Construction workers are scattered across campus. Cranes have emerged in the UNMC skyline, and cement trucks make regular visits to campus as progress continues on various construction projects.
Parking garage
The new $19.3 million parking garage near 45th and Emile streets is scheduled for a mid-November completion.
“The project was delayed because of site conditions, but we are working with the contractor to get the project back on schedule,” Project Manager Don Dickmeyer said. “It’s going to be a very aggressive schedule to finish as planned.”
The structure will have four levels of parking with spaces for 1,551 vehicles. The parking structure will have exits facing two directions. “The west exit will be at the 45th Street intersection and the east exit will be an eastbound exit to 42nd Street,” Dickmeyer said.
The placement of concrete has begun in the new parking garage. Dickmeyer said the contractor has started pouring concrete for the first-level parking. “The first pour was 350 cubic yards and covered 8,000 square feet,” Dickmeyer said. “There is over 110,000 square feet per floor level.”
Research Center of Excellence
The Research Center for Excellence also is taking shape on the UNMC campus. The $77 million research building will have 10 levels.
Michael Faber, manager of major construction projects, said all of the second-floor supporting columns are in place, the North and South stair towers are complete through the fourth story and the fifth story walls are being formed.
The construction workers have encountered one type of weather delay associated with high-rise structure construction.
“When wind speeds exceed 30 to 35 miles per hour, the cranes, being over 200 feet high, can’t safely hoist and swing materials in place, especially large sections of wood and steel forms,” Faber said. “Safety is a number one concern.”
The connections for some utilities have been installed. “The two 24-inch chilled water lines have been installed from the Central Utilities Plant to the construction site,” Faber said. “The next step is to complete the installation into the new utility tunnel to service the building.”
East Utility Plant
The East Utility Plant is scheduled for completion in early to mid-September. The plant will house the chillers and emergency power diesel generators.
“As the campus expands with new construction, the medical center campus utility systems are expecting load demands that far exceed current capacities,” Project Manager Darren Dageforde said.
Fortunately, the unpredictable summer weather has not hindered the construction of the utility plant. “The weather has been exceptionally good for this type of project,” Dageforde said. “We are finishing the exterior portions of the building including the parking lots, pre-cast walls, roofing and overhead doors.”
By the end of the year, the public will be able to tour the finished East Utility Plant, Dageforde said.
Additional projects
In other construction news, the plaza between the College of Pharmacy and the College of Nursing is nearing completion. The plaza will be complete and open to the public by Friday (Aug.2) as will the tunnel below 42nd Street that connects Wittson Hall to the College of Nursing and the College of Pharmacy.
Dewey Avenue, between 42nd and 41st Streets, is expected to open after Labor Day, while 41st Street already is open.
Meanwhile, the installation of lawn sprinklers and new sod has been delayed until mid-September in the areas around the colleges of Pharmacy and Nursing, the Administration Center and the East Utility Plant.
“The hot weather has affected some new green spaces around the campus,” Dageforde said.