As one can see from the site photos, the center has progressed significantly in the last month. In fact, there just rests a few minor things to fix up (a little paint here, some sanding there, a wall to make sure no one falls in the construction well around the way, and some clean up) and the contractor will have finished up his scope of work! This all should be done early next week, and then we will finally hand the building (including the installed football pitch) over to AMPJF. Of course, a few other contractors will have to do some work before the center is fully functional:
- Sinergie Mali will be installing the solar panels in the next couple weeks and
- AMPJF will be organizing the drilling of a deep well to provide potable water to the center. This work will probably have to wait till after the rainy season.
This update will mark my last contribution from the magnificent country of Mali. I will be leaving on holiday for the next month, and then will finish a few things up from the Cape Town office at the beginning of November. I will definitely miss working with the wonderful people in and around Bamako. During my last construction meeting, the Baguineda village chief called me a “Good Malian.” I’m taking that compliment to the bank…Kan be!
Well, this marks the second straight month where I’m going to have to apologize to the boys and girls of Baguineda because their center is not yet finished. Don’t worry, kids, it’s getting there. All materials are on site, and we should be done with our too-common “delivery truck stuck in the mud” problem. The sub base for the football pitch is about finished, and Greenfields should be on site later this month for installation. As we can all see from the photos, exterior and interior finish work has started, and even finished in some areas. Hold tight – we should be done in a couple weeks…
We can all relax, ladies and gentlemen, as the containers are on site, and are in their proper positions. I almost snapped upon hearing that during the first dry day after a week of rain, the cranes almost didn't get to the site because the police were shaking them down for $40. Luckily, it all worked out in the end.
We can all relax for the moment, ladies and gentlemen, as the containers are on site, and are in their proper positions. I almost snapped upon hearing that during the first dry day after a week of rain, the cranes almost didn't get to the site because the police were shaking them down for $40, but we're OK now.
Yup, it’s the rainy season. And as you might have seen from our construction photos, our construction site does not exactly drain as well as we would like. Luckily, we raised the center up a couple feet from the original plans, so the center should stay dry even in the biggest rainstorms.
The roads to the site, however, are a different story. At the moment, we are waiting for a dry day to get cranes to the site to properly install the shipping containers that arrived last week from the Netherlands (we’ve already had our fun with large equipment being stuck in the mud, thank you very much). The container contents have been stored in Baguineda, awaiting the completion of the sub-base and the arrival of Greenfields, and we just need to install them on site as our kitchen/storage room and office bathroom. In the past two weeks, the issue has been further delayed by custom officials, transport companies, and some contract confusion. Hopefully, we will get these in place in the next day or two – everyone do Mike the Design Fellow a favor and pray for some sunshine!
The container delay should cost us about 30 days on our construction schedule. At the moment, the contractor is busy working on interior and exterior plaster, the roof structure, and electrical and plumbing work. The sub-base for the soccer pitch should be done in the next three weeks. We are all happy with how the center is looking so far, and I can hope that I might have some finished photos for you all for the next update. kan be doni!
The construction of the main buildings of the Football for Hope Center in Baguineda is moving along smoothly. I am continually impressed with the work of contractor Entreprise Bengaly to get quality work done quickly. As all can see from the construction photos, most of the walls are up, the concrete roofs are in place, and many of the exterior pathways are set. Plaster work, both interior and exterior has been started. During the next week, we should see the concrete/ stone floor in place, and the windows and doors should be placed soon after that. For the main buildings, we are still on schedule to finish by the end of this month!
The Greenfields pitch, however, has become more of a complicated issue. We are still waiting for the arrival of the containers containing the artificial turf pitch. These containers are part of the building design as well, so their arrival is not just important for the site work, and could delay our overall building schedule. As one might imagine, certain delays are normal when one is shipping two large containers from the Netherlands by sea to Dakar, and then overland by train to Bamako and Baguineda. We know that streetfootballworld and AMPJF are working hard to get all the necessary documents and plans in place. In the meantime, the sub-base has been started, and we should be ready for installation with Greenfields by the end of the month.
I should be updating the construction photos once or twice a week until we finish, so keep checking in.
Seeing the center slowly grow out of the ground is definitely a great reward for all the hard work people have put into the project here in Baguineda...kan be doni!
As much as I love contract negotiations, it is great to have updates concerning actual construction! The first month of construction has been a breath of fresh air after a lengthy design and approval process.
So far, so good on the Baguineda construction site. With the rainy season fast approaching, it is extremely important for us to get the foundation work done soon, and it looks like the contractor should be done with most of it next week. We have made some slight adjustments to ensure that there is proper drainage away from the building on this suddenly swampy site, but it doesn't look like any delays will be necessary. The contractor is doing a wonderful job so far with the work, and has been especially helpful making sure we have as many local Baguineda workers as possible on site – village politics can be somewhat complicated here in Mali...
Keep an eye on the construction photos to see how work is progressing - the Center's construction should start moving more quickly as soon as the foundation is finished:
- Walls and roofs should start going up in the next week or two.
- A contract should be signed with Greenfields so that Entreprise Bengaly can finally start work on the sub-base for our center's football pitch.
