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Northborough fire station reaches tower height; steel delivery pushed to December
Summary
Project managers reported the fire station clock tower is at full height, masonry and mock-up testing are underway, geothermal-line installation will begin soon, and the contractor plans to erect steel this winter with slab pours planned for spring unless weather allows early flatwork.
Project staff told the Northborough Fire Station Building Committee on Nov. 19 that the clock tower and stair-tower masonry work are complete and that the mock-up wall passed air/vapor-barrier testing.
Staff said underground plumbing, electrical conduit and drainage are installed under the slab footprint. Structural steel delivery is now tentatively scheduled for Dec. 10; if that stands, the contractor plans to start steel on the administration (west) side and proceed toward the apparatus bay. Geothermal lines are slated to be excavated and installed the week after the meeting.
Given New England weather uncertainty, the contractor chose to defer flatwork and slab pours to spring and focus on erecting steel this winter to reduce winter heating and protection needs. Staff said a winter-conditions plan is in place for masonry work: block must meet certain temperatures, grout and mixing water are heated, and daily testing of mortar, grout and block temperatures is being performed on-site.
Committee members asked whether additional admixtures or additives would be required if flatwork is done in colder conditions; staff said any additives would need testing and approval and could raise costs. Members also asked about sightlines and whether the building footprint appears closer to the road during construction; staff said surveyors set layout and that visual perception during construction can create an optical illusion.
Next steps: steel delivery monitoring, geothermal installation, continued on-site materials testing and communication with the committee on schedule changes.
