Old Farrow/New Kiwanis Update

The slab inspection passed last Wednesday. The interior slab, sunken bathroom floors, pedimat impression, footings, laundry and sidewalk were poured on Thursday and Friday. Framing begins tomorrow.

New Kiwanis Demolition

The majority of the walls have been taken down in the second cottage under construction. The beam that was missing in the first cottage has been revealed in this cottage. The architect is verifying its structural integrity with the engineers. In the mean time, the plumbers are doing their thing and the work in the corridors and bedrooms is progressing. The masons are taking advantage of the good weather.

Move In Day - Farrow Cottage

The Residential and Operations staff are working side by side with the residents to move the boys into their newly renovated space. We can't tell who is more excited - the residents or the staff. Pictured is Phil Errico, Residential Director and Nabate and Tarik, Farrow residents.

TCO Issued!

Today the Fire Inspection and Final Building Inspection passed - we have a temporary certificate of occupancy for the New Farrow cottage. The final certfiicate of occupancy won't be issued until all four cottages are completed and the job is done. The move is still on for Monday, November 14!

News from our Project Superintendent

As you know we passed our electrical inspection for a TCO.

Today we passed our plumbing for our TCO.

Tomorrow is building and fire.

We will follow up with a punch list. I am trying to catch as many things as possible to narrow our final punch list down to only a handful of items.

Our carpet is being switched out today. We are also having the Core flooring completed tonight as well.

All in all I think we're in good shape for an on time move.


Harold J. Stempert, Jr.
Project Superintendent
Donnelly Construction

Final Electrical Inspection

We passed the new Farrow cottage final electrical inspection today.

Farrow Cottage Final Inspection Schedule

The final electrical inspection is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8; final plumbing inspection is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9; fire and final for TCO is scheduled for Thursday, November 10. The move in date is still Monday, November 14.

1 Additional Week Delay in Completion of Cottage 1

We were notified this morning that the target date of 11/7 for move-in has been pushed out to 11/14. This was primarily due to longer than expected lead times and delays in the receipt of material for the energy recovery ventilators, pedimat, lighting, and solid surfaces. Donnelly is looking to make up this week plus the other 3 weeks that were delayed due to structural issues in the next 3 cottages. Outside, the bricks that were removed during demolition are being reinstalled in the new exterior wall. Work on interior finishes continue.

Flooring, Cabinets, Paint, Lights

The tile flooring and walls in the bathrooms are complete. The flooring is installed in the bedrooms and laundry room. The bedroom doors are being hung and the lighting is also being installed. The walls are painted and the crown molding is up. The kitchen cabinetry is being installed, counter templates will be taken tomorrow. The place is hopping with activity and things are moving along.

Sheetrock complete

The new walls are up and ready for paint. The bathroom floor tile has been installed. Shower diverters are in. Down the hallway the bedrooms have been primed and the beautiful new solid wood doors are waiting installation. Great new shelves in all of the bedroom closets.

Passed more inspections

The electric, plumbing and framing inspections all passed. We are full steam ahead with sheetrocking. The bedrooms will be painted starting tomorrow.

More Inspections Scheduled

The electrical inspection is scheduled for this week and the plumbing and framing inspections are scheduled for mid-next week. Painting of the bedrooms is scheduled to commence on Monday. The structural design changes have all been implemented. The silver lining in this whole change is that the design is actually improved; the absence of the missing column enhances the open floor plan that now exists. Good news received from the township Building Department - our proposed change to the insulation plan has been approved, resulting in an anticipated savings of $25k.

Structural Framing Complete

The final framing to resolve the structural issues has been completed. The job is 2-3 weeks behind schedule due to the design changes necessitated by the structural existing conditions, i.e. lack of columns, but progress continues. The new door frames have been installed in all of the bedrooms and closets. The new flush mount sprinker heads are being installed, the framing for the bathrooms, closets, kitchen, and counseling room is nearly complete, and the terrazzo shower bases have arrived and are ready for install. We have an issue with lead time on the lighting fixtures and our CM and architect are readying alternate plans since no suitable substitutes are available.

Interior Framing

The bulk of the interior framing is complete. You can actually see the deliniation of the three bathrooms, storage closet, and kitchen space. We are awaiting receipt of light guage structural metal that had to be special ordered as a result of the structural design changes. Delivery is scheduled for tomorrow and then framing will be completed. The main corridor and living room at the end of the hallway are sheetrocked, spackled, and ready for paint. The two solar tubes have been delivered and their exact placement needs to be defined with the help of our architect.

Rough plumbing passed today

All of the rough plumbing is in place and passsed inspection today. The sheetrock was installed in the living room at the end of the hall today as well. Cement was delivered and they are about halfway done with pouring the floors in the new laundry room and the new shared counseling room.

Rough Plumbing and Concrete

The plumber is finishing up the rough plumbing today and the inspection is scheduled for Monday. The weather didn't cooperate this week so the concrete pour has been moved to Monday and Tuesday of next week. We believe the schedule impact of the structural changes will be about a week and a half and the dollar impact for all four cottages will be about $35k. Fortunately our budget has a contingency that can absorb the hit. The sheetrock has been delivered and by end of next week we should start to see the walls going up.

Structural Support Defined & Implemented

By last Thursday the structural engineer working with our architect and construction management team provided a plan to compensate for the missing columns and beams so that demolition work could continue. The Donnelly crew worked Saturday in order to dig footings for the new load bearing walls; their inspection passed today. Weather permitting, footings will be poured tomorrow. In the mean time, wall and ceiling restoration is being completed in the bedrooms in preparation for new paint and trim. We should know by Friday what exposing existing plumbing under the slab reveals.

