Author Archives: Timothy Byrne

Wow, it is Friday already!

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Yes, I’m a blogger now! Email is not cutting edge enough for me anymore. Blogging is cool and a much easier way for the College to spread my word. Just don’t ask me to Tweat or join Facebook. Sorry, I don’t really care what that former co-worker of mine is eating for dinner. I have much better things to do in life. I bet some of those Facebook and Twitter addicts are going to go out this weekend and buy the latest in technology – a wi-fi refrigerator that has cameras in it. Yes you can brag and display on Facebook about all the fantastic groceries you just bought and put in your ‘fridge. Don’t believe me; then go here: Wifi Refrigerator

Anyhow, all this wonderful weather is certainly helping with our construction schedule. A lot of progress was made this week with installing more of the glulam beams and also large glulam columns. Here is a photograph of one being installed yesterday.

First Glulam column being installed

First Glulam column being installed

Things will start to get noisy again next week as they start to jackhammer and remove the old paving around the Lecture Hall. They will also be installing rigid insulation on the floors in the workshops / classroom addition as well as the entry and rotunda. After the insulation is installed the water lines for the hydronic heating system will be installed.

Okay, I am going to wrap up this week’s update by squashing some rumors that I’ve been hearing. No, it’s not about the rumors you may have heard about me, but about the Lecture Hall schedule. Yes, we are a wee bit behind schedule, but we will be done within plenty of time to hold classes this October in the newly remodeled and expanded facility. It will actually be ready for the new student orientation. So, if you hear differently, then send those rumor mongers my way.

Have a wonderful weekend. Happy Friday!

Cheers,

Tim

Timothy Byrne

Project Manager

Facilities Services

The Evergreen State College

360-867-6093

I can’t believe what I saw on Tuesday

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Hello all and happy Friday. Hopefully you are all doing well after celebrating Cinco de Mayo aka: Battle of Puebla Day in Mexico. I personally feel like I need to have a liposuction procedure ASAP after consuming a bunch of yummy nachos last night.

It has been a very interesting week on the Lecture Hall job site. On Tuesday a large flatbed truck had just delivered another load of glulam beams to our project. While attempting to leave our campus and driving up the ramp to the McCann Plaza bus loop / driveway, the driver made not one but two mistakes. He simultaneously ran over the metal hand rail at the ramp and also over an irrigation device on the other side of the ramp, which in turn broke the irrigation line and caused a sudden geyser near the entrance to Red Square; photo attached. I was actually there when it happened and it was definitely a “I can’t believe what I’m seeing” moment. Luckily I was able to contact our Grounds Supervisor on his cell phone and notify him immediately of the situation before Red Square became a new campus water feature. There is never a dull moment at Evergreen.IMG_1206

I had mixed feelings that day; I didn’t know whether to laugh at that situation or to give the truck driver a hug since he looked so dejected. Anyway, that situation made me think of the following quote: “Mistakes are a great educator when one is honest enough to admit them and willing to learn from them” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

We will have the usual activities on site again next week. More glulam beams and wood decking will be installed, followed by roofing work, electrical work, and wall framing. There will be no more driving over hand rails or creating simulations of Old Faithful.

Also attached for your viewing pleasure are two roof top progress photos, one from April 25 and one from yesterday.

4-25 r

5-5 r

Have a great weekend, and happy Mother’s Day to all those moms out there!

Cheers,

Tim

Timothy Byrne

Project Manager

Facilities Services

The Evergreen State College

360-867-6093