Cabinets on Site

Yesterday, all the cabinetry for the building was delivered. Via forklift!

The elevator is still not up and running, so this was the only way to get them up to the 2nd floor (because we sure weren't going to carry them up the stairs!).

We're still working with the elevator people to try to get the thing operational, at least for a couple of days so we can move all our cubicles (which have been stored downstairs) and drywall up for the installers to work on. Turns out there may need to be another more expensive fix before we can move in though. We'll know more next week.

In the meantime, we're keeping our fingers crossed. 5 weeks and counting!

Windows are Done

In case you haven't been by the building lately, here are some pictures of the newly installed windows. The 2 story curtain wall for the International Family Center and International Community Technology Center is the most obvisous from the parking lot. Up in on the 3rd floor, it's almost floor to ceiling.

The windows on the monitor (raised roof part) have also gone in and the open
ings have been wired for possible future blinds. We wanted to prepare for the possiblity that it actually might be too sunny in that space and might need to cover part of the windows at times. Kind of hard to imagine for Seattle, isn't it?

Expanded Entryway

This past week, the old entrance to the building was removed then reinstalled flush with the exterior building wall so that we get an extra 10-12 feet or so as you enter the new space. Doesn't sound like much, but because it's open up to the top of the 2nd floor, it really makes for a dramatic entrance.

We're getting a new electronic card reader for the main entrance. Sounds simple enough, but figuring out how it was going to work with double doors that need to allow for emergency exit when they're locked, but also have the ability to remain open during regular business hours took about 2 weeks and several consultations with the window supplier, general contractor, and low voltage wiring people.

Happy to say that we finally got it just the way we wanted, which will let us have a larger, more welcoming entryway, good security, and safety all at the same time. You really can have it all!

Elevator Work

Our elevator, which has not been run in over 2 years is in need of a major upgrade. In addition to getting it going again, we're having to make it ADA accessible. This means ripping out the control panel, lowering it to wheelchair height, putting in braille, a handrail, and a phone for if it gets stuck.

In addition, the hydraullic cyllindar is going to be replaced so that should give us another 40 years or so of operation. Before they can do all this, though, they have to test it by putting something like 10,000 pounds in the cab and seeing what it does. So how many of these 500 pound blocks does it take to make 10,000 pounds?

Paint

Even as workers are struggling to continue work on the roof with the weather turning bad, insulation, ceiling grid, primer, and first coat of paint have gone up on parts of the interior.

With the heavy rain we had last night and this morning, we had the construction supervisor on site at 4:00 a.m. (!!) mopping up some leaks where the roof work had stopped. But not to worry, the completed section of the roof was tight and dry as a bone.

We're thinking we should have a contest to name the color of our new walls. What do you think this color should be called??

Rain, rain, go away

With the recent rains, work on the roof has been proceeding slowly. They were supposed to be finished by Friday, but it looks like it may be another week.

On the plus side, the good heavy rain today will give the roofers a chance to check for leaks and plug them before insulation gets installed on the inside. Workers have already completed insulation on the areas where the roof is finished.

The ceiling grid and lights have been installed as well. Here you can see a typical office set up minus the acoustical tiles. Those come later.

As soon as the roof is done, the insulation is ready to go!

Laminate Colors

So you think our carpet colors had funny names? The laminates for our counters and cabinets have names like Beige Pampas, Graphite Nebula, Neutral Glace, and Green and Natural Tigris. Can you guess which one is which?

Who comes up with these names anyway?!?

Cathay Bank

Besides having to put up with noise from saw cutting, hammering, big trucks, drilling, and general all around pounding, our future neighbors downstairs, Cathy Bank, recently opened up one morning to discover their entire office covered with a 1/2 inch of dust and debris covering everything! This was from the work being done on the roof, which, much to our dismay, impacted them significantly.

The contractor is trying to help the bank clean their space and protect it somewhat (with newspapers during the day and giant sheets of plastic overnight), but I'm sure our new neighbors will breathe a sigh of relief (literally) when the roof is done.

We are told that the work will be done on the roof early next week. And then we can all get back to business as usual. By the way, Cathay Bank recently made a donation of $15,000.00 to our Moving On Up campaign. Thank you!

Progress on Monitor

Here's what the monitor looks like now (you know, that big rectangle we cut in the roof, then pushed up 8 feet?) . They've finished sheetrocking the ceiling and sides and have put in the electrical connections for the lights.

Next to come are windows, 4 feet high, divided into 3 sections each, and 6 hanging light fixtures over the open office area.

We've purchased some high quality (expensive) used office cubicles for a very reasonable price that will go into this space. We think we can get 29 or 30 8' x 8' cubicles in here. Not only are they slightly larger than many other workspaces, they also have glass panes on the top part of the panels so there will be more light and an airier feeling - while still maintaining roughly the same amount of sound blocking.
Here's what they looked like at their old home.

Break Room

Not only will we have staff restrooms in the new building (whoopie!!) we're also getting a lunch/breakroom too. So staff won't have to eat lunch at their desks any more and will be able to relax a bit during the lunch hour.

The architect also included a bar along one wall with stools to increase the seating capacity. These are the lights that will be installed over the counter space. Well, one of these colors anyway. Right now the designer is leaning toward the yellow.

We Have Mechanical

At long last, we have received our approved mechanical permit from the city. This means that we can begin work on installing our HVAC units. That's heating, ventilating and air conditioning, for those of you not in the trade...

We've got 5 different zones in our space and have done analysis on how much power each unit will need to adequately heat and cool the space it serves.

