The September 2005 Edition – Northern Alberta Chapter

In this issue

Presidents Message

Member News

Upcoming Events

F.Y.I. – For Your Interest

Special Report - Triple Bottom Line Restoration Project

NAC Sponsors

The Editors Note

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

How did you spend your summer? I hope all of you will take the time to review the summer project article (in this issue of the newsletter) prepared by myself and 'Fellow' member Andy McCready. As we settle back into our fall routines, another IFMA program season is being launched. Your board, with member representatives has just completed our first strategic plan to guide us through the revitalization process that needs to occur for the Northern Alberta Chapter to survive and thrive. The plan was facilitated by staff from IFMA Houston and was also based on input provided by members via the on-line member survey we conducted last spring. We will be rolling out more information and hopefully new initiatives from the plan throughout the year.

Thanks to the 40% of you for taking 10 minutes out of your busy days to complete the member survey. To any of the 60% who chose not to complete the survey and who might be reading this, we'll continue to spend your membership fees via direction from the vocal minority. However, the door is always open, your board is only a phone call away and we won't turn away any ideas or offers of help.

John F. McLaughlin, CFM

President 2005-2006

MEMBER NEWS

Congratulations to John Anderson

who received the 10 year

membership award earlier this year

As always, if you are a member and bring a potential new member to a meeting there is movie pass in it for you and your guest. This is just another example of the great value and benefit of being a member of the NAC.

UPCOMING EVENTS

IFMA – Northern Alberta Chapter

2005-06 Program Schedule

Mark your calendars! IFMA NAC is getting ready to kick off another great year of exciting and informative programs.  We hope to see you at all of them!

The chapter will be hosting monthly events to provide you with education, information and interaction with other facility management professionals. Events have been selected, based on ideas and input provided in member surveys. This year, our monthly events will alternate between the ever popular “Talk & Tour” and “Lunch & Learn” professional development events featuring a guest speaker.  Facility tours will be held in the evening and, as in the past, educational sessions will be held over lunch at the Royal Glenora Club.

Below is a list of event dates for this season. Some of the dates listed are tentative, based on booking of facilities for tours, and availability of guest speakers. We will provide you with updates as they become available. You can also check the Program page of the IFMA NAC website www.ifma-nac.org

Lynne MacGillivray, CFM – Programs Director

Your help is needed!
Do you have any new or different ideas for our upcoming social events? Now’s your chance to have a say. A minor effort could have major results. We’d really like to get your feedback on previous social events as well as any suggestions for future events. We are also looking for volunteers to assist in planning the 2006 Christmas Social Event.
If you’d like to make a difference in your Chapter, please contact the office:

And of course there is World Workplace 2005 in Philadelphia, Pa. October 23-25, 2005.

F.Y.I. – FOR YOUR INTEREST

A lot happened in 1992:

·         January 22 – Dr. Roberta Bondar becomes the first Canadian woman in space

·         April 29 – several days of riots in L.A. as a result of a “not guilty” verdict for the police officers accused of excessive force in the beating of Rodney King

·         June 1 – the Pittsburgh Penguins sweep the Chicago Blackhawks in 4 games in the Stanley Cup finals

·         July 25 – Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain

·         August 24 – Hurricane Andrew hits South Florida

·         October 24 – the Toronto Blue Jays win World Series in 6 games, marking the first Canadian team to win

·         November 3 – Bill Clinton defeats George H.W. Bush and H.Ross Perot in the U.S. Presidential election

·         September 24 – The Northern Alberta Chapter of IFMA officially started in Edmonton.  Congratulations on 13 years!

Posted at www.municipalsuppliers.com

Edmonton, August 19, 2005 – Albertans will see another $14.6 million directed towards 59 community infrastructure projects.  These projects will benefit 51 communities across central and northern Alberta by modernizing water and wastewater systems and cutting energy consumption through energy efficiency upgrades.

