CRI Project Update/BSB Occupants' Meeting
May 30, 2002 BSB 120
Next meeting: June 13, 1:30 p.m., BSB120 MRE

The next meeting with the BAR will be held on June 12, 2002. It is hoped that the City will give their approval on the appearance of the building elevation at this time.

CRI: Work on the utilities tunnel is progressing; the pile caps are in place. The first 100 feet of the slab has been poured. Additional concrete is being poured today. The first wall and part of the top will be poured at the end of next week. Hank promises that soon we will begin to see something that resembles a building!

The restroom renovations are proceeding. In an effort to increase the number of restrooms in the building and particularly on floors 2, 3 and 7, the architect has added another fixture to each of the restrooms that are being renovated on 2, 6 and 7. At this time, there is no plan to renovate a restroom on the 3rd floor. However, we will investigate the possibility of reclaiming some former restroom spaces that have been renovated to create office space, and return them to their former use. Additionally, the architect will investigate the possibility of placing an additional toilet in each of the restrooms planned for the new CRI, located just on the other side of the break throughs. Some occupants expressed concern over the additional use of the remaining restrooms. Leslie Kendall asked that Housekeeping be reminded to check the restrooms several times a day to insure their cleanliness and functionality.

The elevator service has continued to deteriorate (or at least has not improved). On June 10, 2002 a meeting with the architect, OSH and the design parties involved, will be held to discuss the asbestos abatement in the lobbies, lobby closings, break through at the monumental stair, elevator upgrade and the autoclave for lab animal medicine. We hope to leave this meeting with recommendations that will help us coordinate and prioritize this work. In the meantime, Facilities and Engineering will continue to monitor the elevators frequently and report problems to the maintenance company. Occupants should report malfunctions to the Facilities and Engineering Trouble Call desk at 792-4119.

In the CRI there will be no elevators; the existing BSB elevators will serve both buildings. Hank Harrison explained that reworking the elevators would result in a significant enhancement in the efficiency of the existing elevators-perhaps as much as150%. For example, Rutledge Towers has the same type elevators and they have been upgraded in the same manner as is planned for the BSB elevators and those 5 elevators now adequately serve 12 stories.

The consultant's report, upon which decisions concerning additional elevators for CRI was made, explained the reasons that the existing elevators run so poorly. Previous upgrades resulted in "basically a hybrid in that it combined digital and analog circuitry in lieu of using all microprocessor based controls. Experience with similar installations using this combination of components indicates that the resulting performance obtained was very unstable". The report recommends that "the existing four passenger elevators in the Basic Sciences Building be modernized with new microprocessor based controllers and control circuitry with solid state rectifiers and that the existing elevator machine room be air conditioned." Also the report recommends that we include "provisions for a fifth future elevator in the existing future elevator hoistway should additional elevator service be required due to additional building renovations." The full report can be obtained upon request.

BSB Security Lt. Bob Waite, Mark Narowski and Jervey Simons of Public Safety attended the meeting in order to answer occupant's questions about BSB security measures. Bob Waite first reported that all of the strikes in the stairwell doors have been replaced with mechanisms that will release in the event of loss of power and/or fire alarms. This action is in response to requests by some of the occupants to go beyond the requirements of "the code" (which allows release mechanisms on every other floor) and to purchase and install these release mechanisms on every stair well door. The occupants expressed their appreciation to Dr. Raymond and the Provost's Office for their response to the request.

In response to questions raised by Dr. Ed Krug (6th floor, Cell Biology & Anatomy), Bob Waite explained that the east end elevator will have full access to floors 2-5 in order to accommodate Dentistry, but that the elevator would not provide access up to the 6th or 7th floors. However, the east end elevator can be called to the 6th and 7th floors (from 6 or 7) so that occupants on these floors may use the elevator to exit the building. Card readers cannot be installed on this elevator because of the incompatibility of the function of the reader and the elevator controller, which is quite outdated.

There will be no card readers on the main elevators. The main elevators will go to all floors at all times. But security barriers will exist just outside of the elevator lobbies, in four places, at the first set of fire doors, on each floor. Card access to the interior doors and the hours of unrestricted access will be at the discretion of the individual department.

Some occupants have expressed concern over the lack of windows in the fire doors. They are concerned that researchers carrying chemicals or pushing carts through these doors may hit someone on the other side of the door. Installing windows in these doors is complicated by the fact that the doors contain asbestos, so holes cannot be cut into the doors, and disposal of the doors is very expensive. It is estimated that to replace a set of fire doors will cost about $10,000. Some of these doors are held open by magnets during the unrestricted hours. Lt. Wait will determine whether or not the magnets will release at closing time or Public Safety will have to physically come over and close the doors.

Leslie Kendall will determine which doors need to be replaced and provide this information to Dr. Raymond. [Note: One set of doors on the 2nd floor and one set of doors on the 6th floor needs to be replaced, however, Dr. Krug would like to the see all four sets of doors on the 6th floor replaced eventually, because the windows are so small and so high that folks less than 5'2" (less than 5'2"!!!???) can not see through the windows. The 7th floor doors do not have windows in them but thus far the occupants have not perceived this to be a problem.]

Dr. David Schwartz and Beth Gladden asked when the 2nd floor security systems would be activated. Lt. Waite agreed to contact Beth at least one week before the activation of their security system. Also, they wanted to remind us that the cold room and warm room across from the walkover on the 2nd floor do not have locks on the doors. The MUSC lock shop has determined that they cannot change the locking mechanism to one that will lock automatically. Beth has contacted the manufacturer for information about locks for the doors but they have not yet responded. Leslie Kendall said she would have the lock shop make keys for the existing locks and the researchers who use the rooms will have to accept the responsibility of locking the doors.

(Note: Update from Mark Narowski: We've successfully tested the doors for BSB 3rd floor and we will go live tomorrow 6/12/2002. On the 6th floor we have a problem with the controller for the doors on the North side. Manuel will have Kantech overnight us a new one. We'll be testing the doors on the 5th floor this afternoon (6/11/02). And if all goes well and Scott Reid agrees we may be able to go live by Thursday (6/1302). Oh, by the way we tested the 5th floor and we have to replace one of the electric strikes on the Northwest stairwell door. That will be done tomorrow morning and then the 5th floor will be ready to go live. I spoke with Scott and he gave me his schedule and I left it up to him to decide when he wants us to activate the system. The seventh floor is a work in progress; we should be ready soon. The 8th and 9th floors have been tested and will be activated in the near future.)

Dr. Ondo asked about the 02 rooms that are occasionally used by students as study halls. Often these doors are propped open to by pass the security feature. Lt. Waite assured him that these doors would have contacts on them that would alarm in Public Safety if the doors are open for more than 20 seconds. Public Safety will then respond to the call. Signage will be placed on each of these doors warning folks of the alarm mechanism.

Beth Gladden asked about the pick up of biological waste in BSB. She said the waste was not being removed every night nor were clean carts being delivered to the labs. Leslie Kendall told her that she had a meeting with representatives from OSH, Housekeeping and F&E about these issues this week and would ask Adrianne McLain to report back to the committee at their next meeting. Note: Joe Avant and Adrianne McLain will be at the 6/13/02 meeting.

Also Leslie Kendall suggested that the CRI/BSB Occupant's Meeting be held every other week rather than every week from now on. The committee agreed with this suggestion. The next meeting will be June 13, at 1:30 in BSB 120.

Attendees: Mac McClinton Dr. Jerry Ondo Beth Gladden Jervey Simons Laura Walters Leslie Kendall Bob Waite Dr. Tom Trusk Dr. David Schwartz Mark Narowski Hank Harrison