Yes, we had what some might call a soft opening of Purce Hall this week. The classroom spaces are functional but not complete. There is still work taking place in the four lecture halls. A lot of work still needs to take place, so if you happen to visit or have visited the interior of the Lecture Hall building this week don’t dare think it is done. I did a “punch list” walk with our architect and contractor on Wednesday and lots of things still needs to happen. I am not confident that it will all be wrapping up as quickly as I would like it to be.

Yesterday I gave a little presentation to a sustainability class about the Lecture Hall project. The class happens to be taught by one of my former co-workers Gretchen Van Dusen, and her co-teaching partner Justin Hocking. I’m not sure how well I did, but these students were extremely thankful for my time and asked me some really good questions. I hope they learned something from me.

I also noticed an article about the Lecture Hall project that was recently published in Evergreen’s Cooper Point Journal. This blog and my name were mentioned in the piece. Too bad I was not granted an interview, I could have added some more insight as to why this project has dragged on. Thanks for spelling my last name correctly Chloe! It usually gets butchered.

So, the latest schedule for completing the four lecture hall spaces is now October 10th. All focus now is getting the A/V systems installed in these rooms and backbone equipment that supports it. Here is a panoramic photo of Lecture Hall 1 from this morning as it nears completion:

Lecture Hall 1 9/30/16

A huge projection screen was just installed in this space and it looks as big as any screen you would see in a local movie theater. And there are not just two, or three, or four, but five huge speakers behind the projection screen. I get the feeling this place is gonna rock out on occasion. Here is a photo of a dorky looking model displaying the scale of this screen:

Lecture Hall 1 projection screen

You may have noticed some landscaping work that is also taking place. The contractor wants to start installing mulch in the landscaping beds on Monday, but I just reminded them with the fact that we don’t have an approved submittal for the product they propose using and we also need a sample of the material so that our Grounds Supervisor can inspect it before being placed. Sometime next week they will likely install the mulch bedding. Warning: It will be very noisy when the do so because they will be blowing it in place similar to this example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rol3WnxHjU

Happy Friday and congratulations students and faculty on completing week one of the 2016 fall quarter.

Cheers!

Tim

Timothy Byrne

Project Manager

Facilities Services

The Evergreen State College