Date: Fri 20-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-projects-NHS-Hawley

Full Text:

School Building Update: It's All About Steel

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

Talking with Public Building and Site Commission Chairman Frank Krasnickas

about how things are going at the Newtown High and Hawley School construction

sites, a person can't help noticing that one particular word keeps cropping

up.

That word is steel.

The presence or absence of structural steel is significant in several ways.

To the casual observer, watching steel go up at a building or addition site is

visually satisfying. It seems that almost overnight a new space is framed,

with trees, clouds and sky showing through, where walls, floors and ceilings

will eventually obstruct the view.

When the steel framework is completed, the new structure becomes visible and

occupies a finite space.

But to a building chairman, a contractor or a school administrator, the sight

of steel framing means a great deal more.

Having followed the construction project from its earliest stage, they know

that important underground work has already been completed. Such as excavation

and removal of dirt, pouring of cement footings and foundations, drainage

work, ground level plumbing and electrical work.

According to Mr Krasnickas' perspective, when the steel goes up, "It's a good

start."

"You're not halfway done with the project yet, but it's a beginning."

Out Of The Ground

At Hawley

Early Monday morning, Mr Krasnickas was happy to report that the contractor

had finally delivered steel to the Hawley School addition site.

It had been a suspenseful two-week waiting period, he said, during which the

contractor, ACMAT, Inc., of New Britain, continued to express optimism about

imminent delivery of the steel, and the building inspector fretted about

delays.

Once it had arrived and the columns were raised, Mr Krasnickas said, work

could begin on pouring the cement floors, roofing, HVAC installation, plumbing

and electrical conduits, framing of windows and doors, wallboard, fixtures and

floor finishings.

"They've been unloading steel and putting up the columns," Mr Krasnickas said,

adding the column plates had been prepared in advance so no time would be

wasted.

A delivery of insulation for the new gymnasium ceiling in the present school

building was also made, he added.

Mr Krasnickas said that additional work on asbestos removal, piping and

electrical conduit had been done inside the current school building, "so

connections could eventually be made between with the addition."

Hawley School principal Linda Siciliano was less reserved in her enthusiasm.

"When the crane came in there was so much excitement," Mrs Siciliano said

Tuesday morning.

"The steel was going up so quickly, and they've been working a second shift

inside the school after the kids leave," she said.

"I feel confident we'll have school opening in September as planned," she

added.

The $4 million Hawley School addition and renovation project is scheduled for

completion in early August 1997. The addition is planned to house a library

media center and several classrooms.

Progress At

The High School

Mr Krasnickas said work was pretty much on schedule at the Newtown High

construction site, where a $25 million three-story addition is being built on

the north side of the school.

"They just completed pouring the concrete for the main level floor," he said.

The half-gymnasium at the back of the school, also part of the same project,

is on schedule, Mr Krasnickas added.

"All the steel is up on the main addition. In back, we've got the steel frame

up for the add-on gym. Things are looking good," he commented.

The main level floor, which appears to be at ground level to an outside

observer, is really the second story of the three-story addition.

The lower, or basement, level is underground and has been completely closed

in. Mr Krasnickas said "underground work" by the subcontractors is going on

there now. That level will house the kitchen servery, cafeteria and a future

expansion area.

The main level will contain classrooms, computer labs and areas for large

group instruction. The upper level will contain science labs and classrooms.

Although the addition roof is not on yet, its nearly flat profile can be

discerned by studying the outline of the steel supports that frame it. A

slight pitch has been built in, Mr Krasnickas said, to facilitate drainage.

When it is completed, the addition will add 74,000 square feet to the high

school, connecting to the existing building at the main and upper levels.

Weather Hasn't Helped

Mr Krasnickas expressed frustration about one factor that is affecting both

projects and over which he has absolutely no control - the weather.

"Today, it's a mud hole," he said Tuesday of the Hawley site, where a

temporary stop work order had been issued due to several days' rain.

In addition, this weekend is supposed to turn very cold, well below freezing,

he said.

"Concrete isn't supposed to freeze. We're using protective blankets wherever

possible," he said.

The cement will be shrouded in plastic, he added, to give it time to cure or

set up.