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The test pile installation was completed this week and load tests started. The purpose of this testing is to insure the micro piles will support the weight of the building, which is their primary function in the Historic City Hall Restoration Project. The new piles are taking the downward force of the building which is compressing or pushing down on them. The load tests this week are simulating this downward force using an hydraulic ram that can create the weights that the building piles will be put under. In fact this ram put more than twice as much force on the piles and this is part of the testing requirement. The highest compression force used this week was 392,000 pounds which was put on the pile with 16 feet embedment into the bedrock. This means the test pile supported over 200% of its’ design capacity and more than exceeded Hayward Baker’s expectations . The testing will be complete by July 15^th. Hayward Baker and Wysong also mobilized in the basement area this week to prepare for the start of the pile installation under the main building foundations. We completed pre-construction meetings with Scott Murray Plumbing from Salinas and Republic Elevator from Goleta as we prepare to mobilize more contractors on the project.

Hayward Baker completed the micro piles for testing in the northwest corner of the project site this week. They continue to install the test piles in the southeast corner. The deepest pile drilled so far has gone down 95 feet with 39 feet going into solid bedrock. Soil and bedrock conditions have been consistent with the exploratory borings done by Earth Systems Pacific as part of the soils report they completed in 2004. The drilling effort has been difficult at times because the bedrock is dense and this is ultimately positive for the project. It means the micro piles will be securely anchored into the bedrock below. There have been more deliveries of material and equipment to support the micro pile installation, which is a preview of the months ahead as more contractors mobilize on the project. Diani Building Corp. from Santa Maria and Taft Electric from Solvang are moving into their field offices which are located in the same building as Bernards Construction Management.

Hayward Baker Geotechnical Construction mobilized on the project this week. They are a subcontractor to Wysong Construction who is doing all of the foundation work. Hayward Baker will be drilling and installing over 250 micro piles under the existing building foundations. This is the first step in stabilizing and reinforcing the existing foundations. Several pieces of equipment have been set up around the site including the yellow cement tank you can see from the Palma Ave. side of the project. Hayward Baker will use a small, compact drilling rig that can fit in the basement to bore 8” diameter holes into the bedrock below with some holes as deep as 85 feet down. As the holes are completed, cement grout is pumped down the 7” steel pipe that is in the center on the bore hole, which fills the pipe and the hole. The first phase of work will be drilling and installing test micro piles in two exterior locations on the site, one in the northwest corner and one in the southeast corner.

On June 15, 2011 bids were received for the Atascadero Historic City Hall Project for Bid Package ACH-20 Electrical. Three bids were received and Taft Electric out of Solvang was the lowest responsive bidder. Taft Electrics’ proposal has been reviewed and confirmed complete. Their proposal will be presented to the Atascadero City Council on June 28, 2011 for approval as the awarded Prime Contractor for bid package ACH-20. If awarded, work will commence on July 25, 2011. Bob Jeppesen with Taft Electric can be reached at 805-688-0121 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

(Bid Results)

Penthouse demolition is complete. All penthouse structure debris has been removed, and the 4^th level roof is clear and ready for the rehabilitation contractor mobilization in July 2011. In addition, Wysong Construction is preparing to mobilize next week to begin foundation work activities. The Micro Pile system design is currently in City plan check, and test piles are planned to commence the week of June 6, 2011.

Penthouse demolition is near completion. The last of the four (4) rooftop structures was removed and all debris was offloaded for disposal. The last activities that remain of the penthouse demolition is removal of the two penthouse topping slabs, building protection, and clean up. Penthouse demolition is anticipated to be complete next week. Building protection will be put in place for protection of any inclement weather. The Bid Package ACH-8 Rehabilitation Contractor, when mobilized, will maintain the protection through the course of the project.

On May 12, 2011 bids were received for the Atascadero Historic City Hall Project for Bid Package ACH-18 Plumbing. Five (5) bids were received and Scott T. Murray Plumbing was the lowest responsive bidder. Murray's Plumbing proposal has been reviewed and confirmed complete. Their proposal will be presented to the Atascadero City Council on June 14, 2011 for approval as the awarded Prime Contractor for bid package ACH-18. If awarded, work will commence on July 11, 2011. Scott Murray can be reached at (208) 766-3550 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . (Bid Results)

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