FacilityBlog from Today's Facility Manager: The First Facility Management Blog

White Paper Available: Severe Weather and its Impact on Walls and Roofs

2008-04-09T09:44:00.003-04:00

TFM has created a new, free, online resource to help facility managers analyze their purchasing options and make more strategic decisions regarding all aspects of building operations. This library of white papers sets out to streamline researching processes and increase productivity levels for busy fms.

The first offering in the TFM Online White Paper Library comes from Honeywell. It's titled, Construction Industry White Paper: Severe Weather and Walls/Roofs, and it makes the case for SPF roofing and insulation for facilities prone to extreme weather.

Here's a summary of the report.
Severe weather is the toughest test for any roof system. Each year, insurance claims hail damage average close to $2 billion and for wind-related damage more than $160 million. Ten years ago, Hurricane Andrew wrought unprecedented economic devastation, resulting in more than $26 billion in damage in the United States—the most expensive natural disaster in all of U.S. history. Natural events like this have revealed the real value of SPF as a safe, sturdy, and effective product that endures severe weather better than many other commercially available exterior systems.

White paper topics include:

Executive Summary
Building Materials and Severe Weather
Storm Events and Effects on Buildings, Including Wind Loading
Relevant Hurricane Codes, Standards, and Testing Procedures
SPF Products and Applications
SPF Testing and Standards
Case Study of Superdome Re-roofing
SPF Storm Performance Criteria
Hurricane Katrina: NIST Study and Findings
Performance of Roofing Systems and Building Assemblies
The Miami International Airport Re-roofing
NIST Findings on SPF systems
White Paper Action Plan

To download the full report, click this link.

Weird Wednesday: D-I-Y Stonehenge Down Under

2008-04-02T10:30:00.008-04:00

Earlier this year (1/23/08), FacilityBlog featured a story about Dubai entrepreneur Buti Saeed Al Gandhi, who is investing $740 million in a 741 acre-988 acre reproduction of the French city of Lyon. Today's Weird Wednesday story is about an Australian entrepreneur who is set on reproducing another great wonder of the world—Stonehenge—"because he can."

Ross Smith, who made his fortune in the microbrewery business, plans to build the new Stonehenge near his home in Western Australia. He hopes to have the new "Henge" completed in nine months (despite the fact the original took thousands of years to build), just in time for New Age visitors to celebrate the December 21 solstice.

The $1.26 million project will include 101 granite stones arranged in an inner and outer circle and a central altar, and will span 110'. But according to Yahoo News:

Unlike the original Stonehenge near Salisbury, guests will be encouraged to touch and play around the new monument, which will also have an interpretive center and a children's playground. Smith called The Henge "a business venture," and will charge an entry fee and hire it out for weddings and other events.

A small team of quarry workers in Western Australia has spent the past five months drilling and blasting the stones into shape.

Comments across the Web have been critical of Smith's decision to exploit the iconic structure for profit. Others have embraced the situation and given it a comical spin, suggesting that Smith perhaps opt to build his replica out of beer cans instead of granite.

(It's all just so "Spinal Tap," isn't it?)

Chicago Museum Presents Special Exhibit On Glass

2008-04-01T09:25:00.005-04:00

Opened March 13, the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s “The Glass Experience” special exhibit features Chihuly, Tiffany, Botti, Corning, Pilkington and electronically tintable glass products from SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.

SageGlass® products are built with Pilkington TEC® glass and will be displayed as part of the museum’s Industrious and Innovative section. Innovation, performance, aesthetics, and the environment all play a part in “The Glass Experience.” Visitors will travel through a timeline of glass as they learn about the material’s science, artistry and applications.

Presented among the architectural examples, SAGE’s electronically tintable glass switches at the push of a button from a clear, untinted appearance to a highly tinted, darkened state. This controls daylight, heat gain and glare, while maintaining the view to the outdoors. SageGlass products’ functionality helps reduce energy bills by controlling solar heat gain, minimizes glare on televisions and computer screens, protects against fading of furniture and furnishings, maximizes daylighting, and enhances interior comfort while maintaining the view outside.

Beyond architectural applications, “The Glass Experience” highlights automotive and decorative glass. A journey through this exhibition leads to a "hot shop" to watch master glassmakers turn molten glass into bowls, vases and more. There is glass restoration by the Botti Studios, as well as glass-blowing demonstrations.

Running through September, 1, 2008, The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s “The Glass Experience” is a special exhibit that requires additional admission and a timed-entry ticket. To purchase tickets, or for more information, please visit www.msichicago.org.

ASTM Publishes Compilation on Erosion and Sediment Control Technology

2008-03-31T10:14:00.002-04:00

ASTM International announces the publication of a new compilation, ASTM Standards on Erosion and Sediment Control Technology, 2nd Edition. This comprehensive new edition provides 72 of the latest standards relating to erosion and sediment control. It includes 28 new ASTM standards that did not appear in the first edition.

The standards included cover: turf reinforcement mats, erosion control blankets, articulated concrete blocks, soil loss, gabions, hydraulic applied products, geotextiles, geosynthetics, and more. This publication is a valuable resource for soil scientists, engineers, botanists, biologists, developers, landscape architects, excavating contractors, landscapers, and resource managers.

Copies of ASTM Standards on Erosion and Sediment Control Technology, 2nd Edition are available from ASTM Customer Service (phone: 610/832-9585; fax: 610/832-9555; service@astm.org).

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: The Gates Of New York

2008-03-26T09:40:00.002-04:00

Three years ago, Central Park became the backdrop for an art exhibit that received much publicity and criticism. Maligned by the likes of TV personalities David Letterman and Keith Olbermann (who, according to Wikipedia, has an apartment nearby), The Gates--23 miles of orange banners--were supported by 7,500 frames of recyclable vinyl. The exhibit was on display from February 12, 2005 through February 27, 2005.