Project highlights include construction of a water distribution system and wastewater collection system in Sturgeon County and in the installation of a water reservoir in the town of St. Paul

IFMA headquarters will be hosting the 2006 IFMA Leaders Conference in Houston at the Renaissance Houston Hotel, January 27-28, 2006.  If you are a new or veteran leader or are considering leadership in the future, don’t miss this chance to hone your volunteer leadership skills.  Registration will be $150 US per attendee.

From the Building Heritage Newsletter – September 2005

The Royal Alberta Museum has outgrown it present facilities and recently the Provincial Government announced a plan for a “new and renewed” museum with over $150,000,000 in funding to expand the facility.  September 2005 is the scheduled timeframe for the architectural concept to be revealed.  The project is estimated to be completed in 2009 – 2010.

SPECIAL REPORT - Triple Bottom Line Restoration Project

By John F. McLaughlin, M.E.Des. ACP, CFM, and Andrew McCready, M.E. S, ACP, CFM, IFMA Fellow

Executive Summary

Two of Edmonton’s certified facility managers (CFM’s) with combined experience of 60 years put their heads together to tackle a major restoration project this past summer, from planning through to construction, with a triple-bottom line approach required. The client wanted to ensure environmental concerns were paramount while satisfying social objectives, under a very tight budget.  The issues that the project team overcame are extensive, as follows:

Replace vs. Restore - Due to extensive deferred maintenance, the facility condition assessment resulted in an FCI of 70%. However historical preservation interests resulted in a decision to restore the facility instead of replace it.

Capacity Exceeded - Technology change in equipment and growing needs resulted in demand exceeding facility capacity.

Underdeveloped Site  - The site was not developed to its highest and best use potential. Adding 20% greater volume was required.

Standards and Safety Issues - Ingress/egress conditions did not meet current standards, and were a proven safety hazard

Improving Vertical Space Use - Space had not been used efficiently due to an obsolete vertical storage system.

Alternative Site Evaluation - Consideration was given during the business case phase to relocating the facility and to restoration.

Stakeholder Consultation - Extensive consultation was held with adjoining land owners, then plans were developed and executed to limit environmental impacts.

Outsourced Facility Planning Process - Carefully developed building plans, overseen by a CFM, formed the basis of the client’s material take-off list, which needed to be procured under tight timeframes and severe budget restraints.

Material Recycling & Procurement- Surplus building materials were sourced and assembled and integrated into the construction phase

Lease Vs. Purchase Equipment. –Leasing vs. purchasing was evaluated for the heavy equipment required during construction.

Preserving Architectural Details - A key consideration was to blend the old with the new sections and materials.

Site Environmental Remediation - Although a Phase 1 environmental assessment had been undertaken prior to construction, during the demolition phase, environmental contaminants were found that posed serious health risks. The foreman of the construction crew halted work until the issue was addressed to his satisfaction.

Addressing Root Problems - During foundation construction, the project team found an innovative way of getting to the root of a key problem.

Energy Stream from Wastes - a key criterion was to minimize energy use in the disposal of waste materials.

Innovative Change Management: One of the ownership partners insisted a new building security system be installed; even though this was not in the budget. Through innovative design and procurement, it was installed without need for a change order.

Background

I have a cedar storage shed,” about 7’ X 7 ‘ square in my yard, from herein referred to as “the shed”, that was in bad shape and needed a fix-up. But I’m notoriously cheap and didn’t want to spend much on labour or materials.  This past summer I asked my good friend and neighbour, Andy (who rivals me in thriftiness), if he’d come over some Saturday to help me fix it. It was a highly successful project giving us great satisfaction to see at least one of our facility plans come to fruition. This is our story.

Replace vs. Restore

The garden shed had no foundation and scrap lumber had been piled around the outside walls on 2 sides, so over time moisture rotted out the bottom 1-2 feet of the shed. Many of the cedar wallboards needed replacing and the floor boards were warped. To bring the shed back to its original condition would take an investment of about $700. To buy and install a new, similar shed, (not one of those tinny ones) would cost about $1,000. So I decided to save some cash and go the  fixer upper route.