I hope you all are as excited to see the center take shape as I am...kan be!
Mark it on your calenders - April 29th is the official start date for the construction of the Football for Hope Center in lovely Baguineda, Mali. Keep your fingers crossed for smooth sailing here - we are hoping for a 90 day construction period!
There are already a few construction photos up, and I will be updating the slide show consistently.
The long awaited signing of the contract between Architecture for Humanity, Local Architects Quarc, and Contractor Entreprise Brahima Bengaly occurred yesterday at 3:30pm local time. The official start date for construction is April 29th. In the meantime, we will be meeting with local officials, hiring a permanent site supervisor, and getting a member of the contractor team into a First Aid class.
I'm excited to get this thing started.
Yes, it took longer than expected, but we finally have a well on site for construction. Now, all we need is a signed contract from the contractor...
Entraprise Brahima Bengaly has been chosen as the contractor for the Football for Hope Center in Baguineda, Mali.
Contract negotiations have begun between Architecture for Humanity and Entreprise Bengaly, and should be wrapping up soon. We have included a Health and Safety plan within the contract that is more strict than what is normally seen in Malian construction, and this is holding up the negotiation process. With the help of our local architect, however, we had a very productive meeting just before the Easter weekend, and (Enshallah) I hope this will enable us to sign the contract next week.
Expect more updates and photos next week as we continue to forge ahead!
Breaking ground for the Football For Hope Center, Baguineda should be just around the corner...
With the help of Bureau d'Etudes Quarc, our local architecture firm extraordinaire, we interviewed 3 local contractors – Entreprise Bengaly, Entreprise Bagayoko, and Entreprise Dra at the beginning of the month. Each of the interviewed firms are not only known for high quality workmanship, but are known for finishing construction ahead of schedule – something we could really use such that our center is built before Mali's rainy season begins. Each of the interviewed firms submitted complete Bid Packages, and we spent the next several weeks accumulating more information needed to make a choice – insurance and bonding information and references - and conducted site visits to previously completed work. At this moment, all of this information, along with a recommendation from Quarc and AfH, is with StreetFootballWorld, awaiting approval.
Once we are given the go-ahead, we will get a contract signed and break ground. The well for construction just needs a couple days for the concrete to cure, and it will be ready to use. I will certainly send out a new update as soon as construction has begun.
Wish us luck (and send cool thoughts) - the hot season has started early this year in Bamako!
Ladies and Gentlemen...Hold your horses.
We now have local building department approval for the Football for Hope Center, Mali.
We are on fire here in Bamako!
Well, not really. But we are moving forward...January was actually a big month for paperwork. While the Tender Document package was submitted before the Christmas holiday, several adjustments were needed before it could be approved by Architecture for Humanity and StreetFootballWorld. These adjustments included additions and changes to architect/contractor contracts and the addition of Heath and Safety provisions. Finally, just before the end of the month, we were given the approval to start the bid process here in Mali. We will meet with 3 local contractors during the first week of February, and will hopefully make a decision between them in two weeks. We are still hoping to start construction at the start of March!
Other things that should be finished at the beginning of February:
- A well for construction purposes will be dug.
- We will receive permission to build from the local building department. A big thanks to AMPJF, Burea d'Etudes Quarc, and the mayor's office in Baguineda for helping us with this process!
- We will choose a contractor.
Who knows...the next update just might show us breaking ground...kan be!
Our short December of 2009 started with the exciting opening ceremony for the FFH Center in Cape Town. It is easy to get lost in the little details of a project when one is constantly in the middle of it, so it was to great to see an example of a finished center – and a beautiful one at that! Not only did it allow us to see what a finished center could look like, but it brought together all of the elements of our team: Architecture for Humanity Design Leads, Project Managers and Design Fellows, all of streetfootballworld (Europe and South Africa) and each of the Center Hosts. This was especially beneficial for the Mali Center, as we were able to come together and fine tune the design before getting all of the documents ready for construction.
After Cape Town, everyone worked above and beyond their normal schedules to complete our Tender Document package before the end of December. Both AfH and SFW worked into the Christmas week (and a few of us on Christmas Eve!) to make sure the package was complete. Local consultants worked weekends to finish their drawings. AMPJF and local architect Youssouf Berthe worked together to complete the Building Permit submittal. And AMPJF started work to clean-up and level the site in preparation for the start of construction.
Despite this big push at the end of 2009, there is plenty of work to do, and plenty to look forward to, during the first month of the new year. The Tender Document package should be approved and sent to construction teams during the first week of January. Youssouf and I will then look over their submittals and credentials, and the final decisions on which teams will be working on the project will be made roughly 10 days after that. This should put the start of construction at the end of January, enshallah! I don't know about you, but I am really, really excited...
Ah, finally! The sweet, sweet sound of Tender Documents...
Design Development November was an exciting and back and forth process – which not only produced some great discussion (see some comments shown on our OAN site), but a great final DD set. These were prepared for our consultants this week, and I can happily say that the architectural plans are on their way to our engineers as I write this update.
