Memorial Hall Renovation
July 2009 Update
The final phase of the Memorial Hall project continues. This portion of the project will provide: remodeling of the interior, installation of new elevator core onto the south façade of the building, and updated mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
Note: To access University Television on the fourth floor, please enter the single door entry on the north side of Memorial adjacent to the satellite dishes at Sallee.
Current project activities
- All project contractors have commenced construction activities on all floors of the building.
- Interior demolition phase is approximately 70% complete. This activity includes the removal of:
- flooring, walls & ceilings
- lighting, plumbing, and heating equipment & its support infrastructure
- technology wiring
- Exterior demolition is 90% complete.
- Installation of new construction material on multiple floors.
Future Project Activities
- Completion of demolition is approximately 70% complete. Removal of existing building items allows contractors to continue conducting remodeling project responsibilities.
- The existing elevator in Memorial will be demolished in July.
- All project contractors, including Fire Protection, have begun installing new construction material as demolition activity approaches completion.
- Excavation and drilling the new concrete structural caissons, for new elevator core, is forthcoming in the area this summer.
Note #2: Some of the south exterior wall was removed to aid the removal of interior demolition material from Memorial. As remodeling activity continues, and the project is complete, this area will become the location of the new elevator core. The core will contain two, (2) new elevators.
It is cautioned that it is the State, (CDB) and not the Physical Plant which controls the progress of Capital projects in Illinois. The Physical Plant does not anticipate further project delays in the schedule and is only providing its best estimate of project schedule in all updates provided.
May 2009 Update
Overview
The final phase of the Memorial Hall project continues. Current work includes: remodeling of the interior, installation of new elevator core onto the south façade of the building, and updated mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
To access University Television on the fourth floor, please enter the single door entry on the north side of Memorial adjacent to the satellite dishes at Sallee.
The existing elevator in Memorial will remain active as long as it can, without preventing the contractors conducting their remodeling project responsibilities. However, taking this existing elevator out of service is forthcoming this summer.
Current remodeling activities:
Multiple contractors are working in the building. Interior demolition is underway on all floors and includes:
- flooring, walls & ceilings
- lighting, plumbing, and heating equipment & its support infrastructure
- technology wiring
Exterior demolition commenced and includes:
- brick veneer on south and north façades (limited area)
- removal of south canopy
Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing demolition is approximately 50% complete. (Mechanical are two separate contractors – aka: Ventilating and Heating) Ventilating, Electrical, and Plumbing contractors have begun limited new construction activities even as demolition continues. Some of the south exterior wall was removed last month to aid the removal of interior demolition material from Memorial. Once the remodeling activity continues, and the project is complete, this area will serve as the location of the new elevator core. The core will contain two new elevators.
April 2009 Update
Overview
The final phase of the Memorial Hall project includes: remodeling of the interior, installation of new elevator core onto the south side/ façade of the building, and other improvements for the building environment.
Entrance into Memorial Hall, in case you are going up to University Television, (located on the Fourth/4th floor throughout the project) is through a single door on the North side of Memorial. The existing elevator in Memorial will remain active as long as it can, without preventing the contractors conducting their remodeling project responsibilities.
A complete finalized construction schedule is still in process and forthcoming. Once it is received & approved, it will be forwarded to the active tenants, (University TV) on the Fourth floor of Memorial. The monthly project meeting will be on 4.23.09. We will also request a status update of the construction schedule, if we have not received the finalized const. schedule yet.
Current remodeling activities
Multiple contractors are working in the building. Interior demolition has commenced on several floors. Interior demolition is: removing existing walls, ceilings, light fixtures, plumbing pipes & fixtures, mechanical ductwork, etc. The duration to complete all Interior demolition will be called out in the const. schedule.
General, Ventilation, and Electrical contractors demolition is 35% complete. Therefore, a significant number/area/amount of walls, ceilings, ductwork, electrical & technology wiring has been removed. The aforementioned contractors will continue to press forward on demolition progress. New demo activities will also be included: original building dumbwaiters, Entrance canopy, doors, slate flooring, and other existing interior or exterior building material.
Heating and Plumbing contractors have not commenced their demo responsibilities yet. Their mobilization activities were in process last month. These contractors will begin demolition responsibilities in April. Their activities will consist of removing steam and plumbing pipes, units, and/or fixtures.
Also, a limited section of the south exterior wall/façade was removed last month to aid the removal of interior demolition material from Memorial. Once the remodeling activity/project is complete, this area will also be the location of the new elevator core. The new core will have two elevators.
Elevator prep-work, (excavation, drilling caissons, setting structural steel, etc.) will commence once the Const. schedule is approved by the Design Team. The remaining elevator prep-work, will take place after the Interior demolition is complete. Other necessary remodeling activities are in process.
March 2009 Update
The final phase of the Memorial Hall project includes: remodeling of the interior, installation of new elevator core onto the south side/ façade of the building, and other improvements for the building environment.
