Shawn Rice Construction for the new Science, Education and Technology building is beginning to fall behind schedule due to the winter weather, according to Mike Caranfa, director of planning and construction, and Duane Schock, project superintendent for Turner Construction Company.
“We are beginning to lose time because of the weather,” Caranfa said. The freezing temperatures, high-speed winds and snow have made it difficult for Turner Construction to make progress on certain areas of the SET building.
Although the outside of the building is a “stop-and-go process” because of the weather, the inside is still an on-going in progress, Caranfa said.
The outside of the building is difficult to work on when temperatures are not above freezing. Over Christmas break, however, the masonry block backup was completed. This is the structural stone that will eventually be covered up by the stone facade, which can’t be put up until the weather warms up. Currently, the windowsills are being worked on whenever the temperatures allow.
The inside of the building is presently in a stage called rough-in. This is when plumbing, wiring and cables are installed, which will later be hidden by walls. Within the next few weeks Schock hopes to have the special waste drain system installed and begin putting up dry wall.
There is a big hole that stretches from the roof to the basement where the elevator should be. The elevator can’t be installed, however, until the building is water tight, according to Schock. He hopes that the elevator can be installed before April.
In the meantime, Turner is trying to make working conditions as comfortable as possible for the construction crews. Temporary plastic closures have been put up to help block the winds and heaters have been placed in certain rooms. The crew is also doing a lot of work in the basement where they are sheltered from the weather.
Despite setbacks, Caranfa and Schock still expect this $15.5 million building to be completed on time by this upcoming November. Ray Morales, an apprentice for the electrical contractor, also feels that even though they are falling behind, the building can still be completed on time. “Once spring and summer come, it’ll just be a sprint till the end to make up for lost time,” Morales said.
For further information go to one.cabrini.edu and click on the Cabrini College link and then on the SET Project quick link. Here you can find a schedule for each month broken down by weekly tasks.
 Click here for a tour of the outside |
 Click here for a tour of the first floor |
 Click here for a tour of the roof. |
Video tour produced by Shawn Rice. Posted to the web by Shawn Rice.