This engineering accomplishment is now the subject of a new HBO documentary entitled THE GATES. The program chronicles the 24-year efforts of the artist, Christo, and his wife Jeanne-Claude to convince city officials and civic groups to host the project, its eventual approval in 2003 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the dramatic impact the soaring saffron-colored banners had on a cold, snowy city, its residents and visitors.

One of the directors of “THE GATES,” Albert Maysles, a renowned filmmaker and cinematographer, was asked by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in 1979 to film their interactions with city officials and civic groups as they tried to convince them to be host to the grand art exhibit that was still a concept. The documentary also features the reactions to the project from residents and international tourists, and the artists’ own reactions to their finished work -- all set against New York City’s windy, snowy and rainy landscape.

A major requirement for the project was that the materials used be recyclable. The Gates were originally to be all steel, but that would have required digging holes into Central Park. Lighter weight and less costly vinyl frames could be anchored on metal bases on top of the ground. Vinyl’s recyclability, along with its durability and color-fastness were the principal reasons vinyl was used for the 7,500, 16-foot tall frames.

After the Gates were dismantled, the vinyl frames and nylon banners were sold to Nicos Polymers and Grinding, and shipped to the firm’s Nazareth, PA, remanufacturing facility. The frames were ground into 750,000 pounds of flake, and the regrind was sold to Plastival Inc. of Montreal for transformation to vinyl fencing and gateposts.

The documentary originally aired on Tuesday, February 26. It is scheduled for rebroadcast on Friday, March 28.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Finding Neverland Among The Tumbleweeds

2008-03-19T09:31:00.006-04:00

CAPTION: What fun this must have been: The Neverland Ranch railway station. The floral clock in front of the building is overgrown. The clock has stopped, and numbers are missing. (Photo: The Daily Mail.)

It just doesn't get much weirder.

Michael Jackson, a man who moonwalked his way to fame and then fell in an equally dazzling fashion, has seen his beloved retreat, Neverland Ranch, decay to a sad and depressing shell of its former self. Reflecting the state of the pop icon's career, the scene of happier times may be up for auction any day, despite protests from Jackson family members.

According to gossip Web site, TMZ.com, Jermaine Jackson claims brother Michael’s Neverland ranch will be sold “over my dead body," even though the younger Jackson would need to come up with $24.5 million to save the 2,800 estate in Santa Barbara, California.

While the glitzy enclave once served as a happy retreat for many children (and some adults with overly developed Peter Pan complexes), the scene took on a sinister tone after Jackson's 2005 child molestation trial. The property has been left relatively unattended ever since, as Jackson became more reclusive and found it increasing difficult to maintain the property and pay its operations staff.

According to Eric Munn of the Daily Mail, "The annual upkeep for the property was estimated to be a staggering $4 million, and during its heyday, 54 full-time paid staff manned the estate."

All of the professional staff members have long since gone, and the park was ordered closed by authorities after insurance payments were not made. Now the site is far too much to handle for the six loyal friends and family members left with the task. Jackson himself spends most of his time as far away from Neverland as possible.

CAPTION: From thriller to dangerous: On what was the bumper car rink, the canopy is clearly ripped and discolored by the harsh Californian sun. Grass verges around the rink look bare and don't appear to have been watered for months. (Photo: The Daily Mail.)

Jackson has agreed to refinance the property through a deal with Fortress Investment Group LLC. As for the physical upkeep of the facility and its future, those issues are still unresolved. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

BONUS FRIDAY FUNNY: Confronting Speeders (rated R for adult language)

2008-03-14T14:47:00.004-04:00

Fair Warning: If you're offended by salty language, you might wish to skip this blog entry!

The following narrative is from an actual security incident report submitted by an FM colleague. The facts are real and the quotes were not embellished. Individual names and organizational references have been edited for obvious reasons.

Security acronyms:

R/O = reporting officer
S/O = security officer
S/M = security manager
Ms. X = a parking lot menace with a very foul mouth

R/O was patrolling the parking lot and observed subject vehicle speeding down the driveway in front of the entrance area. R/O spoke with the very same driver (later identified as Ms. X) during a previous occasion on XXXXX for the same type of incident (incident report #XXXXX).

R/O requested security backup at location for assistance. S/O arrived and spoke with Ms. X about her speeding. Ms. X was argumentative with S/O, and then began to close driver's door. S/O put his hand on the door and stated that this situation needed to be resolved. Ms. X then became belligerent and combative by pushing S/O’s hand and said, "Don't put your fucking hands on my truck."

S/O walked back to the rear of the vehicle and recovered the license plate number. Ms. X quickly exited her vehicle and confronted S/O. Ms. X said "Get away from my fucking truck" as she approached S/O.

R/O instructed Ms. X to step away from S/O. Ms. X turned and pointed her finger at R/O and said "You need to fucking stay out of this." Ms. X then re-entered the vehicle through the driver's door.

S/M and another backup officer then arrived on scene and were informed of the situation. Ms. X then pointed her finger at S/M and said "Who the fuck are you running up here?" S/M identified himself as the security manager. The subject stated "Yeah? Well, you need to take your happy ass back inside."

S/O then asked Ms. X for the name of her employer. Ms. X stated she works for XXXXXXX. S/O thanked Ms. X for the information and ended the dialogue. All parties departed without further incident.

NO FURTHER INFORMATION

Survey: Metal Siding Costs

2008-03-13T11:39:00.002-04:00

The average cost of metal siding panels remains lower than the average installed cost of stucco, tilt-up concrete, EIFS (synthetic stucco), and brick, according to new survey data released by RSMeans. While the 2008 installed cost of metal siding panels averages $7.66 per square foot, including all accessories and insulation, the average installed cost of competitive materials is at least 60% higher, with single wythe brick walls nearly three times as expensive as metal panels.

