Completing the ReCladding Project

I am very sorry to report that we are still running behind schedule with the ReCladding Project at Swiss Tower; but here is what is in store for the rest of this month and the next:

This month:

* Courtyard repairs (cement repair and clean up)
* Final inspections and any remediation work
* Roof inspection and remediation work on the roof

Next Month:

* Courtyard remediation (this will be our primary focus at first): landscaping, sod, irrigation, furniture, grills, etc..
* landscaping and sod around the rest of the building
* Installation of bike racks

We will open the courtyard again as soon as possible. I will continue to try to update you with the best information I have concerning its opening. Thank you for your enduring patience as we wrap up this project.

Windows on Floors 1-3

Contractors will be covering windows with a blue film on floors 1-3 as they spray on a waterproofing sealant. After these floors are sprayed, the film will be removed and these windows will be cleaned.

New Project Completion Date

We are running behind schedule with the ReCladding Project at Swiss Tower; but here is what is in store for the rest of this month and the next (we were hoping to be done this month but because of delays having to do with temperatures under 40 degrees and other complicating factors, our intent is now to be done by the end of February):

* They are finishing work around the end of the building near the parking lot. When they complete that work they will also be able to take down the scaffolding which is projected to be taken down in the next couple of weeks, if not sooner.
* Right now floors 1-3 are in the process of having all caulk joints replaced around the windows, brick joints ground down and fixed, and the entire brick face cleaned and sealed.
* They will also make repairs to the courtyard cement, return the lights back to their spots, and return the grills.

Soon after the ReCladding Project is complete, we will again have access to the courtyard porch area, the grills, the courtyard side-walks, pool, and side gate.

After the ReCladding Project is complete, DTS will be working on renovating and fixing the damaged landscape and sod in the courtyard and around the building. Some of the work will have to wait until later in the Spring. For this reason, there will be times when portions of the courtyard will be off limits; but we should still have access to the porch area, grills, pool, and side gate. I will give more details at that time.

Dryers Off

This week, when the stucco finish work takes place around the dryer vents (outside), we will need to shut those dryers off for the day (7am-7pm).

We will be on different floors on different days; but I will post a sign by the laundry doors the day prior to when those machines will be down.

Project Completion, Courtyard, and Demolition

Since we are getting closer to the end of this project (hooray!), I wanted to update you on what the following months will look like...

1. We are currently doing demo on the last part of the building to be demo'd (hooray again!)

2. After the hoist joints are repaired, all new windows will receive child protective stops, screens, and inspection.

3. Floors 1-3 will have caulk joints replaced around the windows. These floors will also have its brick joints ground down and fixed in preparation for the brick on these floors to be cleaned and sealed.

4. Soon after the ReCladding Project is complete (our intent is to be done by the end of January, keep praying...), we will again have access to the courtyard porch area, the grills, the courtyard side-walks, pool, and side gate.

5. Also, after the ReCladding Project is complete, DTS will be working on renovating and fixing the damaged landscape and sod in the courtyard and around the building. Some of the work will have to wait until later in the Spring. For this reason, there will be times when portions of the courtyard will be off limits; but we should still have access to the porch area, grills, pool, and side gate. I will give more details at that time.

In the meantime...

1. Continue to stay out of the courtyard unless there is an emergency (see signs on doors)

2. Continue to pray for the safety of the workers and to give thanks for the progress that we have made.

No Parking on St. Joseph

Please do not park by Swiss Tower on St. Joseph until the ReCladding Project is complete.

Saturdays

Mid-Con will be working on Saturdays from here on to maintain their schedule (weather permitting).

Protect Your Property

Please be aware that the ReCladding Project does involve vibrations that could potentially cause a valuable item to fall off a wall or shelf.

If you are concerned about the possibility of your personal belongings falling and becoming damaged due to the vibrations caused by the project then please put your valuables in a safer place.

New Screens

If you have new windows, you will get new screens once the scaffolding in your area of the building is removed and the hoist joints in that area are repaired by workers on swing stages.

After the scaffolding is removed and hoist joints are repaired, the new windows in that area will receive screens, safety stops, and an inspection.

Please do not ever lean out of yourself or let a visitor or family member lean out of a window (this is extremely dangerous, for most of you that goes without saying....).

Next Demo Phase

It looks like the next demo phase should start as early as tomorrow. The units most affected during this phase will be the '10's, '11's and '12's.