Capacity Exceeded

We needed more space for garden equipment and supplies, our portable fire pit (new technology) and bikes.

Underdeveloped Site

By jacking up the shed 15” and adding 3 more boards at the bottom we were able to gain 20% in additional storage volume, and solve the safety issue – all within the same ‘footprint’ (one giant/Sasquaatch step)

Standards and Safety Issues

Since the opening for the door into the old shed was only 5 feet, we had hit our heads on several occasions going in and out. To determine the height for the restored shed we took my height (5’10”) and added 6 inches, since I walk with a bounce and/or a hat..

Improving Vertical Space Use

We replaced the old sagging shelves, with higher, straighter ones and installed hooks and nails to hang stuff on.

Alternative Site Evaluation

We decided to leave the shed right where it was, even though it could be moved, since to move it would require the help of both of our (less than reliable) sons, and even more equipment and energy.

Stakeholder Consultation

Before I cleaned off the plastic roof of the shed with my pressure washer, I advised my neighbour that water and debris would be spilling over the fence onto his cement patio. Offering to sweep up the debris and loan him the power washer to clean his motorbike did the trick.

Outsourced Facility Planning Process

“Handy Andy” dropped over for a beer a week before and sketched his ideas on the back of an envelope; then we made a list of what I needed from the building supplies store.

Preserving Architectural Details

To fit into the neighbourhood, matching the existing cedar structure was deemed essential. We also kept & reused door handles, hinges, and closers from the old door and only replaced the rotted sections of walls and framing. The secondary benefit, which never occurred to me until completion, was that it saved money, yah right.

Material Re-Use & Recycling

I had some leftover cedar and other scrap lumber kicking around, as did Andy. Ironically some of Andy’s materials originally came out of my basement from a previous renovation project, so that full circle thing was happening. Andy also provided some 40-year-old, ‘experienced’ fence boards, which were converted to a new/old floor; otherwise they were headed for the dump!

Materials Procurement

I went to Home Depot for nails, screws; pressure treated 2 X 4’s, cement blocks, a crow bar, cedar stain and a hydraulic  jack. Total cost - $89.00 (and two beer)

Lease Vs. Purchase Equipment

To raise the shed off its foundation and allow room for the new structure, a jack was required. Renting a hydraulic cylinder jack for a day would cost about $15, or I could buy one for $25. Duhhh!, My purchase can lift 2 tonnes.

Site Environmental Remediation

Mice had created a nest under the shed floor, and left many other trademarks. Andy reminded me of the threat of Hantavirus and told me to clean up before he would continue, so I put on a mask and got rid of it all.

Addressing Root Problems

When installing the new pressure treated 2 x 4 sleepers for the floor, we had to cut out a tree root that was in our way. I had an axe to grind with Andy on this one, as he wanted to cut our losses.

Energy Stream from Wastes

One of my other neighbours had rented a commercial garbage bin and let us throw our construction crap into it. Lucky me!

Innovative Change Management: Security System

With the extra valuables housed in the restored and expanded facility, Mary Jane, CEO/wife, thought someone might steal a bike, so I hung an old cow bell on the inside of the door to scare off would-be thieves.

BEFORE

AFTER

Here’s a before and after picture of the CFM crew in front of our masterpiece. The only thing missing is the historical designation plaque (stay tuned).

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The Editors Note

A new Chapter year brings new possibilities and opportunities.  One of which is this newsletter.  To be successful, a newsletter must be published for its readers, with input by its readers.  We want to hear from you what you want to see and read in our newsletter. Do you like the current format?  Is there anything you’d like to see added or taken away?  Is it meeting your expectations? Does it need to be changed at all?  In the upcoming weeks we will be reviewing this communication tool and we need to hear from you.  Your input will help provide the framework to develop an interesting, relevant and informative newsletter.

Please feel free to email me your feedback or suggestions on what you’d like to see from your newsletter at jmatt@epcor.ca

Thanks

Jonathan Matt