Progress Report: November 29, 2007

Today’s Activities

• Completed installation of seat wall for upper patio.


• Completed drain pipes and drainage system for upper patio.


• Completed installation of all base material for paving stones.


• Put in base block for wall at entrance of upper patio.


• Completed outdoor kitchen island.


• Completed backfill outside of wall with top soil and grade.


• Reviewed construction drawings for lower patio/ramp area.

Tomorrow’s Planned Activities

• Install low voltage lighting for upper patio.


• Lay paving stones in upper patio.


• Construct remainder of upper patio fireplace wing walls.


• Layout lower patio/ramp area. Draft initial site access plan for next phase.


• Start capping upper patio sitting wall.

Current Safety Concerns

No new issues. Preparing access plan for work on lower patio and ramp area.

Material Deliveries Scheduled

At least one more truck of paving stones to arrive on Ernest Maier flat bed.

Comments

Weather reports are for rain on Sunday, Monday and possibly Tuesday. We plan on working Saturday 7:30 to dusk and perhaps Sunday if it does not rain. We plan on starting work on the lower patio/ramp area on Wednesday or Thursday of next week, which will mean cutting access from the breezeway through the Courtyard. We will begin posting notices this weekend.

Progress Report: November 28, 2007

Today’s Activities

• Firebox for fireplace installed.
• Chimney started.
• Installation of seat wall nearly complete.
• Backfill outside of wall w/top soil and grade.
• Continue w/building of outdoor kitchen island.

Tomorrow’s Planned Activities

• Start to install low voltage lighting
• Continue to backfill patio portion of project w/crushed stone and compact
• Construct remainder of fireplace chimney & wing walls
• Screed sand and start laying pavers
• Layout lower patio/ramp area
• Start capping sitting wall

Current Safety Concerns

Reviewed ear protection requirements w/all employees when using saws or other equipment. Ear plugs were provided again to all employees.


Material Deliveries Scheduled

At least one truck of pavers to arrive on Ernest Maier flat bed

Progress Report: November 27, 2007

Today’s Activities

• Installation of upper patio seat wall continues.
• Continue to backfill for patio portion of project with crushed stone and compact.
• Started running wiring for low voltage lighting for upper patio.

Tomorrow’s Planned Activities

• Comcast Network crew on site to begin filming as TV special episode of American Builder.
• Continue with seat wall installation for upper patio.
• Continue to backfill for patio portion of project with crushed stone and compact.
• Continue running wiring for low voltage lighting and install lights for upper patio.

Current Safety Concerns

Nothing new at this time.

Material Deliveries Scheduled

No deliveries scheduled for tomorrow.

Comments

Beautiful weather. We are on schedule to complete the upper patio project by beginning of next week.

Once we complete the upper patio project, we will begin on the lower patios and the ramp leading from the Mologne House breezeway to the Courtyard. We will be closing off the breezeway entrance/exit to the Courtyard, but the breezeway will be open and the entrance/exit to the parking lot will remain open. We will provide a new access map by the end of the week and post appropriate signs in advance.

Progress Report: November 26, 2007

Today’s Activities

• Upper patio fireplace base plate set.
• Installation of upper patio seat wall continues.
• Continue to backfill for patio portion of project with crushed stone and compact.
• Drainage system installation for upper patio complete.
• Started running wiring for low voltage lighting for upper patio.

Tomorrow’s Planned Activities

• Continue with seat wall installation for upper patio.
• Continue to backfill for patio portion of project with crushed stone and compact.
• Continue running wiring for low voltage lighting and install lights for upper patio.

Current Safety Concerns

Nothing new at this time.

Material Deliveries Scheduled

Numerous dump trucks with crushed and clean stone in Ernest Maier Trucks.

Comments

Rain was a minor factor today. We are on schedule to complete the upper patio project by beginning of next week if not sooner.

Col Haselden visited the site and gave very encouraging words to the Site Manager which he passed on to the crew at lunch time. The workers are very pleased to see the soldiers, Marines and their families watching the progress of the work, especially on the weekend. They expressed their respect and admiration for the residents of Mologne House and Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Progress Report: November 25, 2007

Today’s Activities

• Fireplace footer for upper patio completed.
• Installation of seat wall for upper patio started.
• Continue with installation of drainage for upper patio.

Tomorrow’s Planned Activities

• Continue with seat wall installation for upper patio.
• Complete drainage for upper patio.
• Continue to backfill patio portion of project w/crushed stone and compact for upper patio.
• Start running wiring for low voltage lighting for upper patio.

