7/25/19 - July Construction Update 

Nearly Wrapped Up or Complete

It is with great anticipation and excitement that the following projects are wrapping up or have been completed.  Students, faculty and staff can look forward to enjoying newly renovated spaces, improved parking, a new Police Headquarters, and a brand new state-of-the-art Living Building opening soon.  

 

DALNEY

The Dalney Project, located between Dalney and Greenfield Streets NW, has two components.  The new W26 Parking Deck will open with space for 800 vehicles and the potential on site for future vertical expansion.  The lot serves the Krone Engineered Biosystems Building, the Marcus Nanotechnology Building and the BioTech Quad.  The Parking deck is planned to open to coincide with the new permit year on 8/15.

The second project component, the office building, will house Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC) administrative offices. Paint, tile, lighting, plumbing, flooring and elevators are being installed and finalized. The lower level of the building was built to support potential, future infrastructure for a water reclamation unit – yet to be determined of what technical level and size.  Landscaping and signage will be complete by the end of July with GTRC expected to move in about mid- August.

 

CAMPUS POLICE DEPARTMENT

The new 30,000 sq. ft. consolidated campus police headquarters located at 490 Tenth Street held its ribbon cutting on Thursday, July 11th. The north campus location allows for easy accessibility to all areas of Georgia Tech and was designed to meet WELL Building Standards.  These standards certify that building features that impact human health and well-being are primary in the design process.  An airy, light-filled entrance lobby, a new operations center, a multipurpose/emergency center and three additional conference rooms allow for meetings and internal training in a warm and welcoming environment.  Snack machines offer only healthy options and furniture finishes meet low and no-voc requirements.  The new building allows for greater community outreach and departmental collaboration.

 

KENDEDA BUILDING FOR INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

With its focus on becoming the most environmentally advanced education and research facility in the Southeast, the Kendeda Building has made substantial progress toward its goal of opening for Fall Semester 2019.  The installation of 900 photovoltaic panels is complete along with the potable water system established and ready for testing. Installation of the roof garden system is currently in progress.  Reclaimed slate roof tiles from the Alumni House are currently being installed in the restrooms.

The implementation of innovative maintenance plans is underway to allow this unique building to be operated in a manner aligned with the Living Building Certification.  These efforts coincide with the finalizing of the exterior envelope as well as the installation of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and compost systems. The building’s soft opening is scheduled for September 2019 along with the first public event to be held in the building’s auditorium.

 

FERST DRIVE STREETSCAPE

Improvements surrounding the Kendeda Building and the future Eco-Commons area on Ferst Drive include upgraded sidewalks, new street and pedestrian lighting, and repaving a portion of the roadway.  A new westbound drop-off area will be added, five new willow oaks will be planted and a new emergency blue light installed.  One hundred and forty feet of new sidewalk will be laid on the State Street side, along with a small granite wall on the corner of Ferst Drive and State Street. An August completion is expected.

 

In Progress

These larger capital projects may take longer to complete, but the short-term impact on campus is well worth the wait.  These innovative upgrades will support resource efficiency, new pedagogy methods and improved comfort to the campus community.

 

HOWEY PHYSICS LECTURE HALLS & STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS

In May of 2019, renovation of the four large lecture halls in the Howey Physics Building began.  This building is one of the most heavily-used instructional spaces on campus and the renovation will be a welcome change.  The first stage of renovation addresses the bones of the building. The lobby floor slab has been poured, masonry repair is mostly complete, chilled and hot water piping is being replaced along with the assembly of mechanical units. 

The Howey Physics Building is a hub of learning activity, therefore work will stop at the end of the summer to allow classes to occur in the lecture halls during the Fall 2019 Semester.  Future stages will include updating the restroom configuration, renovation of the floor plans of the lecture halls, and incorporating state of the art technology and sound engineering within the building. The renovation of the 4 lecture halls will begin during the Spring semester 2020.

 

SMART LABS INITIATIVE

This initiative strives to improve the functionality of laboratory spaces in the Ford ES&T and U A Whitaker (BME) buildings by reducing energy consumption and creating a safer, more comfortable laboratory environment. The project will be a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC). Modifications will address demand-based ventilation strategies, HVAC controls and monitoring, and solve deferred maintenance issues.  Renovation scheduling is in effect with completion of the initiative expected by October 2020.

