Glass Day, Hooray!

As was mentioned in an earlier post, the exterior glass windows were one of the materials we have had some difficulty getting here in time to maintain the schedule. So the Bernards HQ Team feels like Christmas came early this year with the first arrival of the glass for the exterior windows. Hale Glass has been installing the aluminum window framing since Wednesday and, as promised, the glass truck pulled in this afternoon with the first shipment of glass.

Some of you GC-public works guys and gals may be scratching your heads wondering how the aluminum can be installed so quickly and how the glass could be here so soon when the frames were just installed. What, no field measuring you ask? Hale Glass field measures all the openings prior to receiving the aluminum in their shop, then inputs this information into a computer so that the material can be cut to length within a hundredth of an inch. They also are able to cut all the weep holes, slots, and notches with extreme precision using a C&C machine in their shop. All the material is either pre-assembled in the shop or the components are bundled in shrink wrap and clearly labeled so the field crew only has to assemble the pieces on-site. That's correct, no chop saws anywhere at the jobsite! At the same time the material is being fabricated in the shop, the glass sizes are already locked in and the order is scheduled for a just-in-time delivery a day or two behind the frames. Quite refreshing to work with a Glass Sub that has actually looked at the plans before arriving on site, wouldn't you agree Chuck Snyder?

I present the following shots as evidence that there is real honest-to-goodness glass on site. No photoshopping, I swear!

Hale trucks loaded with aluminum materials






















Aluminum windows installed at Business Development




















More window frames installed. Pure bliss! We sincerely could look at photos like these all day long. These are right up there with photos of a warm tropical beach, top of a mountain, or a sunset. It's been suggested that we get out of the trailer more often for some fresh air, although we're not sure why.





















And this afternoon............ THE GLASS!

Bonus Shots

We heard some comments from the Bernards HQ blog readers that the progress photos are nice but what's going on in my area? So for a bonus Memorial Day Weekend post we've added some extra splashy shots to quench your HQ thirst!

For all the techies, here is the latest server room shot.






















For all the receptionists, check out this photo, then close your eyes and imagine the stack of drywall as your new desk. Nice, huh?



























For all the chefs out there, here is the current Kitchen shot with the island wall in place.






















For the gardeners, here is one of the new planter islands being prepared for curbs on First Street.






















And finally, for all the folks who secretly wish they were electricians, and I know you're out there, marvel at some of the rough in that is currently being installed. Doesn't it just make you tingle? By the way Mark, we did shut the power off first right?

Going White

For those not up to speed on the jobsite lingo, "going white" is a term used to describe when the drywall starts being hung. Sometimes a Superintendent may threaten to start going white to push the Subcontractors to get their rough in work completed more quickly. This can result in a strain in the relationship between Subcontractors and the Bernards Superintendent which explains Mark's recent request to Safety Mike for a bulletproof safety vest.

In all seriousness, the Subcontractors have been working hard and the walls are starting to "go white". The concrete slab was cut and removed to create the interior planters and the open web bar joists have been braced and completed. In addition the Mason has completed several of the site structures and the offsite work on First Street is progressing.

Please enjoy some of the latest shots!

A view from the interior court looking down the spine.



























"I told them to make it this big!" -Greg Bernards
























Greg breaking it to Ricardo, the Architect, that we do not have it in the budget to line the walls in Accounting with fine Italian marble.






















The newly finished Generator enclosure.

Joint Ops Meeting 2 Update

So for everyone who is attending the second Joint Ops meeting today and being introduced to the Headquarters blog, we didn't want you to feel left out so here is the HQ blog update specially for you. We celebrated a milestone this week in what may be the first ever topping out to occur inside of an existing building. Nevertheless, Greg and Doug showed their appreciation of the workers who have been helping with our new home by providing a taco lunch for all. Thanks to Greg and Doug!

As far as construction progress goes, the decking is by in large complete and the metal bar joists that will span the open areas in the different neighborhoods have also been nearly completed. MEP rough in, drywall, and insulation also continue. Here's the latest pics.

"Topping out" lunch.






















New bar joists at the Estimating neighborhood.





















New bar joists at the Accounting neighborhood.





















View of the space from the Mezzanine with the Main Conference Room in the foreground.























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