May 22, 2012 Construction Update

Rooms are starting to take shape in the laboratory section with wall frames going up.  Windows have also been installed in the east lab wall.  This week, spray foam will be applied to the inside of the exterior walls in the lab.  This should be an interesting process to watch.  Some drywall work may also begin next week.

Most of the north parking lot is paved with concrete on the east side of the building scheduled for this week.  Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work is ongoing.  All roofing work should be done by the end of the month.

New windows in the east lab wall.

The rooms are beginning to take shape.

The mechanical control room.

The new parking lot.

Footprint of the greenhouse.

New limestone accents on the office windows.

Front of the building.

Stairway and elevator between levels.

May 4, 2012 Construction Update

Things are really taking shape at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan!

We are able to walk through the building and get a good sense for how foot-traffic will flow, where the offices/kitchen/boardroom goes in the office section. In the laboratory section, floors have been contoured for the growth chambers and some of the ductwork has begun.

Inside the laboratory, erection of the metal stud walls has begun. Spray-in insulation could be installed in the laboratory within the next few weeks; sheetrock will follow shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, window installation begins next week.

The greenhouse floor will be poured within the next 14 days.

Limestone veneer is being applied to the east exterior walls. This adds a nice touch to soften the concrete; and it looks really good.

The north parking lot is taking shape, with curb and gutter progress wrapped up on that region today, and paving of the parking lot expected to take place next week. Completion of all the parking areas is expected in about six weeks.

The main boardroom on the south side of the building. Photo is from the south doorway, looking northeast into the test kitchen.

A close-up of the limestone veneer going around the windows in the office section.

The first steel walls are up! This is storage in the lab section.

Driveway in the north parking lot has been poured.

April 20, 2012 Construction Update

Concrete being pumped into the office section of the building.

The construction site has been bustling with activity lately.  Big cranes have been busy lifting HVAC units onto the roof for the lab section, while the concrete floor is being pumped into the office section.

Some highlights of the progress:

• By the end of today, April 19,  both the office and lab sections will have concrete floors.
• Roofing is essentially done on the lab section and equipment is being installed.
• Work continues towards “drying in” the building.  The seams between the concrete wall sections have been sealed and grouted at the base.  Metal window frames are ready to be installed to receive windows toward the middle of May.
• Installation of metal studs will begin towards the end of the month, which will allow for spray-on foam insulation to follow.
• Interior electrical rough-in will begin next week.
• Duct work, plumbing rough-in and mechanical room equipment installation will be in full swing the next several weeks.

Below is a photo that compares concept to current construction.  There are a few minor differences, but it’s nice to see it become reality.

April 12, 2012 Construction Update

The front part of the Innovation Center is starting to take shape.

The focus of April will continue to be on completing the flooring and roofing work.  Plumbing and electrical work will also keep crews busy.  Mid to late month, sewer work will take place and paving of the north parking lot should begin.

Additional projects include the skylight on the office section and the elevator shaft.  Rain is in the forecast for the next several days, but any construction delays should be limited, because much of the work is interior.

March 22 Construction Update

It’s muddy on the job site here in Manhattan (about 1.50 inches in the gauge), but it hasn’t slowed down construction very much.  The delivery of the last few sections of the pre-cast concrete for the office section was delayed a couple of days, because of the rain.  However, they are being installed today.

Work continues on the roof of the lab section.  It should be waterproof by April 6.  The office (section A) will have all precast in place by the end of the month and roof decking on by the first week of April.  Underground plumbing work continues in the lab section (section B) and concrete flooring will be poured in the south end of section B early next week.  It looks like we may have some paved parking in place by the end of April.

The overall schedule is still on track, and maybe a little ahead of pace.  As soon as all the roofing is in place, weather won’t have much of an impact.

March 12, 2012 Construction Update

Great weather has allowed construction at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center to proceed on a good pace.  The construction crew working for the wheat farmers of Kansas is an impressive bunch.  They are professional, safety-conscious and hard-working.  The project is in good hands.

The interior of the lab wing with new roof.

Decking has been added to the roof on the lab wing.  Insulation and coating of that roof is scheduled to begin next week.  When complete, that will allow for rain-proof work on the interior lab space.  

Pre-cast concrete erection on the office side of the building is expected to begin soon –weather permitting.  This should be complete by March 23, 2012.

View from atop the Hall Ross Flour Mill shows the new roof on the lab wing.

Grouting of the pre-cast is underway and sealing the joints will begin this week.  The roof should be on the office section by the end of the month.

All retaining walls and footings have been poured with the exception of some interior walls for the greenhouse.  Electrical and plumbing work will be ongoing and water service to the building is being installed.

February 27, 2012 Construction Update

East laboratory wall from the inside.

It’s amazing how things can change in a matter of a week.  The progress at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center is remarkable!  

Pre-cast concrete wall erection on the laboratory wing of the building is nearly complete.  Structural steel for the roof is now being installed.  Installation of the roof deck on the lab will begin in early March.

 Once the lab is enclosed, interior work can begin in that section while wall assembly begins on the office section.  Greenhouse footings are also being poured. 

View from the top of the Hal Ross Flour Mill.

 

A couple of bad weather days have delayed work slightly, but have not put the project behind schedule.

 There is a good, hard-working and safe crew on the site making this all happen.