 

PRICE GILBERT & CROSLAND TOWER RENEWAL

Crosland Tower opened with much excitement in January and is already heavily used by graduate and undergraduate students. Phase 2 of that project began with the establishment of safety features to be addeed to the roof parapet wall.  Access to the roof has been closed until these changes are complete.

Price Gilbert roof parapet framing and penthouse steel installation is currently in progress.  South Bridge glazing is complete along with South Side Curtain wall framing on the first through fourth floors.  Completion of the North side Curtain wall glazing is dependent upon the installation of the elevator.  The east elevation brick is in progress along with sheetrock installation on the ground level. Final completion of the project is expected by Spring 2020.

 

BEHIND THE SCENES

Several smaller campus upgrade projects have been underway throughout the summer.  While not all of the campus community may notice these improvements, every one of them helps our Institute be the best it can be.  The majority of these projects should be completed in time for the start of Fall Semester.

Exterior Improvements

• Heffernan House Retaining Wall Reconstruction
• Alumni House Waterproofing & Drainage Improvements
• Mason Building Façade Repair & Assessment – (Barricaded for Pedestrian Safety, concrete deficiencies to be evaluated and repaired from August to September.   Further extensive remediation may be required after inspection and immediate repairs are completed.
• The Weber Building received a new roof
• Bobby Dodd Stadium Repairs – replacement of corroded steel that serves as lateral bracing and handrail anchoring

 

Interior Upgrades

• The H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE) Study-Meeting Area Studio Renovation (Rooms 108,109, 110)
• O’Keefe ROTC Renovation of Finishes & Systems 1st & 2nd 
• Elevator Modernization @ Edge Building
• College of Architecture East Basement & 1st Floor Select Restroom Renovation – Restrooms will be renovated to provide ADA accessibility and 3 new gender neutral stalls.
• College of Computing Auditorium 017 Renovation
• College of Architecture West Studio 152 Renovation
• New flooring in IBB, Whitaker BME and MARC L1 corridors
• New flooring in COB 3rd & 4th floor classrooms

 

JUST GETTING STARTED

DEMOLITION OF 828/830 WEST PEACHTREE STREET

This project will demolish the existing buildings located on the northwest corner of West Peachtree, 828 and 830 W. Peachtree St., to accommodate the next phase of Technology Square.  A Hazmat survey and environmental report are underway.  The budget is being finalized and documents created for approval by the Board of Regents.  The demolition is slated for late 2020.

 

DEMOLITION OF BERINGAUSE (OLD POLICE BUILDING)

This project will remove the existing Police Department Building located at the corner of Ferst and Hemphill to make way for the new EcoCommons green space. The one story structure is of minimal architectural significance and has been approved for demolition by the Governor of Georgia. Demolition conditions will be coordinated with the design of the EcoCommons to direct the depth and grade condition to be left upon completion of the demolition. Demolition is slated for August and dependent upon the completion and use of the Dalney Deck for Police Staff parking.

 

CAMPUS CENTER

The Campus Center project will provide a comprehensive renovation of Georgia Tech’s Student Center complex.  The current facility will be transformed into a broadly-focused center to better serve the needs of the entire campus.  Ample and effective space will be created and dedicated to social interaction, relaxation, creative expression and support of our diverse community. 

Phase 1 launched in May and included infrastructure work on storm water and sanitary sewer drains.  The construction of the parking deck is substantially complete.  The discovery of hidden or “dead” piping has caused some delays as they were not revealed by initial surveys of the area. 

 

E81 PARKING DECK

E81- Tech Square/GT Hotel and Conference Center/Scheller parking deck will be undergoing maintenance work from Monday, July 15, 2019 to 7:00 a.m. to Saturday, September 7, 2019. Parking is permitted in the deck during maintenance.  Below is a general idea on the time and location of the work:

·         Level 6                                  July & August

·         Level 5                                  July, August and September

·         Levels 2 and Ground          August

 

 

COMING SOON

ECO COMMONS LIVING BUILDING SECTOR

The overall Eco-Commons concept encompasses approximately eighty acres. The portion of the Eco-Commons currently under construction consists of approximately eight acres and includes a performance landscape and passive greenspace which will become the centerpiece for non-structured activities enhancing campus life. Demolition, grading and infiltration system activities are underway.  

Upon complete, the project will incorporate urban agriculture and a stream channel to mimic historic water flow while capturing storm water for reuse and infiltration as part of Georgia Tech’s goal to reduce storm water runoff by 50%. A network of storm water utilities and reclaimed water utilities will be installed as a part of this project.