|
Volume CXXXIII, Number 4 |
 |
Ladd residents prepare for awaited move
COLIN LeCROY
Photo Editor
Saturday is moving day for the leaders of Ladd House. Residents,
with the assistance of College-paid movers, will transport their belongings
from their temporary home in Macmillan into their permanent residence
at 15 College Street.
This marks the end to an interesting fall journey for these
residents, a journey that began with the news on August 20, 12 days before
residents were to arrive on campus for House Leader Orientation, that
construction on Ladd would not be complete for more than a month. The
College had foreseen these problems, however.
Bowdoin was not able to acquire Macmillan and Ladd until
about a year ago, according to Bill Gardiner, head of Facilities Management.
Ladd was immediately livable, but both houses required extensive repairs
and upgrades. The heating and electrical systems in place from the construction
of each structure 50 years ago had not been replaced and were operating
with outdated and patch-worked equipment. Sprinkler systems and telephone/data
lines had to be installed.
To allow these improvements, as well as to repair walls
with damaged plaster, the interior walls had to be stripped to the wood
studs underneath. The windows in Macmillan had to be replaced. Many two-room
doubles in Ladd were converted into two one-room singles, furthering the
needed construction.
The purchase of the building and the plans to spend greater than $100,000
necessitated that both houses be modified to meet Americans with Disabilities
Act requirements and relevant fire codes. A second enclosed stairway had
to be added to each building, as did an elevator. Further, several doorways
were widened for wheelchair accessibility.
After the competitive bidding process was completed, a step
necessary to control costs, the contractor was selected and able to begin
work in April. With a limited supply of carpenters and tile layers in
the area, the College knew that completion by late August would be difficult.
Delays furthered the problem.
When workers began to install the elevator into Macmillan,
they noticed that the piston pushing the elevator itself was too short.
A clerical error at the manufacturer had sent Macmillan's piston to Wisconsin.
The roof above the elevator shaft had to be taken off to remove the carriage
and replace the part.
The College, however, had anticipated delays and late completion. Work
on Howell House, needed to meet ADA and fire code requirements, originally
scheduled to begin over the summer and to be completed by the end of Winter
Break, was delayed so that the space might be used for student housing
during at least a portion of the fall semester.
When it became apparent during the daily meetings with construction
managers on each project that the buildings would not be completed by
the August 22 deadline, the decision to delay construction at Howell until
next semester was made.
After discussion with students, the College made the decision
to house Howell residents in Howell house for fall semester and Macmillan
for the second. Ladd residents were to occupy temporary assignments in
Stowe Inn, Coles Tower, and the crash-rooms of first-year dorms until
Macmillan was ready for occupancy. Facilities then directed workers from
Ladd to Macmillan to make that house livable sooner. Macmillan was ready
for residence on August 27, though the basements, some common space, and
the second stairway were not yet complete.
Construction of Ladd will be completed tomorrow, though troubleshooting and minor repairs will have to still be made. The installation of a full-scale kitchen, to be used by Dining Services to feed Outward Bound students during the summer and sports teams during break, will also not be completed.