During the month of September, the last pieces of the puzzle were completed. The hand rails at the East entrance were installed and painted, a replacement cabinet was installed in one of the classrooms, and the last of the punch list items were completed in the addition. Testing, adjusting, and balancing was also completed throughout the addition. Outside, we have continued to water the site to allow grass to grow. 

Staff started moving furniture in the second week of August, we received the certificate of occupancy on 8/15, and students returned to school on the 19th! It was a hectic last few weeks, but we were able to finish up flooring, installing casework, and wrap up the MEPFP trades in order to give the staff time to move into the new space. There are a couple of small punch list items that are getting wrapped up over the next couple of weeks, including finalizing test & balance, and watering the site to allow grass to grow. 

We are almost there! The building is nearly complete. This month brought a lot of rapid progress. Floors in all of the classrooms and hallways were leveled and VCT was installed. Ceiling fixtures were installed and tiles were dropped. Casework has begun to be installed, and sinks have been set. Windows and window shades have been installed. In the restrooms the toilets, partitions, and sinks have been installed. In the main vestibule, the second auto operator and the walk off carpet has been installed. Final touchup work has begun as we bring this project to a close!

In June, we were able to connect the MEPs in the new structure to the existing structure, and we completed the demolition and reinstallation at the main vestibule. The brick exterior is nearly complete as the masons have completed the brick on the classroom wing and are wrapping up on the storm shelter. Ceiling grid was installed in all of the classrooms in both wings and the light fixtures were set. The classrooms have also received their primary and secondary coats of paint. In the restrooms, epoxy flooring has been installed, allowing the installation of plumbing fixtures in the restrooms to begin.

This month, we hit a huge milestone when we completed roof installation for the addition! We were also able to begin the process of tying the new section of the building into the existing building! The demolition and reinstalling of the roofing material and insulation membrane at the tie-in location have been completed. The temporary walls dividing the new and existing building have been removed, officially making the building one single structure! In the Classroom Wing, MEPFP rough-in work, ductwork installation, and interior soffit framing have all begun. In the Storm Shelter, the installation for the storm shutters has also begun. The air and vapor barrier was applied to the exterior of the building, and brick veneer installation has started on the Classroom Wing. 

During the month of April, detail work for the beams and joists was completed and the decking was installed for both the Storm Shelter and East Classroom Wing. Then, the concrete slab on metal deck was poured on the Storm Shelter side. This allowed for the mechanical contractors to begin hanging ductwork on the Storm Shelter side. Similarly, the electrical, fire protection, and plumbing contractors have also been working on their overhead rough-in, focusing on the Storm Shelter and working their way over to the East Wing. The next steps will be working to get the roof on, so that we can get the building dried-in and closed up. 

This past month, the last of the Ground Face Block has been set! During the last full week of the month, the steel erector set the structural steel beams in the Storm Shelter, and the joists in the East Classroom Wing. The iron workers have begun their detail work on the beams and joist, in preparation for installing metal decking. The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors are finalizing the in-wall rough-ins before starting on overhead rough-ins (once the roof deck is poured).

The highlight of the month was that the HANDPRINT BEAM was set in place (last photo). The kiddo's are now a permanent part of the building!

Due to the cold and snowy weather February brought, there were several weather delays for the month. As a result, the masons are continuing to set Ground Face Block in the corridor walls of the Storm Shelter and East Classroom Wing. Similarly, the mechanical, electical, and plumbing contractors are continuing to install in-wall rough-ins as the block is being set. The carpenters are also setting door frames as needed throughout the building.

With the new year came cold and icy weather. Unfortunately, these cold temperatures have slowed down construction at Battle Elementary. At the corner of the existing building, the corner steel column was installed, and the rest of the existing wall was demo'd. For the addition, the masons have been laying Ground Face Block for the corridor walls when the temperatures are warm enough for the grout and mortar to properly cure. As they are laying block, the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing crews have been installing their in-wall rough-ins, and the general trades crew has been setting door frames.

While the masons were waiting for the shipment of Ground Face CMU Block (GFB), they layed the remainder of the regular CMU block walls. During this time, the electrical and plumbing contractors worked on their wall rough-ins as the walls went up. On the existing building, the canopy was demo'd, and then the steel erector came to set the steel squeeze lintel where the new building ties into the existing building. Also, some of the door frames were set in place. Towards the end of the month, we received the Ground Face Block that will be used for the corridor walls. As soon as we received the material, the masons were hard at work beginning to lay the corridor walls in both the Storm Shelter and Classroom areas. Similar to the regular CMU block walls, the electrical and plumbing contractors worked on their wall rough-ins as the masons layed the walls.

On November 12th, each class of students and teachers were able to come out and place their painted handprint and initials on a steel beam. This steel beam will be placed in the corridor of the new addition. Although the beam will be covered up by the ceiling, the kids will be able to be a part of the building forever!

Then on November 13, the student council kids came out to place their handprints on the beam. CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood, the CPS Board of Education, and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce was able to come out for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Despite the cold weather, the kids had a great time leaving their legacy on their elementary school addition!

During the month of November, the remainder of the perimeter walls were set. The masons were able to set the regular CMU interior block walls as well, including the walls that separate the classrooms, as well as some of the bathroom walls. The electrical and plumbing contractors were able to work on their wall rough-ins as the walls went up.

This October, we were able to pour the concrete slabs for both the Storm Shelter and Classroom Wing! As soon as those concrete slabs were finalized, our mason was able to start laying their CMU block. The mechanical and electrical contractors were able to install their in-wall sleeves and conduit as the block was being layed. By the last week of October, we were able to wrap up the perimeter walls of the Storm Shelter! 

This past month, our concrete crews finalized pouring all of the concrete footings for the Storm Shelter (South wing) and Classroom wing (East wing). The plumbing contractor installed their below slab plumbing piping in both the Storm Shelter and Classroom Wing. We wrapped up the month by preparing our site for the concrete slabs on grade (to be poured in October!)

During the month of August, our electricians installed new Exit signs for egress, as well as fed electrical conduit through the existing school towards the new addition. We built up temporary walls inside of the school, in order to limit our construction presence from the kiddos and teachers. Work on the concrete footings for the Storm Shelter (South wing) and Classroom wing (East wing) has begun, including excavating, reinforcing with steel, and pouring concrete.

Construction for Battle Elementary officially began in July of 2024! So far this month, the mulch at the playground area was removed and replaced. A concrete sidewalk was removed, as well as the topsoil. Then, Low Volume Change (LVC) was placed on the building pad area. A new water line was installed underground and tied in to the existing building. On the inside of the existing school, the electricians ran conduit through the school to the tie in point for the addition.