Survey data also show the cost of metal siding panels to be rising slower than the cost of most competitive siding materials. While metal and single wythe brick increased only about 3% over the past year, the cost of EIFS, stucco, and tilt-up concrete increased about 4.6%, 5%, and 10%, respectively.

Below are specific 2008 comparative costs averaged across all product subcategories as reported by RSMeans:

Metal siding panels: $7.66/sq. ft.
Stucco: $12.28/sq. ft.
Tilt-up concrete: $13.00/sq. ft.
EIFS (synthetic stucco): $15.86/sq. ft.
Solid brick (single wythe): $22.61/sq. ft.

Detailed cost comparisons are contained in section B2010 of the Assemblies section of the RS Means 2008 Square Foot Costs guide.

In compiling cost comparison data, RSMeans contacted manufacturers, dealers, distributors, and contractors to determine national average material costs. Labor costs were based on the average wage costs from 30 major U.S. cities.

RSMeans data is intended for use in estimating commercial, industrial and institutional projects costing $1,000,000 or more; costs are intended to be used primarily for new construction or major renovation of buildings, rather than for repairs or minor alterations.

Fowl Ball

2008-03-06T09:44:00.002-05:00

What Happens When Birds Make Stadiums Their Home

When the Great American Ball Park opened its doors to Cincinnati Reds fans in 2003, industry watchers hailed the stadium as a modern marvel, a facility that blended beauty and function, leading-edge design and respectful nostalgia. But the stadium quickly developed a decidedly low-tech big problem: birds.

Hundreds of pigeons and starlings took up residence in the stadium. They roosted above concourses, and decorated seats, a glass curtain wall, and the stadium’s gleaming white support beams with pounds of droppings.

“We needed 12 guys in full Tyvek suits with pressure washers working 12 hours a day all season long to clean up the mess,” says Declan Mullin, vice president of ballpark operations.

Mullin’s problem was far from unique, says Mona Zemsky, a technical consultant with Bird-X, Inc. And it’s a problem that can potentially cost stadium operators big bucks to combat. Mullin figures it cost the Great American Ball Park $3,500 every week throughout a nine month season to clean up after the birds.

“Bird infestations and droppings have caused problems for all sorts of buildings and structures, worldwide,” Zemsky notes. “Bridges, municipal buildings, courthouses, airports, golf courses, warehouses, loading docks, and more are subject to the property devaluation, cleaning costs, and health risks associated with these messy intruders. It’s unlikely that any stadium or sports complex anywhere will never have a bird problem, unless they have taken preventative steps to keep birds from taking up residence in the first place.”

Ignoring the problem was simply not an option, Mullin advises. The cost of cleaning and repainting bird-fouled areas was considerable, and the birds themselves created an unpleasant atmosphere for the more than two million annual visitors to the stadium. Not to mention that bird droppings and dead birds were a significant health concern. The stadium’s location on the Ohio River meant dried excrement easily became airborne, Mullin notes. And if droppings ever met concession areas, health officials could conceivably shut down concession operations.

The problem evolved after city and county officials successfully blocked pigeons from roosting under overpasses near the stadium. “The city placed netting on walkways and overpasses outside the stadium, and the birds moved to the stadium,” Mullin says.

Mullin’s quest for a solution was limited by local ordinances on how businesses can deal with bird infestations. Poisoning and shooting were prohibited, as were bird spikes even though the spikes are not a lethal option, just an uncomfortable roost inhibitor. Mullin’s team tried noise deterrents and plastic owls. “They laughed at us,” he recalls. “The birds pooped on the plastic owls.”

For the Great American Ball Park, Bird-X netting was the answer. Mullin chose polypropylene netting over the knotted polyethylene, though both netting materials can block birds from roosting in a favorite location. Mullin’s crews began placing the netting around the park in February in preparation for opening day April 2. “We saw a dramatic change by mid-May,” he says.

A few states away, in Nebraska, the operations staff of the University of Nebraska–Kearney fought a similar battle. Nestled in a pastoral setting just 130 miles west of Lincoln, the university is home to 6,500 students during the school year. Because of the campus’ proximity to corn and wheat fields, the university grounds were a favorite haunt for thousands of crows seeking the plentiful food supply. They seemed especially fond of the university’s athletic facilities, where they roosted under the stadium bleachers and nested on the athletic fields, says Lee McQueen, UNK’s Facilities Director.

“The problem was so bad that people used umbrellas to protect themselves from bird droppings while walking across campus, because the birds roosted in every tree,” McQueen recalls. Toys at a nearby daycare center were regularly rendered useless because they were covered in droppings. University grounds keepers patrolled the campus after dark, beating metal tubs with spatulas to try to scare the crows away. After a few years of crow occupation, the campus was buried beneath the build up.

Desperate, university officials began seeking solutions. Their quest led them to Bird-X. The solution for the university was a combination of high-tech and low-tech devices, he says.

Ultrasonic and sonic repellers–devices that produce both high and low frequency sound waves –were placed around campus. The sounds generated by the devices can range from noise that simply annoys the birds to sounds that mimic the cries of predators or the distress calls of injured birds. Ultrasonics create sounds that are inaudible to humans but are highly distressing to birds, Zemsky says. Most of the devices offer multiple volume settings and can be set to generate a varying range of noises that are offensive to birds.

