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Construction Activities/Updates
August 8, 2008
Asbestos Soils Abatement northeast of
North Classroom Building from August 11-22, 2008
As part of the Auraria Science Building Project, Facilities Management and the construction team have scheduled the soils asbestos abatement for the new water detention pond #2 (area between the North Classroom Building and Speer Blvd.) to begin Monday, August 11 and to be completed Friday, August 22, 2008. The asbestos abatement will occur from 3:00 PM to midnight each night.
The soils containing asbestos building materials will be removed following Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulations and guidelines. The removal of the soil will be conducted in a manner that will not allow for the asbestos fibers to become air-born. The immediate area around the excavation will be monitored daily per Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulations. As a precaution and to help keep the North Classroom Building clean, the users on the East side of the North Classroom Building are asked to keep their windows closed during this time to prevent dust from entering the building. Signs will be posted around the east side of the North Classroom Building to help notify the campus community of this request.
If you have any questions, please contact Mike Turman, Assistant Project Manager at 303-556-2394 or David Krajicek, AHEC Environmental Health and Safety Manager at 303.556.8397. |
July 28, 2008
The construction fencing on the east side of the North Classroom Building will remain in place until early September. This area includes the closure of the sidewalk along Lawrence St. between Speer Blvd. and the North Classroom Building. Detour signage is posted to direct pedestrians entering and leaving the campus at Speer and Lawrence Streets. Questions should be directed to Joyce Carnes, Project Manager at 303-556-8076. |
May 30, 2008
Beginning June 2, 2008, a section of the pedestrian walkway between the North Classroom Building and Speer Blvd. will be temporarily closed to complete the second half of the storm line installation and excavation of the retention pond that will be east of the North Classroom Building. The closure includes all diagonal sidewalks from Larimer Street and Speer Blvd. to the North Classroom Building and access from the Lawrence street mall to Speer Blvd.
Detour Route: Pedestrian travel must detour to the north, directly east of the North Classroom Building and then back west under the bridge section of the North Classroom Building to the existing pedestrian crosswalk at Larimer Street. Pedestrians wishing to cross Speer Blvd. into downtown will have to cross at Speer Blvd. and Larimer Street or at Speer Blvd. and Arapahoe Street. The map below details the construction area and a travel route (outlined in red) showing the detour that is accessible to all pedestrians.
The sidewalks will re-open for access no later than June 30, 2008.
Thank you for your patience and assistance during this construction phase.
Please contact Mike Turman, Assistant Project Manager at 303-556-2394, if you have any questions or concerns.
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March 28, 2008
Following many phone calls and a March 24th press conference that included Dean Wolf, Executive Vice President for Administration of the Auraria Campus; Nancy McCallin, president of the Community College System; Dr. Stephen Jordan, President of Metro State; Bruce Benson, President of the University of Colorado System; Dr. M. Roy Wilson, Chancellor of the University of Colorado Denver; and Tami Door, head of the Downtown Denver Partnership, the state announced a solution to the funding issues for the Science Building and other higher education projects.
The state will use federal mineral lease revenues to issue up to $150 million worth of certificates of participation (COPs), a form of debt, to underwrite capital spending for higher education. The first recipient of these funds will be the Auraria Science Building for approximately $63 million. In order to make this possible, the Colorado Legislature will have to approve two bills, which are expected to be introduced soon. See the attached Rocky Mountain News article from March 26th, explaining the recent events.
This is great news for the campus and should allow the addition to open on time in the fall of 2009, followed by the renovated Science Building opening in the fall of 2010.
Thank you to all who contacted the legislature and helped us secure the funding!
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Funding Update – March 24, 2008
The state received an updated revenue forecast on Thursday March 20th, which reduced the amount available for capital construction projects in the state fiscal year that begins July 1, 2008. The Auraria Science Building request of $37.5 million (already reduced from the original $50 million recommendation) was cut to $0. Other projects, including higher education, human services and corrections projects, were taken out of priority order.
