Maintenance and Operations Updates

10/22/02: Construction Update #7

Colleagues,

Introduction

The Fire Lane Project remains on schedule. Tremendous progress continues to be made on the north-south mall walks. Adjacent to the concrete, you can now observe the Granitepave and Grasspave 2 being installed. The photos below illustrate installation on the GCC campus. Those interested in the technical aspects of these products can find additional information in Construction Update # 4.

Grasspave 2-Installation in progress

North end of campus--Fire Lane complete

The link below connects this message to the campus construction map. Again, red=under construction, blue=completed work. Click on now for a quick look.

http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/index/campus.cfm?see=Construction

Construction Highlights - To Date

The contractor has completed approximately 400 meters of fire lane on the north-south mall, from Physical Science to the center of the campus. A social - gathering area in the center of the mall (Patio-Norte), between Life Science and the High Tech Centers, now sports red concrete as is open for use. The "Grounds for Thought" coffee bar will relocate here soon and the benches will be re-placed. Please stay off the grass behind the taped areas to allow the sod to take root and winter overseeding to proceed.

Construction Highlights - October 26 - November 13

Construction will continue in the center of the campus and then the contractor will proceed east, past the north end of the 01 Bldg. Some sidewalk detours will be necessary (orange fences), but cross mall access will be provided at all times.

Sod removal, irrigation installation/adjustment and electrical work (light poles) continues along the north south mall from the PS Bldg. south to the center of campus and east toward the Humanities Classroom Bldg. (HU). Lighting is operational along the entire length of both malls.

The renovation of the SPS Bldg. (east side) began on September 9th. The project is scheduled for completion on February 6th. The contractor has erected fencing around the entire building. Please remain out of of this building unless escorted.

(Like a syllabus, this schedule is tentative)

Q's and A's

Several of you have asked about the area I have called Patio-Norte. Specifically, your concerns were about additional patio furniture and planting of ground cover or bushes/trees on the west (Life Science) side of the patio.

The original patio furniture will be re-placed. This furniture was generously donated by a GCC student organization and is in excellent condition. Additional furniture is under consideration, dependent upon availability of capital funds. As to planting on the Gravelpave area of the fire lane, the College must maintain unobstructed access along this emergency route. Any type of vegetation could be mistaken for an obstacle and impact response times and overall safety, especially if the emergency occurs during the hours of darkness. Think of this as pieces of tire on I-17. Few of us drive confidently over the tire. The College will keep the area well groomed. Please enjoy Patio-Norte.

Out and About

For those of you whose schedules do not permit a regular tour of the campus, the following photos illustrate some of the many noteworthy improvements to your campus, and oddities:

Vegetation and a new handrail guide students to the GCC's Enrollment Center.

Patio furniture arrives for Student Union. Each table weighs 715lbs. and is supported by a 4.5 ft. deep, concrete and steel reinforced underground core. Checkers in a storm anyone?

Memorial #57 unearthed. Do you remember Joe Gill 1979-1995? I do! Joe issued me my first parking ticket at GCC. Can you locate this monument?

Thanks and Old Updates

Thank you for taking the time to remain up to date on the College's construction projects. If you missed Construction Updates #1 through #6, please e-mail me ( charles.jeffery@gcmail.maricopa.edu ) and I will provide a copy. You may also access this information on this web site, where each update is archived.

Charles F. Jeffery
Construction Liaison