CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

October 1, 2007

ADMINISTRATIVE MOVES PROJECT

Renovation work will take place on the second floor of the Administration Building during the Fall with scheduled completion by January 1, 2008. This renovation will enhance the space for Academic Affairs and create space for the Office of Disabilities Services. After Disabilities Services vacates the lower level of Earle Infirmary, the rest of the renovation work to create seven faculty offices in that space will take place. This will bring the total to 15 faculty offices in the lower level of the Infirmary.

ASIAN GARDEN

The installation of the sidewalks and final plantings is nearing completion.  All work will be complete by the end of October.

CLIFF’S COTTAGE

Construction began in early September. The basement excavation is complete and the foundation walls have been installed. The contractor is preparing for the basement floor slab to be poured the first week of October.  Fundraising efforts continue.

DOWNTOWN SPACE – 612 SOUTH MAIN

The design drawings are complete for the 3,800 SF space that Furman and the YMCA have recently begun leasing.  The drawings are currently being reviewed by the City of Greenville Codes Office and approval is expected in the next few weeks.  The final estimate has been developed and we are in the process of identifying value engineering ideas.  The codes office has informed us that the entire building will need to have a sprinkler system installed due to the # of occupant planned for our space.  We have asked to building owner to pay for the $26,000 sprinkler system since it will serve areas of the building not leased by Furman and this requirement was not disclosed by the leasing agent.  Construction will take 8 to 12 weeks once a construction permit has been obtained.  All work should be complete by in early 2008.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

Natural gas prices are stuck in the $5.19 to $7.00 range for the month of September. October prices closed at $6.423 per Dk. Storage is at an all time high, and prices should come down a little more if there is no interruption of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico due to hurricanes. We have purchased some winter gas to hedge against any summer increases, and are currently projecting a savings from the target budget for the 07-08 fiscal year.

ENTRY GATE AT NORTH VILLAGE

The project is substantially complete, with final construction awaiting the delivery of the cast stone signage.  We expect this to be received and the project completed by the end of October.

FURMAN HALL

The design for the 9-11 Memorial is complete and approval of the inscriptions has been given by the Administration.  Completion is expected by the end of January 2008.

GOLF COURSE IMPROVEMENTS

At the October Trustee Board meeting, a proposal to renovate the greens will be presented by the Golf Course staff.

LAKE RESTORATION PROJECT

Plans are being developed by Earth Design, LLC for a long term, phased improvement plan for the lake.  The goal is to restore the water quality and create a more natural, sustainable ecosystem for the plants and animals that inhabit the lake.  The plan will call for improved filtration of the various water sources (stream and rainwater runoff) and dredging to increase the water depth of the lake.  Initial plans are currently being reviewed and cost estimates are being developed.

PAC BUILDING RENOVATION

Final plans are being reviewed. Work will begin in January 2008. Work will be done in two phases and completion is expected in February 2009.  Permit drawings will be submitted to the County Codes office in mid October with approval expected in December.  A notice to proceed has been given to Triangle Construction and long lead items are currently being ordered.  This will ensure materials are on site when needed and will prevent any further price escalation of materials.  Various alternates are being priced to ensure that the total project cost does not exceed the approved budget of $8,500,000.

PLANNED MAINTENANCE FOR FY 2008

Below is an update of the deferred maintenance projects for FY 2008.   

PLACE OF PEACE – TSUZUKI TEMPLE Construction drawings are now complete and final estimate are being developed.  M.B Kahn Construction Company is providing pricing on the foundation and site work.  A meeting was held at Furman in August with the Japanese contractor, Daibun Company, who will be responsible for reconstructing the Temple.

Work is schedule to begin in mid October with tree removal and site work and foundations will be completed in the January to March time frame.  The Daibun Company will begin work on the reconstruction in April and all work should be complete by September 2008.

RUGBY FIELD IMPROVEMENTS

Conceptual plans to make several needed improvements to the Rugby stadium will be presented to the Grounds and Buildings Committee in October.

SIGN ON POINSETT HIGHWAY

This project is currently on hold pending receipt of the new cast stone signage.  We have had to change vendors, and are the shop drawing phase of design with the new vendor.

TIMMONS ARENA STAGE MODIFICATIONS

The stage modifications and the relocation of the scoreboards have been completed. The new seating is being installed and curtains will be hung at each end of the court prior to the start of the Basketball season.

TOWNES SCIENCE CENTER

We received our Certificate of Occupancy (CO) on Tuesday, September 4th for the Phase I spaces (Rinker Hall, South Wing Addition, and the Renovation of Northern 1/3 of Plyler Hall).  Although there were many items not yet complete, the building was ready for the start of classes on September 10th.  The completion of punch list items and the commissioning of the HVAC and Lab systems are taking place now and will continue thru the end of October.  The only space not complete is the Planetarium.  A major rain event in August caused damage to the planetarium dome which we are now in the process of replacing.  The space will be open for the winter term.  The Physics faculty were obviously disappointed in the delay but it did not seem to have a major impact to their teaching plans.

Phase II work began the week of September 12^th with Asbestos Abatement taking place in the attic areas.  The total abatement process will take approximately 8 weeks to complete.  Demolition began in early October.  We are expecting to complete the Patrick Lecture Hall and Khort Commons by the start of Spring Term.  The remainder of Phase II which include the Renovation of the remaining 2/3 of Plyler Hall and the Townes Reading Room will be complete by August 2008.

In terms of Site Work and Landscaping, the brick walks paths on the West Side of Plyler are now complete.  Exterior lighting installation will be complete by early to mid October.  Once the exterior building work is complete, the Phase I areas will be mulched with landscape plantings installed in the winter months.