The university realized the appeal of the area, and wanted to attack the problem on multiple fronts. In addition to installing the sound repellers, staff sprayed trees with a non-toxic but tacky liquid bird repellent. Next, they positioned large commercial-grade visual devices specifically designed for scaring pest birds-huge spheres festooned with holographic owl faces-around the campus. Within three months of starting the treatment, the crows had left, McQueen says. Not long after the crows disappeared from the campus, university grounds keepers got a call from their counterparts at the nearby high school. It seems the crows had relocated, and the high school officials wanted the university's advice on how to get rid of the birds.

Mullin and McQueen solved their respective bird problems the right way – with non-lethal methods, says Bird-X’s Zemsky. “Not only are lethal methods prohibited in many areas, they are also doomed to failure,” she explains. “Killing the birds may appear to eliminate the immediate problem, but really all you are doing is creating an opportunity for more birds to move in.” And most organizations, high profile or not, prefer to avoid the potential public relations nightmare this almost always creates from local residents, businesses and animal advocacy groups.

Non-lethal methods work long-term, she adds, because they teach birds that a location is undesirable. “Birds are very smart, and they are creatures of habit. If you can convince them that a location is no longer safe for them, they will leave and not return,” Zemsky says. Mullin agrees that making the stadium inhospitable to the birds was the key. “Our contacts at the Cincinnati Zoo kept telling us we had to completely disrupt the birds’ roosting patterns. Otherwise, they would just keep coming back.”

American Concrete Institute Releases ACI 318-08

2008-02-27T09:25:00.002-05:00

Updated building code highlights major revisions

The American Concrete Institute is pleased to announce the release of ACI 318-08, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary.”

ACI 318 is a standard for concrete design, construction, inspection, repair, and research professionals. It contains the latest code requirements for concrete building design and construction alongside the corresponding commentary, and includes several improvements and changes from the 2005 edition.

“Everyone from engineers, architects, contractors, specifiers, and building officials, to students and professors, regularly use ACI 318,” said William R. Tolley, executive vice president of the American Concrete Institute. “Members of ACI Committee 318 have volunteered thousands of hours to ensure that necessary updates have been made to this 2008 edition, dedicated to enhancing the safety of concrete structures.”

ACI 318 is a leading concrete design reference for building codes worldwide. It is expected that the updated Code will be adopted in the 2009 International Building Code (IBC). ACI 318-08 is also deemed to satisfy the requirements of ISO 19338:2007, “Performance and Assessment Requirements for Design Standards on Structural Concrete.”

This fall, the American Concrete Institute and the Portland Cement Association (PCA) will offer in-depth seminars to highlight and explain the changes in the 2008 Code. Details of the seminars, including dates and locations, will be available this spring.

Salt Levels Depleted from Heavy Snow in Parts of U.S. and Canada

2008-02-26T09:45:00.003-05:00

The Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) has had several reports of limited availability of rock salt in parts of the Midwest, Northeast, and Canada. Due to above average amounts of snowfall this winter season, these areas are experiencing shortages in rock salt, a de-icing agent used to remove snow and ice from roads and parking lots.

Private contractors, who remove snow and ice from parking lots, commercial businesses, and retail establishments, are finding it increasingly difficult to get salt in some areas as heavy winter weather continues. The availability of salt is decreasing quickly as more and more snow falls, causing both economic and safety issues for contractors and their customers. Some SIMA members reported having to buy salt from other states, greatly increasing the cost of it.

Jim Monk, SIMA Board President, a Certified Snow Professional (CSP), and owner of Markham Property Services Limited in Markham, ON, says, “Availability of salt for private snow contractors is extremely limited this season. As a contractor and business owner, the impact of limited salt availability occurring across North America will be our company’s biggest challenge this year.”

With heavy winter storms still predicted for these areas and winter far from over, the lack of salt can create dangerous conditions for drivers and pedestrians. “Salt shortages mean a lower level of service will be likely for most properties, resulting in more hazardous conditions,” says Monk, “We urge everyone to take the greatest care in driving and walking in these conditions, and we encourage property owners and facility managers to post signs and be extra vigilant this winter.”

People are urged to take caution while going out in heavy winter weather, as some areas are likely to be more slippery due to lack of salt.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Are Buildings Gender Specific?

2008-02-13T09:16:00.004-05:00

Architecture And Sex

A few weeks ago, this headline from About.com's Jackie Craven caught my attention. Craven is a writer who specializes in architecture, home design, and travel, and she regularly contributes to the About.com online neighborhood.

(For those of you unfamiliar with this site, which was founded in 1996, About.com was acquired in March 2005 by The New York Times Company.)

Back to architecture and sex.

In her article, Craven proposed the theory that many buildings have gender. Then she asks, "Are sex and architecture related?" Obviously, the professionals involved in the design and construction have a certain gender, but does that translate into the final structures? Craven continues:

Does a Victorian cottage, dolled up in gingerbread, seem "female"? Is a rough-hewn stone castle "male"? How would you describe the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey? (pictured above left)

The questions might strike you as a bit absurd, but many serious architecture scholars are looking closely at the relationship between architecture and human anatomy and human sexuality.

Male architecture: the Empire State Building
Female architecture: the Singapore Esplanade
Neutral architecture: anything Bauhaus?

Does your building have a gender? Is it one gender on the exterior and another on the interior? Or is this just silly speculation that would intrigue students of Freud?

Craven then provides a "photo tour" in support of this theory. To see the original post and take the architecture and sex tour, click here.

(Subliminal message: Happy Valentine's Day, in advance.)

FRIDAY FUNNY: A Man's Hay Bale is His Castle

2008-02-01T09:57:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, FacilityBlog featured a Friday Funny on building permit citations being served to two innocent beavers in Michigan. Well, here's a story about another problem with construction permits. This time, the sneaky character went to great lengths to hide his structure when his building permit was denied.

