A construction manager discovers that as the rules of green construction evolve, so do the challenges.
As new rules are introduced, a learning curve is sometimes associated with them, and creative solutions are required to avoid problems down the road. One such learning curve became apparent in Rochester, N.Y., when LeChase was hired as the construction manager-at-risk for the construction of a new 75,000-square-foot math and science center at Nazareth College.
Construction on the LEED Registered project, with a goal of Silver certification, began in April 2011. The building was coming along smoothly until an obstacle became apparent with the concrete slabs on deck and grade. It started with a new NYSDEC regulation requiring flooring adhesives to be low in volatile organic compounds (VOC). While there wasn’t a problem with the new water-based adhesives specified for the project or the regulation itself, these factors compounded the issue. The new adhesives required the moisture level in the concrete to be significantly reduced prior to the flooring installation, and excessive moisture can be caused by the use of lightweight, high fly ash content concrete — like the concrete used in the math and science center. This combination meant the project was facing serious quality issues with the flooring; a failure to remove the moisture could result in the moisture dissolving the adhesive, bubbling the flooring and causing a flooring failure.