The construction of the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center is underway. Currently, the earthwork is the focus of the construction; the retaining walls are up and the foundation and super structure concrete is in place. Seventy-five percent of the building’s contract documents have been completed, according to Martin Moore, the Integrated Manager for the construction of eMPAC. The building is still scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2007.
Moore said that there was a slight delay in the start of construction, but with the use of fast tracking, everything should be on schedule soon. Usually construction does not begin until all the contract documents are completed. “When you fast track, you overlap this process instead of going to the end of CD’s,” said Moore. The final contract documents for the elevator, steel, curtain wall of glass, and wooden hall were finished February 1, 2003. These parts of the building are now being constructed even though twenty-five percent of the CD’s are not yet complete. Moore said, “There is a potential three month delay, but by overlapping there is actually about a month delay.”
No internal changes have occurred in the project plans since September of 2002 beyond minor details. The Construction Manager has changed from Tishman Construction to Turner Construction Company. Turner Construction Company’s past projects include the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Lincoln Center in New York. The architectural details of the building are not yet complete, but Moore said they will be soon.
Currently, the decision of the selection of wood to use in the concert hall is being finalized. In order to keep the glass wall enclosing the building from being covered in condensation from the cold weather, water will be run through the pipes that connect each glass pane. This is an idea not currently used anywhere in the United States, according to Moore. The designers are debating whether or not to include antifreeze with the heated water.