One Robert Fidler of Salfords, Surrey, outside London's Gatwick Airport, actually placed enough bales of hay (pictured, above left) around his turreted, mock-Tudor style house (pictured, above right) to hide it from neighbors, town officials, and just about everyone else for four years—just long enough to wait out the statute of limitations that would protect the unapproved structure from destruction.

Fidler was wrongly under the impression that if his structure stood for four years and no one issued a complaint, his home would be declared legal. As it turns out, he was mistaken.

From a story last Saturday (1/26/08) from John Shanks of the National Ledger:

After Fidler, 59 unveiled his home to neighbors in 2006, he was served a planning contravention notice the following March, which ordered demolition of the structure.

The site is located on the Green Belt and constitutes inappropriate development, which is harmful to the openness of the ecostructure in the area, a spokeswoman said. According to the Daily Mail, Fidler, who has five children from a previous marriage, said: "We moved into the house on Harry's first birthday, so he grew up looking at straw out of the windows.

"We thought it would be a boring view, but birds nested there and feasted on the worms. We had several families of robins and even a duck made a nest and hatched 13 ducklings on top of the bales."

The local government body is taking action that would require Fidler to demolish the house, "along with an associated conservatory, marquee structure, wooden bridge, patio, decking and tarmac racecourse," reported Peter Apps of Reuters (1/25/08). A hearing on the fate of the structure is tentatively set for February 12, 2008. Should the council decide against Fidler, he will have to take down the building in six months.

Legal Update: The Big Dig's Big Blunder

2008-01-24T10:18:00.000-05:00

Most residents of New England have been annoyed, inconvenienced, and outraged over the infrastructure project turned nightmare dubbed "the Big Dig." Plagued by problems that I won't go into at this point, this massive highway and tunnel construction fiasco was finally completed after 20 years of building and a ridiculously inflated $14.79 billion price tag. Sad to say, the completed project was compromised by serious design flaws and has experienced significant leaks (along with other problems).

Shortly after its completion, a 26 ton chunk of concrete in the Interstate 90 tunnel ceiling killed Milena Del Valle as she and her husband drove through it. In the aftermath, which sparked much finger pointing and investigation, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff consortium has agreed to pay $407 million to settle the current suits against them; several smaller companies will pay $51 million collectively to cover collective mismanagement of the project.

However, this story from yesterday's (1/23/08) AP adds:

State officials will be able to seek additional damages from Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff if a future accident or event causes more than $50 million in damages. Its liability will be capped at $100 million, and an arbitrator would decide whether the consortium was to blame. The settlement does not have a direct effect on a separate lawsuit filed by Del Valle's family.

Powers Fasteners Inc. of Brewster, NY, the only company that has been criminally charged in the tunnel collapse, also is the only one out of 15 companies that has settled with the Del Valle family. Powers, which provided the epoxy blamed for the collapse, has agreed to pay the family $6 million. The company has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, although it has denied responsibility for the collapse.

The National Transportation Safety Board found that the wrong type of epoxy was used to hold up concrete ceiling panels that collapsed and fell on Del Valle's car. The NTSB concluded the collapse could have been avoided if designers and construction crews had considered that the epoxy holding support anchors for the panels could slowly pull away over time.

While the consortium made $150 million in profit through the 20 years it managed the project, it is claiming it actually lost money while handling the design, construction, and inspections. And because it is shouldering a much bigger financial responsibility (Powers frankly couldn't afford to pay the $405 million), it is being considered the biggest loser in the end.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Real Castles Out of Sand

2008-01-23T10:42:00.000-05:00

This week's Weird Wednesday post is a follow up to last Friday's FacilityBlog article about a facility in Dubai designed for those people obsessed with their technology. From the way things are going, Dubai and its environs may eventually look something like Disney World on acid.

The latest news from a place that continues to prove it has more money than sense is that Dubai entrepreneur Buti Saeed Al Gandhi is investing $740 million in a 741 acre-988 acre reproduction of the French city of Lyon. The Lyon lover will build his creation "in an urban area near the Burj Dubai tower or in the desert near the emirate's planned second international airport."

From an AP article (1/9/08):

"I have fallen in love with Lyon, and I think this city has a lot to offer Dubai," said Gandhi, who argues the project's aim is not to reconstruct the French city but recreate its best elements, including its spirit.

Urban specialist Jean-Paul Lebat said some 3,000 homes are to be built during the first stage of the scheme, which first began with plans to build a French university in Dubai.

And from Alarabiya.net:

Besides housing, offices and hotels, Lyon-Dubai City [the "working title" of this urban planning adventure] will house a hotel school run by famed chef Paul Bocuse's institute, a French-language university offering masters in fashion, international law and economics, subsidiaries of Lyon's main museums, a cinematheque and a football training centre run by the Olympique Lyonnais.

Currently, Lyon-Dubai City is scheduled for a 2012 completion date. If this isn't weird, I don't know what is.

Last week, some FacilityBlog enthusiasts criticized the Friday Funny for being tenuous or sad. Well honestly, it's not always that easy to find funny things that appeal to a wide audience each week, so I urge anyone with something funny and facility management related to jump right in and submit it. Please do keep in mind it must not violate any copyright laws (it would be really easy to pick up a Dilbert cartoon each week), nor should it be overly offensive.

Weird Wednesday: Oddest Buildings in the World

2008-01-02T12:46:00.000-05:00

Almost everyone has seen photos of the weird and wonderful(?) creations by Frank Gehry. His Guggenheim Museum outside Barcelona, Spain is considered one of the strangest buildings in the world, according to a recent year end survey by AOL. So what other odd buildings were top tourist attractions? And how many Gehry buildings made the list?

