Progress on the Basement!!

At first glance, it may not look like the Alumni Student Center has progressed much over the last few weeks. However, if you were to get a closer look at the construction site, you would see just all that has been done in a short time!

Crews have been working on the interior of the basement (the ceiling of which you can see in place). Tarps have been placed around the perimeter of the building and heaters have been put inside to allow the crews to work through the Chicago winter! Concrete has been laid on the basement floor over the dirt and the butane heaters allow the concrete to “cure” (obtain optimal hardness and strength). Plumbing and electrical work is currently being completed in what will be the kitchen for the Dining Hall.

The steel of the basement was recently sprayed with a fire proof insulation to prevent the steel from melting in the event of a fire. Don’t worry, though! This material protects the steel for 2 hours in the event that a fire starts! FUN FACT: Steel burns quicker and easier than wood–steel can melt just like plastic! It’s amazing that a building is made out of such fragile material! Before the steel was raised, crews put up barriers to keep water from entering the building since we are so close to Lake Michigan. In fact, the water can extend up to 50 miles inland! You can see that there is a nifty irrigation system set-up all around the building. If any water does creep in to the building, the system will send it quickly out to the sewer/drainage system (by CFSU). Within a few weeks you may be able to see the next piece of the puzzle in what will be an amazing building!