Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus Projects Updates – February 9, 2024

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you for your interest in the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus construction projects. We strive to keep our neighbors informed about significant construction events with this weekly email notification.

This notice provides information on the construction of the Catherine and Isiah Leggett Building the campus library renovation in the Resource Center, and the Facilities Master Plan work for Montgomery College.

Upcoming activities are listed below:

Library/Resource Center—Renovation   

• Water Line and Upcoming WSSC Work: On Saturday, February 17, WSSC is expected to be on site to test the new water line that establishes water service to the building. There will be temporary loss of water to a limited number of houses on New York Avenue and Takoma Avenue and most campus buildings from approximately 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. WSSC will notify the specific neighbors who will be impacted by water loss two days before the work starts. In order to perform this work, one lane of New York Avenue will be closed on Thursday, February 15 and Friday, February 16 to allow for excavation and preparations for the water line testing. Montgomery College is committed to working with Gilbane and WSSC to mitigate the impact on the neighboring homes and College buildings. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
  
• Sidewalk Closure: For the remainder of the project, the sidewalk on New York Avenue in front of the Library/Resource Center is closed to pedestrians. Pedestrians are being re-routed across the road for safe passage.
  
• Exterior Work: The installation of exterior wall panels and storefront glass is progressing. Concrete pouring work is continuing as the weather permits. Steel erection has commenced for the creation of the canopy at the main entrance.
  
• Street Cleaning: As needed, a Bobcat street sweeper will be used to clear mud and debris that accumulates due to inclement weather. The noise levels are equivalent to a standard car and the use of the Bobcat will not result in street closures.
  
• Deliveries: Materials for interior work activities continue to be delivered to the site. All drivers are continuously reminded to adhere to the construction directives, which prohibit project vehicles from proceeding down New York Avenue past Academic Way. These directives also prohibit any vehicles from accessing Takoma Avenue. Representatives from Gilbane Construction will continue to monitor Takoma Avenue and are committed to taking the appropriate action where violations occur.

Leggett Building—Construction

• Interior Work: Work on the interior of the building is progressing, including the installation of decorative acoustic ceiling baffles and flooring, and final painting of the walls. Technological equipment is being installed inside the Planetarium.
  
• Exterior Work: Testing of exterior windows to ensure functionality and efficiency is ongoing.
  
• Landscaping and Trucks on Takoma Avenue: The installation of remaining landscape materials will advance as weather permits. A limited number of trucks related to the landscaping work and exterior façade testing will be accessing Takoma Avenue as needed. Vehicles will proceed via New York Avenue and enter the construction site from the new Takoma Avenue parking lot entrance. Upon departure, the trucks will turn east on Takoma Avenue to New York Avenue and turn right on Fenton Street.
• Deliveries: As previously updated, materials are being delivered on site for use within the structure. Drivers are routinely reminded they are required to follow the designated routes to and from the site and must enter and exit on Fenton Street from Philadelphia. 

Project Update Forum

• Thank you to those who joined us for our virtual Project Update Forum on January 30! Please visit our website to access the recording of the meeting and a copy of the presentation. 

Facilities Master Plan

• The College’s Board of Trustees approved the FMP plan during its January 24 meeting. The plan has now been submitted to the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Please visit the FMP website for additional information.

Please visit our website for additional information on all three TP/SS construction projects. As always, you may contact us with questions at community@montgomerycollege.edu or call the project hotline at 800-879-9879.

Thank you,
The Montgomery College Team