•Debis Building Potsdam Square, Berlin (architect: Rienzo Piano of Art Institute of Chicago addition fame)
•Burj Al Arab, Dubai United Arab Emirates (architect: designed by Thomas Wills Wright of WS Atkins)
•Cave Church, Goreme, Turkey (built in the 1500s)
•The Crooked House, Sopot, Poland (architect: Szotynscy Zaleski)
•Der Neue Zollhof Dusseldorf, Germany (architect: Frank Gehry)
•Ideal Palace of Ferdinand Cheval, Hauterives, France (built by French postman Ferdinand Cheval, who spent 33 years building it and ultimately was buried inside.)
•Parc du Futuroscope Poitiers, France (architect: Denis Laming)
•Batlló House, Barcelona, Spain (architect: Antoni Gaudi)
•Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota (architect: Frank Gehry)
•L'Hemisferic, Valencia, Spain (architect: Santiago Calatrava)
•Maggie Centre, Kirkcaldy, Scotland (architect: Zaha Hadid)
•Residential Car-House, Salzburg, Austria (architect: Markus Voglreiter)
•Taal Monument, Paarl, South Africa (built in 1975)
•The Torre Galatea Figueras, Spain (designed for Salvador Dali)
•Japantown, San Francisco, California (built under the supervision of Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fuji)

Pictured, The Ideal Palace of Ferdinand Cheval. For more on this work, click this link.

WIDE-OUT Winner Receives Plow In Time For Snowstorms

2007-12-19T09:34:00.000-05:00

Western Products, a leading manufacturer of contractor-grade snowplows and ice control equipment, announced the winner of its “Wanna Win A WIDE-OUT” sweepstakes. Dan Dean of MAD Plowing & Mowing in Oregon, Wis., took the top prize, a new Western WIDE-OUT™ adjustable wing snowplow.

Since its delivery on December 13, Dean has had multiple opportunities to use his new plow, with areas of Wisconsin receiving more than nine inches of snow accumulation in recent weeks.

“The amount of snow it pushes is amazing,” said Dean. “It’s a fast plow, and it lets me move a lot of snow quickly.”

The “Wanna Win A WIDE-OUT” sweepstakes allowed snowplow contractors and operators the chance to win various prizes including Western-branded camouflage caps, one of 10 GPS units, or the grand-prize WIDE-OUT snowplow.

“I saw the plow at Madison Truck Equipment and entered the contest online,” said Dean. “I never win anything, so I thought it was a joke when they told me I won.”

The WIDE-OUT snowplow employs an innovative moveable-wing design, allowing the user to hydraulically control each wing to transform the blade into the plowing configuration that best meets the job needs – from an eight-foot straight-blade, to a 10-foot straight-blade, to a scoop position width of nearly nine feet.

Brightening The Cincinnati Skyline

2007-12-13T09:30:00.003-05:00

Duke Energy Center, the city's 750,000 convention facility, is doing its part to spread holiday cheer. Global Spectrum, the management firm at the facility, and Prestige AV & Creative Services are accomplishing this in downtown Cincinnati by lighting the 50-foot “CINCINNATI” sign on the west side of the convention center in red, green, and white.

“There is a lot happening in downtown Cincinnati during the holidays,” said Global Spectrum’s general manager at the Duke Energy Center Ric Booth. “We wanted to add to the spirit of the season.”

The sign, which will be red, green, and white throughout the holiday season, is being lit in support of Downtown Cincinnati Inc.’s effort to highlight all of the holiday events taking place in the downtown. These events include a Santa Claus rapelling down the side of the 525 Vine building and a fireworks display every Saturday night, decorated trolley service to shuttle people around downtown, the Duke Energy train display, and performances from local school and church choirs.

***
Duke Energy Center, owned by the City of Cincinnati, was reopened, refreshed and renovated, in June 2006. To read about what the project entailed, read "A Sense Of Place" from the September 2006 issue of TFM.

Ward R. Malisch to Receive Richard D. Gaynor Award

2007-12-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

Ward R. Malisch, senior managing director of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), will be awarded the 2008 Richard D. Gaynor Award, presented by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA).

The award, which will be presented to Malisch next March, is given annually by the NRMCA Research, Engineering and Standards Committee to members who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to the betterment of the ready mixed concrete industry. The award is named for Dick Gaynor, who retired from NRMCA in 1996 after more than 42 years with the Association.

In addition to being an active member of NRMCA and the senior managing director of ACI, Malisch has demonstrated his commitment to the industry through various positions from academia to construction. He serves on the Board of Direction of the American Society of Concrete Contractors and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has also helped lead the advancement of concrete knowledge by authoring more than 50 papers and articles on concrete materials and construction.

Malisch, who is set to retire from ACI at the end of this year, plans on assuming a part-time position as technical director for the American Society of Concrete Contractors.

New Roofing Course Earns AIA Continuing Education Learning Unit

2007-12-11T09:55:00.000-05:00

Polyglass® USA in conjunction with Ron Blank & Associates, Inc. has developed a continuing education program discussing the advantages of self-adhesive membranes over traditional roofing products.

Titled “Advances in Membrane Roofing,” the Web-based, self study course features a final exam that allows course takers to earn one Learning Unit under the Health, Safety & Welfare section of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Program. Upon successful completion of the course, a certificate of completion will be sent to the test taker via email.

Topics to be addressed within the course include: the advantages of self adhesive membranes with advanced adhesive technology compared to conventional materials; new products based on advanced adhesive technology; and the latest trends and innovations in roofing material selection. As a manufacturer of SA self adhesive membranes using ADESO Technology, Polyglass is well established in the field of advanced adhesives.

Old Town Hall In Bloomington, MN Revived

2007-12-04T09:20:00.001-05:00

Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. was honored with a 2007 Minnesota Preservation Award for its planning and design of the historic restoration of the exterior of the structure. The award was presented in October during the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference, recognizing Kodet’s architectural stewardship for one of the last historic town halls in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and one of the last buildings to remain from Bloomington’s historic downtown.