Current Safety Concerns

Nothing new at this time. We expect many deliveries tomorrow, and we expect a rainy day.

Material Deliveries Scheduled

• Numerous dump trucks with crushed and clean stone.
• We are alert to rainy weather, and we expect a lot of activity.

Comments

• Quiet weekend from the residential standpoint, good progress on the site.
• Rain likely on Monday and probably on Tuesday, as noted above.
• Work will continue as long as it is not a heavy rain.
• Nice visit from Peter Anderson on Sunday afternoon.
• Thanks for the good words to the crew.

Progress Report: November 24, 2007

Today's Activities

• Upper patio wall installation almost complete.
• Continue with fireplace footer installation.
• Continue with drainage installation.
• Install grill footer block.

Tomorrow's Planned Activities

• Complete drainage installation.
• Complete fireplace footer installation (if block is available).
• Complete wall installation.
• Start backfilling upper patio with crushed stone.

Current Safety Concerns

None. It's quiet at Mologne House this weekend.

Material Deliveries Scheduled

• Nothing on Sunday.
• Monday plan on several loads of crushed and clean stone in Ernest Maier dump trucks.

Comments

Mike Southard looked at the weather forecast on Friday and decided that the possibility of bad weather early next week made work on Saturday and Sunday the right way to stay on schedule. We appreciate the consideration of the Provost Marshal and the residents who did not get away this weekend. Thanks.

Progress Report: November 21, 2007

Today’s Activities

• Portion of drain tile installed.
• Footer course for retaining wall installed.
• Geogrid installed as necessary.
• Several courses of retaining wall installed.
• Electrical conduit installed under retaining wall.
• Several courses of block installed for fireplace footer.
• Fencing placed around trees and light poles in construction area, per DPW suggestion.

Tomorrow’s Planned Activities

No work until Monday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Safety Concerns Today

• Added stone to haul route as it was wearing badly with all the machines going back and forth. This will help prevent unnecessary erosion and keep the mud to a minimum.
• Lots of families and children around. Please make sure no one enters the work site and children remain supervised at all times. Everyone likes a good pile of dirt. Thanks for the cooperation.

Material Deliveries

Nothing scheduled over Thanksgiving weekend. Wall block, clean stone and crushed stone scheduled Monday.

Comments

• Please remind everyone that the playground is open and will stay open during the entire construction process. All families and children are welcome there—PLAYGROUND IS NOT ON WORK SITE.
• Great progress in short work week. A couple of days of great weather, a hardworking crew, constructive advice from the WRAMC project manager and DPW team, safety and environmental personnel, and the wounded warriors and their families staying at Mologne House, Delano Hall, and the Fisher Houses.

Progress Report: November 20, 2007

Today's Activities

• Tree stumps in upper patio area removed. Stump areas compacted, covered with separation fabric and filled with clean stone.
• Temporary sidewalk from upper level entrance/exit installed and operational.
• Excess dirt in upper patio area removed and retained for use in lower patio area.
• Concrete poured for fireplace footer in upper patio.
• All footers dug for retaining walls in upper patio.
• Install additional silt fence as recommended by Environmental Office and DPW.
• Trenches for drain tile excavated and separation fabric installed.

Tomorrow’s Planned Activities

• Install 6” perforated drain pipe for drainage system.
• Install clean stone around drain pipe.
• Wrap drain system with separation fabric.
• Install stone for wall footer.
• Begin installing base block for wall footer.

Current Safety Concerns

• Ability of temporary sidewalk to handle all types of pedestrian traffic (even the heaviest wheelchair) was verified with assistance from residents. After two small adjustments, it is holding up well and appears not to be an impediment of any kind.
• Plastic safety caps were placed on top ends of rebar holding safety fence along all active walkways.
• End of drive/ramp to staging area—fence needs to be closed after vehicles enter/exit.
• Measured width of sidewalk between Main Drive and material staging area safety fence to assure that it exceeds minimum limit of 5 feet—exceeded standard by one foot (6 feet separation).
• Mud at equipment crossings of active walks—workers to scrape excess and sweep same once per hour.
• Updated notices were posted throughout the hotel. Many from yesterday were missing.

Comments

• Guests asking lots of questions about the project. Lots of interest and excitement. Concept drawing and site map should be put on big board in lobby, if possible.
• Favorable reports received from Safety Office, Environmental Office and DPW. Thanks to our workers for doing an excellent job.
• Many thanks to SPC John Williams, a hotel guest with many years experience in landscaping, for great insight on the temporary sidewalk and other safety/access issues.