The current science building presents health and safety hazards because of overcrowding and outdated HVAC systems. Two labs have had to be closed due to dangerous levels of chemical fumes and inadequate ventilation.
Auraria has already begun construction of the Science Building, based on an appropriation from the state last year. If state funding doesn’t come through this year, the project is placed in serious jeopardy and will – at a minimum - result in very costly delays.
The Auraria Science Building supports the training of future science and technology workers. The new science building, with students from all three institutions, will educate more future scientists of color than any other location in the state and support the state’s economic development.
The campus has prepared a fact sheet (weblink: Fact Sheet) with general information on the project and how it will help the Auraria Campus.
A press conference and media tour of the existing science building was held on the campus on Monday morning, March 24th to rally the state to fund this important project. Click here to read an article from Saturday’s Rocky Mountain News on the loss of funding (weblink: RMN March 21, 2008).
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March 18, 2008
Scheduled Science Building Addition and Renovations Project Power Outage
The contractors working on the Auraria Science Building Addition will be completing a fiber optic duct bank installation and temporary construction power installation outside of the North East entrance of the Science Building over spring break. Please use an alternate entrance and exit for normal access to the building. In case of an emergency, the North East entrance / exit can be used. The contractors will be placing signage around the North East exit to guide building users and occupants to alternate exits. The temporary construction power installation will require a complete power outage at the Science Building on Saturday, March 29 from 6:00am to 8:00am. All computers, copiers and/or any other sensitive equipment should be turned off prior to the power outage. All experiments or other items contained within Freezers or Refrigerators that cannot with stand a two hour power outage should be coordinated with the appropriate institutional planner Metro State-Sean Nesbitt (303) 556-5712 or UC Denver-Cary Weatherford (303) 724-0262 or the Assistant Project Manager listed at the end of this correspondence. If you have any questions, please call Mike Turman, Assistant Project Manager at (303) 556-2394.
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March 11, 2008
In preparation for the existing Science Building renovation, Facilities Management has scheduled an asbestos investigation and survey within the Science Building beginning Monday, March 24 through Wednesday, March 26. The survey will consist of several individuals observing all building materials and testing any suspected materials for asbestos. The suspect materials will be collected and tested following Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulations and industry standards. The collection of suspect asbestos containing materials within the building will not cause any asbestos releases and therefore it is acceptable for staff to be in the building during the asbestos survey. If you have any questions, please contact Joyce Carnes, Project Manager at 303-556-8076 or Mike Turman, Assistant Project Manager at 303-556-2394.
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SAFETY NOTICE – February 12, 2008
The Auraria Science Building construction activities have been temporarily suspended due to the discovery of asbestos containing materials found in the fill dirt on site. The materials are from abandoned foundations and old building materials from structures that existed on the site prior to the development of the Auraria Campus (early 1970's). Quantities have been small and sporadic but their discovery none the less require adherence with State Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulations. The regulations require the asbestos contractors to utilize engineering and work controls that do not allow the asbestos fibers contained within the old building materials to become airborne. The workers wear protective equipment as a precaution. The air immediately around the workers is monitored as well as the air at various locations on the site.
The State requires that all soils containing this debris be removed from the site and transported to a designated landfill. The methods of removal are specifically approved by the State. An environmental consultant oversees all site operations for this process including visual monitoring of site conditions and removal methods, air monitoring, collection of samples and interpretation of all lab results. All of the air sampling to date has been below limits, with most of the samples below levels of detection. Questions should be directed to Joyce Carnes, Project Manager at 303-556-8076.
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December 17, 2007
The Science Building groundbreaking occurred on December 7, 2007. Temporary construction and office trailers were installed over the holiday break in December 2007. Interior mobilization activities for the project were started on December 17, 2007.
The contractors have modified the existing exiting patterns on the south east side of the Science Building for student and faculty safety.
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