Contractors scheduled to work this Saturday

Extended Time for WH Use

As indicated during the construction meeting on Monday evening, I have been assured that the residents of Washington Hall will be pleased to share their pool and grills with you while the Swiss Tower courtyard is closed to maintain construction safety.

In order to provide access, a Courtesy Officer will remain on duty for an additional two hours each weekday evening, from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. Simply ring the Courtesy Officer as directed at the front door of Washington Hall in order to enter the building. Please be prepared to display your Swiss Tower fob to the Courtesy Officer upon entry into the building or he/she will not allow you into the lobby.

PLEASE REMEMBER that any time you or your children exit the pool area, you will be locked out and must re-enter through the front doors of Washington Hall.

Please share your appreciation with the Washington residents for sharing the space and at the same time be courteous to them while using the grills and pool.

Rain Today, No Pool Tomorrow...

Additional labor was brought in from out of town to get the needed scaffolding erected this week to take Friday off; but the rain today is forcing them to have to work tomorrow to stay on schedule.

For this reason, the ST pool will now NOT be open tomorrow (Friday, Sept 3rd). The ST pool WILL be open Sat-Mon (Sept. 4th-6th).

I have been assured that even if it does rain tomorrow, we will still have the pool Saturday-Monday.

ReCladding Meeting Summary

I would like to thank all who attended the ReCladding Meeting last night for your presence and participation. I would also like to thank all of you for your continued patience and endurance as we push forward through this very grueling but very necessary project.

For those who were unable to make it, I have listed below some of the important points that were made at the meeting:

• Through the process of already completing most of what needs to be done on the St. Joseph elevation, MCR and Childress have learned much concerning what the situation is behind the brick and have been able to hone their processes so that they now are able to accomplish more in less time. For this reason, we are currently on schedule to finish the courtyard around the end of November and the project as a whole around the end of December.
• This weekend (starting SATURDAY morning and ending Monday evening), the ST pool will be open. MCR has been working overtime to be able to take this time off and they are currently preparing the pool area and courtyard to make the pool (not the courtyard) available to us during their time off.
• It has been decided that ST residents will have access to the Washington Hall Pool and Grills, Monday-Friday, 9am-6:30pm. Here's how it works:
• You will need to hold up your ST fob so that front desk person can see it and buzz you in.
• You will need to tell the front desk person that you are from ST and would like to use the pool and/or grills
• The front desk person will then buzz you into the door leading to the hall which will take you to the pool and grill area.
• Once you are out in the pool and grill area, you will not be able to get back into the building from that door.
• You will only be able to leave Washington Hall by using the side gate which leads out of the pool area and then out the pedestrian gate to St. Joseph.
• Maintenance is also looking into the possibility of getting a grill up and running by Mitchell. I will update you once I have more information.
• Please continue to contact me with any issues or concerns that you have with the ReCladding Project.

Contractors will be working on Swiss Tower this Saturday on the Floyd St stucco installation.

Ctyrd & Pool Shut Down and Plyrm Refurbishment

The ST Courtyard and Pool is scheduled to be shut down for the ReCladding Project from Monday, August 16th until the work on the courtyard facing portion of the building is complete.

You will only be allowed to use the doors leading into the courtyard for emergencies during the time the Courtyard is shut down.

In response and in conjunction with the courtyard shutting down, Housing has decided to freshen up the playroom in hopes of alleviating some of the pressure that losing the courtyard will have on young children.

DEMO and PRAYER

If all goes well, demo is scheduled to begin on the Floyd side of the building by the end of next week.

Continue to keep the ReCladding Project in your prayers (patience and grace for us enduring the noise, safety for the workers, and impact through DTS's witness with the contractors).

Contractors scheduled to work this Saturday

Power Outage, Water Reports, & This Sat

1. Weather permitting with the present storms, ONCOR may have to shut down electrical power to Swiss Tower for 1-3hrs this Friday morning (July 2) after 9am. This will be for part of the process of relocating the power lines on Floyd St. We may experience this same procedure when/if the lines are placed back in their existing location.

2. Please continue to report any water intrusion to me so that we can keep good records of where water is coming in and so we can take the appropriate immediate action when necessary.

3. Contractors will be working on the outside of Swiss Tower this Saturday, 7/3.

Floors 1-3 on St. Joseph

The brick demo is complete on the St. Joseph elevation!

Starting next week they will begin working on floors 1-3 (on St. Joseph) replacing the caulk joints around the window while grinding and fixing the brick joints in preparation to seal the bottom 3 floors.