Thank you, too, for pointing out the environmentally sensitive things, since we'll hardly ever see them. I was grateful to see how much of the old wood was being used with the new framing -- thereby reducing the amount of new materials.
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