Due to funding issues, the two-story Gothic-revival building that had survived for 115 years was threatened to be demolished. “There was overwhelming support from the residents to save the Old Town Hall. While the wood structure was stable, the existing foundation walls were starting to show signs of failure and the exterior cladding was damaged beyond repair,” explains Ed Kodet, FAIA.

Using historic photographs, Kodet Architectural Group worked with the City of Bloomington to restore the exterior of the building and site to its original 1892 appearance. Kodet says, “It represents the history of the City of Bloomington’s government and was an important meeting site for the fledgling town of Bloomington until the 1960s, when larger facilities were built nearby.”

Currently located at the intersection of Penn Avenue and Old Shakopee Road, the Old Town Hall was moved 20 feet when a basement was added in the 1930s. To get the building to look as it did in 1892, windows at the basement were infilled and the grade brought up around the perimeter of the building.

The re-grading also allowed the building to be made accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with a ramp leading up to the front door from the surrounding sidewalks and parking lot. Meeting local building code requirements and energy requirements also were important for this project. This included installing a fire sprinkler system throughout the entire building and adding insulation into the exterior walls without removing the interior plaster when the siding was replaced.

Drawings from when the Old Town Hall was built were not available, so Kodet relied on historic photographs and field verification for the restoration. The building was completely encapsulated in stucco, which is not historically accurate for the era. A number of exploratory cuts were made to verify the condition and profiles of the existing wood. Because the majority of the wood was not repairable due to moisture problems and damage caused by the installation of the stucco, Kodet replicated the profile of all the trim and siding. The original paint colors were verified through the existing wood samples taken from the site.

The existing stucco was removed from the exterior of the building and replaced with cedar siding. Cast stone, similar to the original stonework, replaced the non-historic brick veneer at the foundation and the cedar trim was replicated. A vault added in the 1920s was removed from the south side of the building. The cupola at the roof was recreated from historic photographs. Asphalt shingles were removed and cedar shingles restored. The failing basement walls were reinforced with steel.

Windows also are key to the historic integrity of the Old Town Hall. The exterior windows were refurbished by specialists in Illinois and returned to working condition. Decorative woodwork along the gable ends was replicated and reinstalled along with operable shutters to match the original.

Kodet Architectural Group used the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Standard’s for Rehabilitation as a guideline for all work done on the Old Town Hall. This resource provided a level of quality in materials and craftsmanship that helped to maintain the original integrity of the building.

The Old Town Hall will continue to be a historical museum occupied by the Bloomington Historical Society. The Historical Society currently is fundraising for the next phase of the renovation project. When completed, the layout of the main floor will be reorganized with permanent exhibit cases and rotating exhibit kiosks in the center of the gallery. This will allow the space to be used for community events, educational workshops, receptions, weddings, and history related programs.

--------
Project Team
Kodet Architectural Group Project Team Members:
Edward J. Kodet, Jr., FAIA (President); Ken Stone, AIA (Vice President), Joan Bren, AIA (Associate), Mike Schellin, AIA (Associate); John Brandel, Assoc. AIA (Associate); Bruce Hassig, AIA; Teri Nagel; Heidi Neumueller, Assoc. AIA; Molly Macklin, Assoc. AIA; Laura Bradt; Ryan Grunklee, Assoc. AIA
Principal Consultants & Contractors
Bloomington Historical Society
Frerichs Construction (General Contractor)
Larson Engineering of Minnesota (Civil Engineer)
Mattson Macdonald Young (Structural Engineer)

Suppliers
Cast-in-Place Concrete: Frerichs Construction
Reinforcement: Rebarfab, Inc.
Cast Stone: Hines & Sons
Unit Masonry Assemblies: Hines & Sons
Clay Masonry Restoration & Cleaning: Hines & Sons
Structural Steel: Minnetonka Iron Works
Rough Carpentry and Custom Millwork: Scherer Brothers Lumber
Finish Carpentry: Frerichs Construction
Interior Architectural Woodwork: Frerichs Construction
Self-Adhered Sheet Waterproofing: Waterproofing by Experts
Building Insulation: Frerichs Construction
Wood Shingles and Shakes: Northrup Roofing
EPDM Single-Ply Membrane Roofing: Northrup Roofing
Flashing and Sheet Metal: Northrup Roofing
Joint Sealants: Twin City Specialty
Stile and Rail Wood Doors: Glewwe Doors, Inc.
Wood Windows: Restoration Works, Inc.
Finish Hardware: Frerichs Construction
Gypsum Veneer Plaster: RTL Construction, Inc.
Gypsum Board Assemblies: RTL Construction, Inc.
Painting: Twin City Painting
Signs: Sign Partners
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems: Nardini Fire Equipment
Fire Protection: Olson Fire Protection, Inc.

About The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) is the statewide, private, nonprofit organization advocating for the preservation of Minnesota’s historic resources. See www.mnpreservation.org for more information and a full list of the 2007 Minnesota Preservation Award winners.

About Kodet An award-winning Minnesota firm, Kodet Architectural Group provides a complete range of services such as architectural programming, site planning, referendum assistance, feasibility studies, accessibility, remodeling, historic preservation, lighting and acoustical design, and interior and exterior design.

Landscape Architects 2008 Call for Entries

2007-11-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has released the call for entries for its 2008 professional and student awards program. The awards honor the best in landscape architecture from around the globe, and will be presented next fall.

The professional awards entry deadline is February 1, 2008, and submissions must be received by February 15, 2008. Student entry forms are due May 9, 2008, and submissions must be received by May 23, 2008.

Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 18,200 members in 48 professional chapters and 68 student chapters. Landscape architecture is a comprehensive discipline of land analysis, planning, design, management, preservation, and rehabilitation.

