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Project Overseers Are Satisfied with Progress Being Made on the Building
Construction progress of the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center appears to have taken off. This is no surprise to those overseeing the project.
“Once a building is out of the ground, things happen very quickly,” said Don Sebastian, Project Officer, Design, Construction, and Alterations Branch, Division of Engineering Services, NIH Office of Research Services (ORS). “The tough part is avoiding buried utility conduits and other obstacles. When you start digging, you never know what you're going to find.”
The facility is halfway to completion with workers now installing electrical wiring, mechanical ductwork, plumbing, and fire protection. Masonry work is also progressing rapidly on the building.
Of the Flemish bond design used on the exterior brickwork Project Director Yong-Duk Chyun, Design, Construction, and Alterations Branch, Division of Engineering Services, NIH ORS said, “People complained that the plain brickwork of Building 10, was ‘too pedestrian’ and that we needed a more intricate elaborate design. The architect recommended Flemish bond and we decided to go with that.”
Flemish bond is a very old European style and can be found in many of the brick buildings in colonial Williamsburg, VA.
“Contrary to what some people believe brick isn’t expensive. Purchasing and installing the insulated windows cost more,” he added.