Exterior Walls - Hidden Condition

In order to provide more interior living space, our plans call for exterior walls to be moved out. The architectural plans from the original building construction indicated supporting columns and beams which, upon demolition, were found to be missing. As a result, the exterior walls to be removed turn out to be load bearing. Our construction management team was on-site today along with our architect and engineering firm Harrison, Hamnett, PC to identify a solution and prepare a new plan. This will add cost and time to the project; at this point we don't know how much. On a positive note, we passed our footing inspection for both new exterior walls in the laundry room and new entrance.

Demolition of Block Walls

The Donnelly demolition crew is continuing work on the cinder block walls between what had been the kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom of the old Osborne cottage. This taking down of walls will open up space for 3 new bathrooms, a new kitchenette and open living area. As of noon today, one of two metal existing supporting beams had been exposed. Pictured is CEO, Bill Powers inspecting the project.

Demolition Continues

Yesterday's demolition of the corridor and group room revealed an unanticipated condition - the walls were constructed using 2 layers of 1/2" sheetrock versus the anticipated 5/8" single layer of sheetrock. This will necessitate some re-working of the plans and additional cost. Our architect John Perrin and Construction Management team from Donnelly are taking the necesssary steps to resolve. In the mean time, demolition continues with work scheduled for this Saturday in order to move the project along as quickly as possible. Safety precautions are also being made to secure the temporary fencing and construction materials outside in anticipation of the impending hurricane.

Demolition Starts - Osborne Cottage

Our Osborne residents spent their first night in their new cottage at the Health Office. Our maintenance crew started at 7 a.m. today to remove the final items from Osborne. The Donnelly crew has begun demolition.

Moving Day

Last week as direct care staff and 90 residents traveled on the annual trip to Canada, our construction manager, sub-contractors, and maintenance staff were busy getting ready for today's move. The hot water heaters were relocated in McNally and final touches on new offices were completed. Today six Osborne cottage residents moved to their new cottage, the Health Office. The balance of the Osborne cottage residents were transferred to other cottages on campus. Tomorrow the demolition of the interior of the bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry rooms in Osborne cottage begins. This is the first wing of our four wing renovation project.

Office Moves Scheduled

The first electrical inspections for the Mechanical Room and 2nd floor Matinee Theater offices passed yesterday. Meanwhile preparation for the annual trip to Canada is in full swing with 90 residents and 90 staff scheduled to depart early Sunday morning. While they are away next week, we plan to move two Clinician offices out of McNally and into the new offices in Matinee Theater. Then we move our Psychiatrist and APN to their new offices in McNally. Finally, on Monday August 22 our Nursing Director will move her office into new space in the Health Office. All of these moves set the stage for the Health Office to double as a cottage for 8 Osborne residents during construction. Also during Canada week the final work in the Mechanical Room to relocate the hot water heaters will be completed. Resident moving day is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23 and Osborne construction starts on Wednesday, August 24.

Passed First Inspections

Framing inspections for both the offices in the theater building and the mechanical room in McNally passed this morning. The wardrobes were delivered to the Health Office. Progress continues.

Offices in Theater, Mechanical Room, Health Office Update

Framing will be completed for both the two new offices on the second floor of the Matinee Theater and the new Mechanical Room in McNally today and inspections will be scheduled. The wardrobes are scheduled to be delivered to the Health Office tomorrow morning and work will commence to convert the existing kitchenette to a staff office in the Health Office. Fencing has been installed outside of McNally to secure the area required to store materials and the dumpsters.

Deliveries Scheduled

On Monday, August 1 between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. we expect deliveries of fencing, dumpsters, sandbags, and job materials. The delivery trucks have been instructed to use our service entrance and they will be delivering to the McNally area. On Wednesday, August 3 the wardrobes will be delivered to the Health Office around 7 a.m. These will be used for storage of the boys' personal items and clothing while residing in the Health Office.

Construction Preparation

On Monday, August 1 construction will begin in the Matinee Theater second floor and McNally. Our Construction Supervisor Harold Stempert will be on-site tomorrow and Friday to plan and stage the work. Materials will be delivered on Monday and subcontractors will commence work. All subcontractors will wear photo identification badges and sign in and out with the Construction Supervisor daily. All individuals performing work on campus will be provided a safety orientation and will receive information about special considerations unique to working at Bonnie Brae. If you have any concerns or questions feel free to contact Ann Zouvelekis on 908-647-4702. The hallway in McNally behind the cafeteria that leads to Farrow cottage will be closed starting Monday. There will still be access to both sets of exterior doors in that hallway but the 20 feet of hall connecting the kitchen service entrance and the sprinkler room will be partitioned off permanently. This area is to become the new mechanical room. Work on the Health Office kitchen area will follow, probably starting the end of next week or the following week.

Building Permits and Start Date

Our building permits have been approved by Bernards Township. Our Construction Manager, Donnelly Construction, is scheduled to begin work on Monday, August 1. Renovations to our Matinee Theater to accommodate two temporary offices and the Health Office to accommodate temporary living space for 8 residents will be the first order of business.

July 13, 2011

We created a blog to communicate progress of our McNally renovation. As time goes by we will keep you informed with the latest news about construction updates and schedule milestones. Right now, our architect's plans have been completed, our construction manager is lining up sub-contractors, and our resident advisors have selected all the finishes and colors for the renovation of all four McNally cottages. Our building permits are being reviewed for approval by Bernards Township.