ASLA promotes the landscape architecture profession and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship. Members of the Society use their “ASLA” suffix after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession.

First Seismic Manual Released

2007-11-27T10:55:00.000-05:00

The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute has released Seismic Design of Precast/Prestressed Concrete Structures. The manual represents the first comprehensive guidelines for meeting the requirements of the International Building Code and other engineering standards in regions of varying seismic hazard across the country.

“There has never previously been a publication that addressed seismic needs as they related to precast concrete design for all regions across the country and all code requirements,” says Jason Krohn, director of technical activities for PCI. “The manual was created especially because of the number of new provisions impacting seismic design in the last few code cycles.”

The ability to create a comprehensive design approach was simplified by the acceptance of the International Building Code that has merged the previous three legacy model codes into one, he notes. “Previously, it was difficult to create a design approach that could be certain to meet the three legacy building codes used in different regions. This manual now can provide unified procedures for designing precast, prestressed concrete structures for seismic requirements anywhere in the country.”

The manual presents approaches for designing precast concrete structures to meet the seismic-design provisions of Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-02) and Commentary (ACI 318R-02), ASCE 7 Standard Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-02), and the 2003 International Building Code.

The manual was written by Ned Cleland, Ph.D, P.E., principal at the engineering consulting firm of Blue Ridge Design Inc. in Winchester, Virginia, and S.K. Ghosh, Ph.D, principal in S.K. Ghosh Associates Inc., a seismic and building-code consultancy in Palatine, Ill.

The authors examine various styles and classifications of precast concrete lateral-force-resisting systems and review code and behavior requirements. These requirements are then applied to realistic examples. The manual includes an examination of energy dissipation, ongoing research, diaphragm design and anticipated code developments.

The manual is available from PCI for $175 for members and $350 for nonmembers.

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: A Truly Permanent Vacation Destination

2007-11-14T09:44:00.000-05:00

Imagine managing a facility that fits this description: it's a recently opened tourist destination equal in appeal for both the living...and the departed (especially for anyone who loves the sea)!

The death business is in a state of flux, according to an article in this week's issue of Newsweek. But in Miami, FL, things are definitely taking an interesting turn. The latest underwater "cemetery" (not a new concept, from what I hear) has recently opened, and it is doing everything it can to market the message in an alluring (as opposed to macabre) way.

The Neptune Memorial Reef, which opened this month (November 2007), is located 3.25 miles off the Miami Coast in 45 feet of water. According to the press relese, "It is a design and engineering wonder that will attract divers, ecologists, tourists...and those looking for a final resting place of unmatched beauty."

Created by Gary Levine and designer/sculptor Kim Brandell, the Neptune Memorial Reef emulates the Lost City of Atlantis. Covering over 16 acres of ocean floor, it will offer room for more than 125,000 remains, and become a "living city" that will act as a catalyst for marine life to converge and thrive.

A first of its kind, the Neptune Memorial Reef is:
· A memorial garden for cremated remains;
· The world's largest manmade reef;
· Environmentally and ecologically sensitive; and
· A potential destination for divers and explorers.

The Neptune Memorial Reef was created by the Neptune Society, a cremation only services company in the U.S. Established in 1973, the Neptune Society and its sister company the Trident Society provide consumers with a simple, economical, and dignified alternative to the traditional costly funeral.

Today the company has 38 locations in 10 states and continues to expand services throughout the United States. Watch a brief (60 second) video on the Neptune Memorial Reef below.

National Trust Accepting Nominations for 2008 Most Endangered Historic Places

2007-11-13T12:07:00.000-05:00

Pictured here: Endangered Arts & Industries Building Entrance (Credit: Smithsonian Institution)
Originally known as the National Museum and erected to house the collections of the 1876 Centennial Exposition, the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building was the very first Smithsonian museum on the National Mall and functioned as the Smithsonian's only museum until the completion of the National Museum of Natural History in 1910. The Arts and Industries Building is generally considered the masterpiece of architect Adolf Cluss, who designed more than 70 buildings in Washington during his prolific career.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting nominations for its 2008 America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list. The list is issued annually to raise awareness of historic sites at risk from neglect, deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, inappropriate development, or insensitive public policy. Since its founding, the endangered list has been one of the nation’s most successful tools in the fight to save America's irreplaceable architectural, cultural, and natural heritage.

“The America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list has been a powerful wakeup call, alerting people to treasures in trouble and rousing efforts to save them,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “This list has helped save some very significant pieces of our nation’s heritage, and we’re extremely proud of that fact – but past successes are not enough. Important historic sites are still in danger, and we must continue to protect the places that tell America’s story.”

The list has brought national attention to 189 significant buildings, sites, and landscapes. At times, that attention has garnered public support to rescue a treasured landmark quickly; while in other instances, it has been the impetus of a long battle to save an important piece of our history. The America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list has been so successful in educating the public about the importance of preserving our nation’s history that more than 35 states now publish their own lists of endangered historic places.

Among the many sites that have been listed are Historic Neighborhoods of New Orleans; Ellis Island in New York Harbor; the Kennecott Copper Mines in Alaska; Bethlehem Steel Plant in Bethlehem, PA; the World Trade Center Vesey Street Survivors’ Staircase; and “The Journey Through Hallowed Ground” Corridor in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Each represents preservation challenges facing thousands of communities.

To ensure that the most threatened sites are chosen, the National Trust uses three primary criteria to determine the 11 finalists: significance, urgency, and potential solutions. For more information about the application process and to download the application, visit this link or call 202-588-6141.

Nominations should be received by Friday, December 14, 2007, but will be accepted until Friday, January 4, 2008. The 2008 list will be announced in May.