They're also installing an additional 3 units for future tenants on the ground floor. Just have to wait for the roofing guys to finish pulling off the old roof and start laying down the new one and then the HVAC can be set in place and connected to all the duct work that's already inside.

Flux Capcitor?

No, this is not our version of Doc Brown's 1.21 gigawatt, time travelling DeLorean DMC-12 flux capacitor (remember Back to the Future?).

What it is is a backflow preventor (a re-flux capacitor?) for the fire sprinkler system as required by the Water Purveyor and city code. This prevents water in the sprinkler system from draining back in the city water supply after having sat in potentially rusty pipes for extended periods of time.

Can't wait to see what the elevator cylinder looks like when they take that out to replace!

The Roof is Coming Off!

Workers have now started taking the roof off the building and will be replacing it with a new one with much better drainage. Of course, the day after work started the weatherman's predicting showers, but so far so good.

On the inside, they've finished with the skylights. Here's one in the new conference room. It's one of four that will let in light from the roof and disburse it throughout the workspace through floor to ceiling glass on three sides of the room.

It's going to be so cool!

Floor Monuments

Well, last week at our construction site meeting, the discussion was all about what to do with the floor monuments that are supposed to go into the International Family Center.

What are floor monuments, you ask? No, they're not tombstones in the floor, although that's what they sound like they should be. They're electrical, voice and data outlets sunken into the floor instead of the wall.

We had several of them in the Family Center near the movable walls since we can't put electrical outlets into the panels. But as they were drilling into the floor of the Family Center, they discovered that the concrete floor is only 4 ½" deep. And the monuments are 4" deep. That doesn't give much room for error.

Instead, we decided to relocate all the floor monuments to outside walls and structural columns that run through the space. It won't look as nice, but at least we won't have people falling through the floor into the parking lot below.

By the way, the reason they were drilling the floor was to put in plumbing for the Children's Room. There will be a kitchen area for the Family Center and pre-K program in the space that has been sponsored by an anonymous "For the Love of Kids" donor.

The Bitter End?

No, it's not the end of the project, it's the name of our carpet for the first floor entry way. Really! We suspect that they ran out of normal names years ago and have had to come up with "interesting" new names every time they come out with a new color or color combination. Regardless of what it's called, it looks nice.

All of our interior finishes were chosen by designers at Jensen/Fey based on a concept of "warm, Northwest colors with a slight Asian flavor" or something like that. It's kind of hard to tell from the little sample board we've seen, but we have utmost confidence that the end result will be something we can be proud of for decades to come!

Waiting Room

If you've been to CISC in the last few years, you know what kind of a first impression the waiting room makes. It's small, crowded, and very uninviting. The carpet needed replacing long ago, and oftentimes we have clients and seniors standing out in the halls because there aren't enough seats to go around.

In the new building, we will have more than enough seating, a bright airy space, and a picture window looking out toward downtown. OK, so it doesn't look like much now, but just wait a couple of months and you'll be surprised at the change!

CISC will be a place where people actually want to come, not just because they need something. Our clients, visitors, staff and volunteers will be much more comfortable, and have a sense of respect in their new surroundings. We can't wait!

Check This Out!

Work continues on the project at a steady clip. Drywall has gone in on one side of each wall (the other side will go up after inspection), insulation is being installed, and electricity and voice/data cables are being strung up.

These guys are really fast. Like the guy on stilts, installing the insulation. He finished the entire wall in about the time it took to take this picture!

That's Easy!

Things are moving right along at 611 S Lane St. The top of the monitor got put on this week and the last of the windows has been cut out.

Now as we look to the interior walls and finishes we have a whole new set of questions and issues to address. Like what kind of blinds should go on the interior windows since the ones originally called for in the specifications won't fit the window frames? Should they be vertical or horizontal? Are the 3"? or 1"? or something in between?

We now have the perfect solution to these all all future questions. From now on, whenever we have a difficult question we need answered, will will just go to Construction Superindendent Armin Bunkelman's hat and push the large red button on top. Problem solved!

Northwest Asian Weekly

In case you missed it in the

The Chinese Information and Service Center netted $25,750 — more than the final 10 percent needed to complete its Moving On Up campaign — at a dinner July 30 at New Kowloon Restaurant. The money helps the agency move its headquarters to a larger, more updated space at 611 S. Lane St. in Chinatown/International District. Guests at the dinner included Lt. Gov. Brad Owen and Hong Van Mac, who was asked to provide an impromptu auction donation. He agreed to host a lunch for four inside his Olympia office during the next legislative session, at which he will explain the nuts and bolts of the Legislature. For $600, Ruoxi Zhang and her husband Victor Wu were the winning bidders. Later, Mac said he would donate the final $1,450 needed to bring the evening’s totals to an even $25,000 only if Owen plays the saxophone at an upcoming event at the restaurant. The lieutenant governor agreed. Also at the dinner was Duc Tran (pictured above, left, with CISC director Alaric Bien), owner of Viet-Wah Supermarket, who worked at the agency soon after coming to Seattle as a refugee. Tran donated $500 that evening.

Reinforcements

You know those huge, long bolts they put in to hold the walls to the building? (see July 30 post) Well, this is what they look like on the outside. They attach to these metal plates to provide extra support for the building. They did the same thing on the Bush Hotel just before the Nisqually Earthquake and fortunately, even though it looked bad, there was really minimal damage to that building.

On the other hand, this building had no reinforcements at all and came through that earthquake totally unscathed! But since this is going to be our home for at least the next 6o years, we might as well make it as strong as possible.