Site Photos

Progress Report: November 19, 2007

Today's Activities

Equipment & trailer staging complete. Safety & procedural meeting conducted w/all employees. Safety fence installed. Warning/notice signs put up throughout the hotel. Layout of patio completed. Tree/stump removal completed. Excavation of fireplace footer completed, rebar reinforcement installed. Excavation of wall footer started.

Tomorrow's Planned Activities

Install temporary sidewalk from 2nd level exit/entrance around construction site. Continue w/wall footer excavation. Pour concrete for fireplace footer. Begin to install wall footer (crushed stone). Begin to install drain tile around patio.

Safety Concerns

Safety procedures in place seem to be working well and all residents are complying. Positive feedback received. Reviewed temporary sidewalk w/residents and got feedback on same. Compacted stone dust appears to be the solution and will not interfere w/wheelchairs, walkers, canes or crutches as long as it drains in a positive fashion. Contractor provided excellent spotting for all equipment and flagmen for all delivery trucks.

Material Deliveries Made

2-4 stone deliveries in Ernest Maier dump trucks. Concrete delivery in Ernest Maier ready mix concrete truck. Block delivery in Ernest Maier flat bed truck w/forklift.

Comments

Fantastic cooperation from the security staff, hotel staff and residents. Slow start to the day because of weather and traffic but contractor was able to get caught up and back on schedule.

Progress Report: November 18, 2007

We have the following activities planned for November 19, 2007:

• Equipment & material deliveries.
• Material staging.
• Install safety fencing and temporary sidewalks.
• Tree removal. Layout of patios.
• Excavation may start, depending on overall progress.

Deliveries scheduled:

• Contractor equipment and trailers between about 0700 and 0800.
• Small pick up truck w/miscellaneous safety items between about 0730 and 0830.
• Small flat bed truck w/drainage products, rebar, etc., between about 1000 and 1200.
• Tri axle dump truck w/crushed stone between about 1000 and 1200.
• Tri axle dump truck w/clean stone between 1300 and 1500.

Current Safety Concerns:

• Be aware of delivery vehicles when walking or driving between Mologne House and the gym.
• Be aware of construction equipment moving in the Mologne House Courtyard (rear of building).
• Please abide by safety/flag men when walking or driving in any of the construction areas.
• Please do not enter the marked construction or material staging areas for any reason.
• Breezeway exit to Courtyard/temporary ramp will be closed during tree removal from approximately 0800 until 1300. Exit from 2nd level will remain open as will breezeway entrance/exit to parking lot (front of building). The breezeway itself will remain open the entire time.
• Portion of the sidewalk from 2nd level exit to the courtyard will be closed after tree removal is complete until the end of work for the day. A temporary sidewalk will be available in that area at all times. The permanent walk will remain open during all non construction hours (approximately 1800 to 0730 next day).
• Please be aware of, and follow, the numerous safety signs, fencing and cones throughout the area.

Welcome to the Yellow Ribbon Fund Mologne House Courtyard Program Blog

A special welcome to all wounded warriors and other patients, and their families, resident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and to the wonderful medical, military and civilian staff that care for them. We are very eager to hear from you, as we proceed through the construction in your living and working space.

The Mologne House Courtyard Program started the same way as all the Yellow Ribbon Fund programs started: meeting the needs of injured service members that are not met by others. The soldiers and their families talked about enjoying barbeques, playing with their children and just being outdoors with each other. Some energetic young businessmen, Yellow Ribbon Fund volunteers visiting Walter Reed, saw a beautiful opportunity for better outdoor living and decided to do something about it.

Click picture for full-sized image.

Excavation and construction began Monday November 19, 2007. Weather permitting, we will work all day, to get the program done as soon as possible. Please go to our blog to get the latest information on our construction schedule, on access to the Courtyard, and on our progress. We do not expect to complete the entire program until April, 2008, and we will do the work in phases to keep interference in daily living to a minimum.

Click picture for full-sized image.

This is how an artist sees our plans to make the Courtyard behind the Mologne House into a great outdoor living area. There will be two lower patios on the left, close to the building, one with a trellis covered sitting area, and a third new upper patio on the far side. We have already completed a new playground, at the lower part of the drawing. There will be a beautiful new Rose Mologne Gazebo, named for General Lewis A. Mologne’s widow. Finally the Walk of Appreciation, a ramped, wheelchair accessible walkway, will ease the trip from Mologne House through the Courtyard toward the hospital.

Click picture for full-sized image.