Anchor Tenant Declares Their Presence
Entrance Atrium Signs are Installed
Crews were on site this week installing signage for the anchor tenant. Store fixture operations moved forward with stocking scheduled to begin next week. Grand opening is scheduled for September 14, 2011.
Elevators Making the Move-in Easy
All vertical lift equipment was busy this week as store fixtures and office equipment were brought to the third floor of the Grundy Town Center.
Anchor Takes Over at Grundy’s New Town Center
Overall View of Grundy Town Center
We have arrived at the architect’s exterior vision of Grundy’s new retail center. Paving, sidewalks, parking lot striping and traffic signage activities have been completed. Work now progresses to the build-out of the ground level retail shops.
Fixturing Activities Inside Retail Anchor
Temporary Certificates of Occupancy have now been issued. This allows for fixturing and stocking of the third level retail anchor store. Fixturing is well underway with stocking anticipated to begin the week of August 8th.
Atrium Decorative Glass Handrail System at Descending Escalator / Cartveyor Side
Installation and trim-out of the decorative glass handrail system nears completion. This will offer a similar unobstructed environment as the 40’ tall glass window wall at the grand entrance.
Decorative Glass Handrail System & Passenger Elevator
Final adjustments are also being completed for the passenger elevator. This elevator will carry patrons from ground and second level parking decks to the third level retail center.
Final Activities Before Store Fixturing
Grand Atrium to Grundy Town Center
Window cleaning crews have a unique challenge in applying the final shine at the Grundy Town Center. The Atrium window wall is close to 40 feet high, so specialized equipment was brought on site in order to reach these heights.
Hydro-Seeding and Mulching Operation
Application of grass seed in landscaped areas is done by the use of specialized commercial hydro-seeding trucks. This process sprays a mixture that includes grass seed, fertilizer and mulch in one application. The use of water in spreading these materials also gives the seed a boost in these hot July temperatures.
Striping of the Parking Lot
In addition to over 500 parking spaces located in the two level parking deck, The Grundy Town Center also offers parking in excess of 150 spaces for the ground level retail shops.
Ground Level Retail Shops
Work has been released for the build-out of the ground level retail shops. Crews arrived this week for the installation of signs. This offers a glimpse of the future retail stores to come.
Installation of the Cardboard Bailer
The cardboard bailer for the anchor retail store was received this week. This bailer will compact cardboard boxes in bails to save space and allow for recycling.
Installation of Trash Compactor
The trash compactor was received and installed outside the loading dock at Grundy Town Center.
Guardrail Installation
A guardrail system is being installed along the parking lot adjacent to the slope of the Levisa River. The guardrail will protect vehicles that park along the riverbank.
Used Cooking Oil Grease Tank
All used cooking oil from the third level retail store will be stored in this tank until pumped into a truck for recycling.
Tile Work in the Atrium
Floor tile crews were on-site this week completing tile installation on all levels of the entrance atrium.
Refrigerated Cases in Third Level Retail Store
Remaining food & deli refrigerated cases were received and set into place this week. This completes the layout of grocery refrigerated cases.
Tying Up Loose Ends
- Parking Deck Barrier Cable System
In its design, the multi-story parking deck at the Grundy Town Center has an eleven cable barrier system to prevent vehicles from falling should they run past the wheel stops. This system is supplied and installed by a company called Dywidag. They are more commonly known in this area for their use of ceiling mining bolts. The photo above shows the system prior to the stressing of the cables.
Heavy-Duty Hydraulic Stressing Jacks for Barrier Cables
The photo above shows the hydraulic jack in use. The machine will place and hold over 7,000 lbs. of stress on the cables to ensure their structural integrity.
Completed Barrier Cable System
The completed barrier system will withstand an excess of 18,000 lbs. of force on just three cables. Our system contains eleven cables to ensure the fullest extent of protection available for the safety of Grundy Town Center’s patrons. This cable system also serves as pedestrian fall protection.
Escalator for Shopping Carts (Cartveyor)
Final testing and commissioning of the cartveyor system at the Grundy Town Center was conducted this week. As seen in the above photo, patrons will ride down the escalator from the third level retail center with their shopping cart in sight at all times. You will also notice that shopping carts remain horizontal, so as not to spill their contents.
- Paving of Final Driving Surface
Final paving operations were completed as scheduled last week at the Grundy Town Center. Inspectors were on-site at all times to ensure proper depth and densities were acquired. Work was completed using local contractors.
Paving Operations at Grundy Town Center
Paving Operations at North End of Parking Deck
Now that the dense graded aggregate base is complete and sealed, using a liquid asphalt primer, the first of two layers of asphalt is applied. This paving design will include 2.5” base layer and an additional 1.5” layer of surface asphalt.
Quality Control Testing & Inspections
Independent testing and inspection personnel are on site full-time during all paving operations. They are designated to ensure that proper thickness and compaction of asphalt is achieved. Compaction tests are performed using specialized nuclear density equipment.
Paving in Front of Grundy Town Center
Our current paving schedule allows for the completion of all base course asphalt by the end of this week. The final layer of asphalt wearing surface will be completed after the July Fourth Holiday.
North Entrance & Loading Dock Area Paving
Paving design at the North Entrance is a standard asphalt mix. Due to heavy loads at the loading dock area, concrete paving has been installed.
Pedestrian Plaza Exposed Aggregate Sidewalks
Final Cleaning of the exposed aggregate sidewalks moved forward this week. The Pedestrian Plaza will include an integral colored grey concrete, as well as the exposed aggregate patterned areas.
Passenger Elevator Masonry Work – Atrium
The installation of the passenger elevator door frames has allowed for the completion of masonry work in the atrium. Floor tile and glass handrail system installation are scheduled to begin after the July Fourth holiday.
Town Center Paving to Start Early Next Week
Front of Grundy Town Center
With curb and gutter work complete, including the back fill and fine grading, paving is scheduled to begin next week.
Town Center Ring Road
The last course of aggregate stone base has been placed, fine graded and tested for compaction and moisture content. We have been released for paving.
Completion of Exterior Insulation and Finish (EFIS) installation
Installation of the permanent freight elevator is complete and release for use during the final phases of construction. This has allowed removal of the temporary construction hoist. With the hoist opening, remaining framing, sheathing and EFIS installation was completed.
Parking Deck Striping
The parking deck has been cleared of materials and swept clean. Parking striping and direction marking moved forward this week starting on the second floor. Ground floor striping and remaining signage will be installed next week.
