Project Update Forum – September 10, 2019

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Tuesday, September 10, 7-9:30 p.m.

Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus | Catherine F. Scott Commons, Room CM 211
7600 Takoma Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Free parking available. Click here for directions and maps.

RSVP
community@montgomerycollege.edu
For special accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Support Services
240-567-1480 or dss@montgomerycollege.edu

Please join the teams from SmithGroup architects, Barton Malow, and LINK Strategic Partners for our project update forum about the Catherine and Isiah Leggett Math and Science Building on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. Hear about preparation for construction and updates on the project timeline.

This event is part of the College’s ongoing commitment to engage with community stakeholders as we continue the design and plan construction of a building that balances the needs of neighbors, students, and fiscal prudence.

A Letter from the VPP and Provost

Hello All,

Thank you to those of you who joined us on July 9 for charrette number seven and our first of many project update forums with Barton Malow, the construction manager for the Leggett Building. Video of the meeting is available on the project website.

The next project update forum with Barton Malow will be held on Tuesday, September 10.

During the most recent meeting the SmithGroup, the architect reviewed the design of the building and the exterior materials. The architects will continue to develop the interior design details but the external design—size, scale, and massing are virtually complete. As you will recall, the building is smaller, the planetarium is contained wholly inside the building, and a floor was removed from the wing that parallels New York Avenue.

Barton Malow provided a construction overview. At this moment, the College continues to decommission both Falcon Hall and Science South, removing equipment and materials for reuse. At the completion of this work, Barton Malow will install fencing around the project perimeter. Later this summer/early fall, Barton Malow will coordinate the abatement process. Both the College’s environmental safety staff and a third-party monitoring company will oversee this process to ensure that the work is done well and safely. This includes monitoring of the air during the process. The College and previous contractors have successfully carried abatement out at the other campuses and most recently at Pavilion 3 on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus while protecting the local environment and health safety of our employees and our neighbors. More details about abatement can be found here. Responses to questions raised during the meeting are now posted to the project website.

Once abatement is completed, demolition will take place. The buildings will be dismantled—no blasting will take place and there will be no use of wrecking balls.

With respect to other aspects of the project, the College and Barton Malow, along with all contractors associated with the project, will use appropriate environmental design management tools to complete the project—a building that will receive a LEED certification. Fact sheets with additional information can be found on the project website.

Tree protection in the project area is a top priority and the College will protect the park-like setting along Takoma Avenue. Trees and other landscaping material will be added to the campus as part of the project to help the City with its goals with respect to tree canopy, for aesthetics and screening, to help manage stormwater and clean the air. The College’s tree plans have been submitted to the City, as required.

Additionally, the College has submitted appropriate plans to the County to manage soil and sediment control during the project. Stormwater plans have also been submitted to the City—plans that will help protect clean water and manage runoff associated with the Leggett building.

In summary, the College is committed to sustainable practices to help ensure the safety and well-being of our students, employees, and neighbors, and to help protect the environment we all share.

We look forward to the next project update forum on September 10.

Take care,

Dr. Brad J. Stewart
Vice President & Provost
Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
Montgomery College
240-567-1312