Campus Construction

**HelmutVII** · January 2nd, 2012, 12:19 am

Some examples of waterproofing in new construction.

This is how they are waterproof the below grade foundation of the new buildings. The bricks will be placed on a brick ledge at the bottom of the black membrane. The membrane is continuous up the wall an on to the bottom of the OSB sheeting of the exterior wall. Any water that may penetrate the brick does not go into the foundation and then into the wall. Any trade that needs to penetrate the exterior wall needs to do it above the black membrane. I saw a guy cutting the material and applying it today Jan 1, 2012. The red pipe to the left is a fire line Post Indicator Valve for the fire sprinkler system. It indicates open or closed and should never be closed unless the fire line is being tested or maintained. (It's connected to a fire alarm and the alarm should go off it it's closed)

This is a weep hole above a typical Window on Huger Hall. Any moisture that accumulates between the brick and the wood stud wall has a chance to evaporate through this hole.

Caulking, below sill weep hole and below sill flashing under a window on Huger Hall. Any water or moisture that enters the wall around the window is forced to exit at the weep hole by the flashing (the white material showing at the first brick course below the window sill). The sill is a one piece precast element as apposed to a brick rowlock.

An at grade weep hole in the brick wall of Huger. There are hundreds of these around the building and should be at or about the level of the high point of the black membrane shown in the first photo above.

**HelmutVII** · January 2nd, 2012, 12:38 am

Second floor framing continues on the first Rose Garden residence Hall. The concrete slab and foundation of the second Rose Garden residence hall can be seen in the foreground.

First floor framing of the second Rose Garden residence Hall has started.

Concrete slab and foundation of the second Rose Garden residence hall was placed on the evening of December 27 into the morning of December 28.

A "pull gap" for the post tension concrete foundation. The short rods are standard No 4 rebar while the long rods are not rods but steel cable. They will attach a hydraulic jack to the cable and pull them tight to force the concrete into compression. The tension is placed in the cable "post concrete placement" hence a "Post tensioned concrete slab and foundation". They have to have a pull gap because the foundation is too big.

**Turbine** · January 2nd, 2012, 08:42 am

HelmutVII you are the best.

Thanks

**njustice** · January 2nd, 2012, 11:48 am

I love reading this thread. It's fascinating!

**CajunAmos** · January 3rd, 2012, 05:47 pm

I can follow most of your descriptions, but what's the purpose of putting tension on the concrete slab?

**HelmutVII** · January 3rd, 2012, 06:39 pm

Originally Posted by CajunAmos

I can follow most of your descriptions, but what's the purpose of putting tension on the concrete slab?

As concrete cures (hardens) it shrinks for various reasons. In a foundation, the footings are thicker than the slabs and as a result the footings don't move. So as the concrete shrinks the only place for it to move is in the slab because it's thinner (typically four to five inches) resulting in cracks. This is objectionable for many reasons and it is best to keep the cracks to a minimum. The post tension cables are anchored on one edge of the concrete while the other end has a wedge shaped thimble cast into the edge. The cable is in a plastic sheath to keep it from bonding to the concrete. After the concrete has set for a few days they will place a hydraulic jack on the thimble end of the cable and pull it tight. They then force a wedge into the cast in place thimble to grab onto the cable. They then release the cable. They do this twice to get the full benefit of the cable. (if they did it all at once or to soon the concrete would not be strong enough to withstand the force of the cable). The result is that the concrete slab and foundation are pulled together by the tension in the cable. When this happens any cracks that may have developed are pulled together. Imagine a very strong rubber band pulling the concrete together. The result is the cable is in tension and the concrete is in compression with a net result of minimizing cracks that have developed and eliminating any future cracks.

If you watch it being done, and don't know what they are doing, it is quite perplexing. The number one thing to remember if you are in the area when they are doing this is to not stand in line with the cable. If the cable or the anchor would happen to break, that cable will shoot out of that concrete like a cannon ball. This is one of the main disadvantage of post tension foundations. Imagine a plumber or electrician breaking into the floor to make a future repair and unknowingly cuts one of the cables. It could very well kill them at worse or at best scare the hell out of them.

I hope this answers your question.

**CajunAmos** · January 3rd, 2012, 07:16 pm

Thanks

**HelmutVII** · January 8th, 2012, 09:52 pm

Students started to move into Huger Hall today. Some were relocating form Harris and Randolph. One girl was not to happy about moving out of Randolph as you could see it on her face.

They have trimmed and mulched under the oak tress along Tulane Avenue. They look much better. Huger is to the rear. Hamilton is to the right and Tulane Ave. is to the left.

