2019_07 - KLA Construction Progress

It's crunch time!  Contractors are working towards getting several rooms ready for the start of the school year and the balance of the rooms by the end of October.  There are many small tasks that must be completed for Phase 2 to be completed including flooring, painting, electrical, technology, ceilings just to name a few.  In addition furniture and equipment will need to be ordered and put in place.  Keeping crews focused on what needs to be done when so that other crews can then do their work so that other crews can then do their work and so on is the biggest task at hand.  Enjoy some of these progress photos of the work completed during July 2019.

 Tilework in the toilet rooms completed

 Painting in one classroom completed

 Electric panels installed and wired

 Preparing floors for finishing

 Above ceiling work in place

Exterior finishing nearing completion

2019_06 - KLA Construction Progress

As summer in Kosovo is heating up so are efforts to move towards a fall completion of Phase 2.  Work on the exterior façade is bringing the building to life with multiple colors and patterns to stimulate interest.  Interior finishing continues with ceilings, floors, handrail fabrication, electrical, mechanical and many other details that will make the building a great school facility.

In-floor electrical and communications with insulation prepared for topping slab

 Concrete topping slab installation

Façade work in progress

 Finished façade work

 Handrail fabrication in stairwells

 Toilet Fixture plumbing rough-in

2019_05 - KLA Construction Progress Update 2

Work is continuing at a brisk pace on the KLA Project.  With the extension of the contract for the completion of Phase 2's exterior and the ground and first level will be done by fall of 2019!  The goal is to have several classrooms ready for the start of the school year and the balance by the end of October.  All told by the end of this phase 18 classrooms will be on line with 9 more to come down the road.

 Completed roof!  Just some minor details to finish off

 Work in the main corridors - wall finishing, ceilings

 Wall Plastering

 Moisture barrier installation at ground level

Exterior Insulating Finish System (EIFS) being installed on northwest façade

2019_05 - KLA Construction Progress

I recently returned from a trip to check in on the construction progress of Phase 2 at the KLA.  Work is starting on the interior finishing and the construction team is preparing the exterior for the finish system.  Of course we need to keep in mind why we are doing this work, so I enjoyed some time seeing the students in their classrooms housed in the Phase 1 portion of the school.

 Classroom with initial wall plaster applied

 Main Corridor being prepared for plastering

 Application of plaster in stairwell

 Students in Rally Point time at start of school day

 Students taking Albanian exam

 Students perfecting airplane for timed run

 Students perfecting airplane for timed run

 Just one more adjustment before the next run

 Pre-school gym time

 South west corner of the classroom wing

Northwest corner of the classroom wing - ready for exterior finishing

2019_03 - KLA Construction Progress

The cold weather and snow in February slowed work on the structure a little, but work continued on the brick walls inside the school in preparation of spring's arrival.  As March closes out work is picking up on the exterior of the school with the completion of roof framing, window installation and the start of the metal roof installation.  The team is optimistic to have funds on hand soon to contractor for the building's exterior and interior finishing to get kids moved into two levels sometime this fall.

 Framing for concrete work in one of the three stairways

 The building facade receiving brick in preparation for the windows

 What will be the main corridor with classrooms to the right

 Roof framing beginning

 Roof framing complete!

 It's a beautiful site!  The building will eventually house 27 classrooms!

Window installation nearing complete.

2019_01 - KLA Construction Progress

January was a slow month for progress.  Winter set in hard with much colder weather and a bit of snow.  However there were pockets of warmer days allowing the construction crew to continue moving forward with form work for the final concrete pour and laying up the clay block infill walls.  Our on-site construction manager also held a "topping out" party which is a tradition in the U.S. when a building reaches its highest point for the structural system work.  This was a special time for him and the leadership team from the school to thank the workers for their hard work on the project and encourage them for the work that is still ahead of them.
The construction team is looking forward to spring appearing soon so work can ramp back up to full capacity!

 Topping Out Party in the KLA's gathering hall

 Snow blankets the site

 Form work stalled out during the snow storm

 As quickly as the snow comes it melts away

The grand staircase rising above the existing building

2019_01 - Beginning of Year Update

The weather has remained mild throughout the first part of the winter in Kosovo allowing construction to continue.  Although there have been the occasional snow storms, but them the temperatures warm just enough to melt off the snow and work can continue.  When the weather has not been cooperative for concrete forming and pouring the construction crew has been able to work on the placement of the clay block infills on both the exterior and interior walls.

The team is optimistic to raise the final $115,000 needed to begin Phase 2B work which is the finishing of the exterior and the ground and first level classrooms.  The goal is by the end of January to have all funds on hand to sign a contract extension for this work.

 Materials being lifted to top level

 Winter hit but eventually melted off!

 Interior clay brick walls along main corridor of classrooms

Tim has continued communications and friendship building with Hilmi, the owner of the construction company for Phase 1 of the KLA.  This year Hilmi made a trip to Canada to visit his sister and her family who moved there in the 1990's when war broke out in their homeland.  They were able to visit for an afternoon over lunch in Windsor, Ontario.

Tim & Hilmi on this side of the Atlantic