The Mobilization was held on February 2, 2009. The project site was secured and the Contractor Staging Area is defined, by the fence panels. This area is limited to the west and south areas outside of the building. (Said areas are indicated by yellow cross-hatched pattern – see Contractor's Staging Area PDF 
)
Entrance into Memorial Hall, in case you are going up to University Television, (located on the Fourth/4th floor throughout the project) is through a single door on the North side of Memorial. The existing elevator in Memorial will remain active as long as it can, without preventing the contractors conducting their remodeling project responsibilities.
All the contractors have submitted their activities, and approximate durations, to the General contractor. (C.T. Rallo Contacting Co.) Rallo is the Coordinating Contractor, as well. Therefore, they are responsible to develop a construction schedule. A finalized schedule is forthcoming.
We have a monthly project meeting on 3.19.09 to monitor the project's progress. We will also request a status update of the construction schedule, if we have not received the finalized schedule by then.
Current remodeling activities
Multiple contractors are working in the building. Interior demolition has commenced on several floors. Interior demolition is: removing existing walls, ceilings, light fixtures, plumbing pipes & fixtures, mechanical ductwork, etc. The duration to complete all Interior demolition could take several months.
Also, a limited section of the south exterior wall/façade will be removed next week. This Exterior demolition is needed to assist removing all debris (interior demolition) and placing it into dumpsters outside the building.
The Exterior demolition is also needed to commence some of the prep-work, (excavation, drilling caissons, setting structural steel, etc.) for the new elevator core. The remaining elevator prep-work, will take place after the Interior demolition is complete. The new core will have two elevators. It will be located just east of the existing south entrance doors.
It is cautioned that it is the State, (CDB) and not the Physical Plant that controls the progress of capital projects in Illinois. The Physical Plant does not anticipate further project delays in the schedule and is only providing its best estimate of project schedule in all updates provided.
February 2009 Update
The final phase of the Memorial Hall project includes the remodeling of the interior of the building, the installation new elevator core onto the south side of the building facade, and other improvements for the building environment.
Western Illinois University, the Capital Development Board, and the Architect/Engineering design team received favorable bids from contractors for this final phase. The CDB distributed the Notice of Award announcements to each trade specific low bidders at the beginning of January. The Pre-Construction meeting was held on 1.14.09 at Memorial Hall, which included all the project contractors.
The participating project contractors are as follows: General C. Rallo Contracting, Electrical Tri-City Electric Co., Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanical Service, Inc., Ventilation Frank Millard & Co. Inc., Plumbing Warner Plumbing Inc., Fire Protection Murphy F J & Son Incorporated. The Mobilization meeting with the contractors listed above, will take place on February 2, 2009. The project site will be secured by placing panels of fencing around the staging area, (shown on the attachment to this update) by February 9, 2009.
The remodeling of the interior of the building will require the use of more cumbersome equipment. (cranes to lift supplies onto the roof, concrete trucks to pour footings for the new elevator shafts, etc.) It will also require larger material shipments, (large steel beams for the substructure components, etc.) to the site.
It is cautioned that it is the State, (CDB) and not the Physical Plant that controls the progress of capital projects in Illinois. The Physical Plant does not anticipate further project delays in the schedule and is only providing its best estimate of project schedule in all updates provided.
Questions concerning the renovation project may be directed to:
Michael Hott, Architectural Superintendent
Telephone: 309-298-1834, ext 249
Email: MA-Hott@wiu.edu
Bill Brewer, Assistant Director of Physical Plan
Telephone: 309-298-1834, ext 272
Email: WE-Brewer@wiu.edu
Memorial Hall Renovation Facts
The State of Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) and the Governor's Offices of Management and Budget (GOMB) exclusively control the pace at which all state funded capital projects are funded, designed, and constructed.
The CDB strictly regulates what may and may not be included in a capital project. These stringent State rules restrict or prohibit expenditures on temporary relocation costs, furnishings, equipment and some forms of communication wiring.
Capital projects typically do not experience delays by the CDB or GOMB once funding is appropriated by the State General Assembly. Because of poor economic conditions beginning in fall 2001, the Memorial Hall project has experienced several minor delays and one major project stoppage of 12 months.
Most building renovation projects only involve one or two academic departments who temporarily relocate and return to a completely renovated facility. The Memorial Hall renovation is complicated by its impact on 15 diverse user groups representing academic departments and service departments. Some of these departments will be permanently relocated out of Memorial, some will be being relocated to Memorial for the first time, and some will remain in Memorial during construction. In terms of scheduling logistics and project planning, the Memorial Hall renovation would be rated the most difficult of all construction projects.
As one the Governor's chosen Economic Development Initiatives, the Memorial Hall renovation is one of only a few fully funded capital projects granted to a State University since January, 2002.