Clubhouse ReBuild Update
Club Rebuild – Process, Progress and Plansby Eric Dodge
March 29, 2020
Although we are in the midst of a serious pandemic threat, we have been able to continue construction activities at the Club. The contractor, Gateway, is carefully monitoring the health and welfare of their workforce, and practicing social distancing and sanitizing recommendations as appropriate. Gateway is healthy. We continue to be allowed to work. They recently reported: “As the landscape continues to evolve with our country regarding working conditions, sub-contractors, vendors, etc., we plan to be respectful of those making decisions and obey. We're hopeful that those decisions continue to allow us to move forward. If anything changes, we'll let you know.”
As a reminder, we are in a design/build scenario. Long story short, that means that while we began our rebuild with an architect/engineering firm (AWB) providing detailed plans for the basic layout, structure, and infrastructure associated with the two buildings, many things were left open to “final” design, including selection of finishes, as the construction progressed. Gateway (our contractor) is acting largely as a construction manager (1) to move the project along, (2) to help us through the process of final selections, and (3) to get us the best price by bidding out pieces of work to subcontractors (aka trades). Even then, while their subcontractors are carrying out their work, we continue to adjust, using a process called “value engineering;” essentially optimizing what we are building against available resources (money). For example, we decided we would lease our dishwashing equipment, as many local restaurants do. After consulting with that provider, and splitting our hot water heating between two locations, we were able to adjust the way we are providing hot water around the clubhouse, resulting in a significant ($10,000) savings. Another example: Instead of a double window in the bar facing the pool along with a small door for access along that wall, we turned the double window into a double door and eliminated the separate door, saving $ and giving us more wall space in the bar for TV screen and lighting. And: Gateway found a way to deliver the metalized-roof portion of the Clubhouse at a significant savings, allowing us to maintain the original design concept on the front of the building. And on and on.
Who are “we?” Essentially, we combined the functions of the Building and House committees into one, with that group comprising the President, another board member, our General Manager, and several others who bring financial, engineering, operational and interior design expertise to the project, and all of whom – collectively - represent all features of our club: golf, tennis, pool, marina, dining and socializing. We meet weekly with much coordination between meetings. While we haven’t physically met since Mar 10th, we will meet in early April, socially distant, but surrounding a TV monitor on which, for example, we will discuss and deliberate over floor finishes, lighting options, and chair fabrics, among other topics.
Over the last month…
All internal framing was completed and all windows were installed; the dual-sided fireplace is installed; doors will be coming next.
All plumbing has been roughed-in, pressure tested, and inspected. The 8 soft-drink lines have been run between the kitchen supply rack to the bar and waitstation. Water fixtures, sinks and toilets get attached following completion of wall and floor finishes.
A good portion of the HVAC systems has been roughed in. The walk-in cooler/freezer has been installed in the kitchen.
Almost all electrical roughing-in has been completed and the level of service has been worked out with ANEC. During a walk-through by the House Committee in early March, all decisions regarding switches (location and type), lights (location and type), and audio/ visual systems wiring were completed. Which lights get dimmers, which go on and off according to occupancy and the like, and what and where controls are for the A/V systems. We have yet to finalize what the actual chandeliers, sconces and pendant lights will look like.
Much of the roof has been completed; the exception is over the kitchen which requires a membrane roof that gets installed around all the various compressor equipment on that surface, currently in the process of installation. A 3-foot-high knee-wall is being constructed around the perimeter of that roof.
Next on the schedule is flooring, and preparing for completion of walls, some of which require insulation to be installed. After that we progress to installing moldings, the bar with storage shelves over it and nearby; the waitstation counters and shelving; installation of plumbing and wiring fixtures; and finally painting. At the appropriate times, the House Committee will be ordering and organizing delivery and installation of furniture, equipment for kitchen, bar and waitstation, and finally all manner of service utensils/supplies for kitchen, bar and dining room.
We’ve also had several small projects completed outside the Clubhouse. In the Boat House Grill (BHG), one restroom was converted to a utility room, enabling removal of some utilities from the kitchen proper. The kitchen went through a deep cleaning, and wiring and water service is being upgraded to permit installation of one of the smart-ovens scheduled for the clubhouse, but which we can use before then to expand the abilities of the BHG. And also learn how to use it! (smart ovens require some training). A lean-to was added to the pool-shed, in order to shelter an ice machine, Coke vending machine, and ball-washer. The remainder of the required pool-fencing is targeted for completion by May 1, before the pool is commissioned.