Been relatively quiet around the Los Lunas High School site these past couple of weeks.  Most of the site utilities work has wrapped up, those crews awaiting the completion of the earthwork to recommence their under-slab work.

Speaking of earthwork, that in itself was a rather large endeavor.  The earthmovers first over-excavated the entire building pad, stockpiled the native soils, blended same to create suitable fill, installed the resulting engineered fill in compacted lifts to the correct elevation to support the first floor slabs.

Whew!  To the casual observer, that’s a whole lotta work just to get back to where you started

As for foundation earthwork, the project’s Structural Engineer (Chavez Grieves) specified a rather clever, expedient system to mitigate the potential for undermining the existing building foundations immediately adjacent to our new building.  In lieu of over-excavating the new foundations, or installing expensive cast-auger piers, the native soils under the foundations are compacted and reinforced by a rammed aggregate pier system (RAPS).

The RAPS in essence, augers a hole down to around 20′below grade, fills the resulting void with compacted gravel lifts.  The compaction process not only installs an aggregate pier, but also compacts adjacent native soils.  Long story short, no massive earthwork removal and re-installation is required, nor existing foundations undermined, yet the soils are thus improved to withstand the loads of a traditional foundation design.  Saves the District both time and money- cool beans, no?

Michael Heitman, VP, Project Architect.

We turned a corner recently on the Los Lunas High School project.  Happy to report the last major building to be demolished this Phase 1, the cafeteria and food service, came down without a hitch.

The General Contractor’s demolition team did an amazing job, diligently severing all structural and MEP infrastructure ties back to the existing gym complex to remain.  Once detached, the cafeteria building was carefully plucked right out of its current footprint with the big claws, the reusable materials sorted for reclamation.

In two weeks, all that remained was a windswept slab where the former hub of campus once stood.   Good work Team!

Our focus now turns to tying up loose ends, figurative and literal both, to prepare for the faculty’s return to campus August 8, with the students close behind August 13.

Michael Heitman, VP, Project Architect

Great progress on LLHS Ph 1 these last two weeks! The District’s asbestos abatement contractor concluded his work almost a week early, allowing the project’s General Contractor, McCarthy Building Companies NM, to continue with building demolition unimpeded.

To date, the building demolition work stands at about 70% complete- only the counselors C Wing and cafeteria remain. That’s all right on schedule!

Site utility work has continued at a breakneck pace (no not literally OSHA inspectors! ;-] )  Storm drain line work has been completed, allowing work to commence on the pedestrian hardscapes connecting the existing vocational building complex.  Water and gas continue, as do power and IT work.

Whew!  Still a lot to get done, but the construction team has things well in hand, they’re running a tight ship there on campus.

Michael Heitman, VP, Project Architect

Hello All!

We thought we’d take a minute to update you all on all the excitement on the New Los Lunas High School Phase 1 project!

As you may know the focus of this summer’s endeavor is to prepare the building pad for the Phase 1 building construction commencing this Fall 2012.   To date, the General Contractor has begun the demolition of the outdated north-central campus buildings, which will eventually include a portion of F Wing, all of D Wing + C Wing, and the food service and cafeteria areas this summer.

Currently, a portion of F Wing and D Wing have been successfully demolished, the other buildings scheduled to be demolished through July.  Concurrent with the building demolition, site utility work is underway to re-feed the existing buildings to remain, and relocate new utilities outside of the Phase 1 building’s footprint.

Come August, the new building footprint in central campus will be secured, existing building services restored to operation, new pedestrian and traffic pathways established for the coming school year.  Faculty and students returning to school will find the Contractor’s yard completely fenced and isolated from the activities of the remaining campus, minimizing disruptions to instruction on campus.

Check back, there’s a lot going on at LLHS!

Michael Heitman, VP, Project Architect