We have received a list of the LEED qualifications our architects will be attempting. Here's one of them:
To get points for promoting
alternative transportation (basically anything but automobiles, and I guess personal jets), LEED requires that there be secure
bicycle racks for 5% o more of all building users. Two bike racks will be installed at the new building to meet that quota.
Points are also awarded for providing p
referred parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles for 5% o the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. After the required handicapped spaces, the parking stalls closest to the building entrances will be reserved for fuel-efficient vehicles. (Has anybody ever seen something like this? It will be interesting to see how it works out...)
Here's a picture of the retaining wall going up...
I talked with Jamie Rochleau (Story Construction) and Sam Nikkel (Nikkel and Associate) this morning.
Let's hope it stops raining!! They both said that rain has slowed progress on the site -- it delayed the pouring of the foundation. The foundation could possibly begin to be poured today, certainly this week. Grabau Construction Co. is directing this work with Absolute Concrete as a subcontractor. The building foundation will be a "grade beam" foundation, poured along the perimeter of the building. If you look to the north of the building footprint, you will see rebar being put in place to reinforce a retaining wall that will be poured as part of the foundation work. This retaining wall is the north wall of the library building.
If you look carefully at the stakes on the site, you can see the outline of the library building. The white pipes you see sticking up out of the ground in the library footprint are the storm sewer and sanitary sewer risers that will service the new library building. The stack of pink rigid foam at the site is ready to incorporate into the foundation for insulation.
After the foundation has been poured, we will begin to see the steel go up for the building's walls. The steel columns, beams, roof joices, and roof deck are being fabricated off-site. It will be an exciting day when we begin to see those walls go up!
