HEIGH HO HEIGH HO ITS OFF TO WORK WE GO...

It is another busy busy week as we work toward completing the electrical rough, the mechanical rough and the plumbing top out so that we may have them all inspected. It takes a lot of manpower to put it all together.

Dale Buchanan sent along these photos of the team installing the ductwork work for the new and highly efficient HVAC system. Previously the guides had a daily game of thermostat "musical chairs" since the entire building was served by only one ancient and very noisy unit.

The new mechanical plan calls for seven units which will allow the building to be very effectively zoned for heating and cooling. That combined with an advanced insulation system will make a major improvement in the health and comfort of the students and adults alike. No longer will the Northeast classroom be chilly while the heat is too great in the Southwest classroom. Additionally, it is environmentally responsible. Our calculations show that the larger building should cost about the same, if not less, to operate than the smaller space. It will be a real benefit to be able to heat and cool the BAC comfortably after regular school hours without having to condition the entire building. We are also bringing in clean air from the outside to avoid 'sick building syndrome'. A lot of new structures are so tightly constructed that the air inside them becomes very stale. That won't be a problem at the new MCHS.

We are also installing a serious drainage system in Miss Sarah's courtyard to carry away the water that has been a problem in this area in the past. Since we have lowered the ground level to create a really beautiful outdoor space for the children, the drainage was a "must have". Because the large North plane of the roof and the new East plane both will be guttered to this area, we must be very careful about how we deal with water.

The work is continuing at a great pace and we are very excited. Again, we want to remind everyone that construction sites are, by nature, very dangerous places. It is a violation of Dallas City Ordinances for anyone not directly related to the construction of the project to be on the job site at anytime without prior approval of the Fire and Rescue Depart and the City of Dallas Building Inspection Division. Effective Thursday, the building will be secured and the monitored security system operational. So please do not make visits to the site. We will invite everyone for the open house and be very eager to show you what we have accomplished.

I was reviewing some documentation today and came across my original agreement with the school to work with the Board on the design of the new space in 2006. It has been a long road, but the results are absolutely worth the wait. With the dedicated efforts of our Project Manager, Dale Buchanan and his entire team of top notch sub-contractors, we are building something each and every contributor to the process can be proud of!