The common area between Baker and Huger. Huger is to the right and Baker is to the left. Hamilton Hall is to the rear.

The rear of Huger Hall. Baker is to the rear of the camera.

The rear of Baker Hall. Huger is to the rear of the camera.

**RedTails** · January 8th, 2012, 10:07 pm

Looks great, thanks for all the pictures Helmut.

**HelmutVII** · January 8th, 2012, 10:19 pm

Rose Garden work continues to progress.

This is the second building as seen from the east Harris Hall fire escape. University Ave is to the right. They were cleaning off the slab so they could layout the interior walls this morning.

The second building as seen from the north Harris Hall fire escape. University Ave. is to the rear.

The second building as seen from the north Harris Hall fire escape. University Ave is to the right. The first building is to the rear.

Starting to frame the third floor walls of the first Rose Garden building. The yellow wall adjacent to the elevator shaft to the right is a fire wall. University Ave is to the right and Randolph hall is behind the new building.

The future alley way between the two new rose garden buildings. In a few more weeks we will really start to see what the final product will look like.

Third floor framing has begun on the first rose garden building. Buchanan Hall is to the rear of the camera, Randolph Hall is to the left. (This is where Huger hall used to be).

Another view of the first Rose Garden building. Buchanan Hall is to the right. Randolph Hall is to the rear.

A view of the first Rose Garden building. University Ave is to the left, Randolph Hall is to the right and McKinley is to the far rear.

The first concrete block and brick courses on the first building. This has covered the water proofing shown last week. I would guess that the ground level weep holes will be in the next brick course. This should get them above the proposed finished grade around the building. They have sealed the water proofing membrane to the Tyvek building wrap placed around the first floor. Tyvek is the third level of water proofing placed on the building. Tyvek is good stuff, it's kind of like GoreTex for a building. It lets the building ventilate without letting moisture enter.

They have started to move students out of Buchanan and Harris Halls and they will start the renovation of these buildings soon. I don't know how much longer I will be able to access the Harris Hall fire escape. I might have to pull some strings.

**HelmutVII** · January 9th, 2012, 06:47 pm

OOPS posted one photo twice.

**Turbine** · January 9th, 2012, 08:56 pm

Does UL expect to make money or just pay for the buildings cost with future dorm income?

**Boomer** · January 9th, 2012, 10:02 pm

Well with T-Joe's strategy of low cost build it now and very low interest build it now ---We might just do both!!!!!

**HelmutVII** · January 15th, 2012, 10:33 pm

The Baker-Huger complex is finished. All areas are open and the parking lot behind Hamilton Hall is cleaned and being used by faculty and staff of Hamilton Hall. These photos will be the last of the Baker Huger complex I will post unless I see something going on. The area is very nice. When you out of town folks get into town, you should stop by and take a peek, it is really nice. Photographs do not give the scale of what has been done.

This is the entrance to the Bake Huger Common area from Hamilton Hall. Taft Street is to the far rear of the photo.

This is a patio in the Baker Huger common area.

This is the entrance from Taft Street. Hamilton Hall is to the rear of the photo.

This is Baker-Huger as seen from the top of the new parking garage (Olivier Parking Tower)

**HelmutVII** · January 15th, 2012, 10:53 pm

Rose Garden construction continues.

This is a view of the construction from the top of the Olivier Parking Tower. Buchanan Hall is to the left and the roof of Harris Hall is to the right.

First floor framing of the second building continues. They will be starting to deck out this week if all goes well. As seen from the east Harris Hall fire escape. University Ave. is to the rear and right .

Another view of the first floor framing of the second building. As seen from the north Harris Hall fire escape. University Ave. is to the rear of the building. This is where Bonin Hall used to be.

The remainder of the first floor of the second building. Still plenty of framing to do . The stair well to the left is where Evangeline Hall used to be.

The elevator shaft and stair wells of the first building are being swallowed by wood framing. To the right of the building is the third floor framing. One and a half more floors to go.

First building to the left and second to the right. Alley is between the two. University Ave is to the far rear of the photo. This is as seen from the Student Union service drive.

First building as seen from the University Ave/Hebrard Blvd. Intersection. Randolph Hall is to the right, University is to the left and Taft is to the far rear of the photo.

Lots of cut offs at the cutting station. Plenty of saw dust too. they will be here for a while.

OOPS, somebody hit the corner with a piece of equipment. I guess there might be a brick layer or two hanging around to fix it The plywood with caution tape in the background is protecting Buchanan Hall from the same. It's a pretty tight squeeze between Buchanan and the new building.