December will be a short, but very active month. For the first week, the AfH Design Fellows (which includes me) will be attending the opening of the first FFH Center in Cape Town, and will be joined by all of the Center Hosts. Soon after my return, Tender Documents should be ready to submit to AfH and sfw, and, with a little luck, we'll be ready to get construction teams together just after the holiday break. Souadou Diabate (the Center Host) and I will also be organizing a community workshop event (more details to follow), that should take place with the start of construction.
Take a look at our workspace and speak now or forever hold your peace! Kan Be!
October has been a peaceful and calm month here in Mali. The rains have slowly subsided. It is finally cooling down. And this is a month of rest in between the holiday marking the End of Ramadan, and the holiday of Tabaski, which will occur towards the end of November.
This has created a great environment for getting some very important preparations done for the Football for Hope Center, preparations for what is certain to be a very busy November. Design Development drawings have been submitted, and are under review by all of our team members. This submittal can already be seen on the OAN. Modifications should be done during the beginning part of the month, and Tender Documents should be completed by the middle of November. Youssouf Berthe (our more-helpful-than-I-can-possibly-describe-here architect of record) and I have already started getting ready for construction. We took a great trip out to Segou (about 3 hours drive East of Bamako) to conduct some research on earth blocks and their construction techniques (there's a beautiful earth block Catholic Mission out there, if you get the chance). We have contacted Malian organizations that should help us install Composting Toilets on our site. And we have started to put our team of consultants together for this final Tender Document push.
Don't forget to add your feedback to our DD drawings the Workspace portion of our OAN site. I'll be plugging through our Tender Documents during the beginning of next month, so it would be great to hear your comments! Kan Be!
It's been a crazy September out here in Bamako – we've worked hard, we've played hard, and the project has really moved forward nicely. The final schematic design package was submitted in the early part of the month, and was quickly approved by Street Football World. This was then integrated into a master plan for the entire four hectare site to be used by AMPJF. Souadou has big plans for the site, including a health center, workshops and boutiques for schea butter, textiles, and other local products, and a full-size soccer pitch. While SFW is financing the Football for Hope Center, Architecture for Humanity is providing services to help plan for the growth of this “AMPLJF Village” in the years to come – please take a look at the images on our OAN site.
The playing took place as there were three (and not even counting the Birthday of yours truly) occasions for celebration during a rainy September in Bamako: the final day of Ramadan, the day of Malian independence, and the ground-breaking ceremony for our Football for Hope Center, Baguineda. The ground-breaking ceremony was an outstanding community event, highlighted by speeches from the Mayor and Chief of Baguineda, the Government Minister of Family Affairs, and Souadou Diabate (the president of AMPJF) – I've included some photos on the OAN. They even let us architects talk a bit about our master plan design and the FFH Centre! Even though actual construction won't begin until December, the event was concluded by the ceremonial placing of the first building piece, a concrete soccer ball, at the construction site. Our ground-breaking was well covered by the local media, and the author received the amusing opportunity to see himself on the 8 o'clock news.
More updates will be coming to our OAN site soon. The Design Development drawings should be submitted and ready to view by the middle of the month. An Be Doni (see you soon)!
In I Che (which is “greetings” in Bambara, the local regional dialect), from Michael Heublein, the new design fellow in Bamako, Mali! This is the first what I hope will be many exciting updates on our newest Football for Hope center. My colleagues here in West Africa have received me with more generosity than I ever could have expected – they've fed me, sheltered me and literally given the shirts off their backs for me (there was a minor Kenyan Airways-luggage problem and I didn't get my bags and clothes until 2 days after my arrival). This is my second voyage to this part of Africa, and I do feel like I've returned home.
I have only been working on this project for a little over a week, but have found that the project was in great hands before my arrival. During the month of August, Kimberly, Eugene, Christine and Claire, working from San Francisco and Cape Town, submitted the first and second Schematic Design packages (images of this design can be seen on this website). We've all received several rounds of feedback from both streetfootballworld in Cape Town and AMPJF in Mali. Youssouf Berthe, our new Architect of Record in Bamako, has helped with a preliminary pricing report for this design.
Aided by AMPJF and Mr. Berthe, I will begin my stay here by visiting the site and several important examples of community centers and schools in the project's area to further understand the region's culture and environment. At the moment, all of us are working to make the final adjustments to the Schematic Design and quickly move this project into the Design Development phase, which should happen early this month. Until then, Kan Be (Talk to you all soon)!
July has proven to be an eventful month in moving forward the Mali Football for Hope center. At the end of June to beginning of July Eugene da Silva and Frederika Zipp visited Mali, coming back with a completed land survey and a confirmed local architect. Youssouf Berthe has been brought on board and we are very happy to have him. Also very exciting is the hiring of new design fellow Michael Heublein who will be in Mali by the end of the month. Michael is a former Peace Corp Volunteer and a licensed architect with an undergraduate degree in Geology. We look forward to having him as part of the team! I am in Cape Town working as a volunteer before heading back to my studies in mid-September so this will likely be my one and only monthly update once Michael takes over the reigns.
Following up on Habib Sissoko’s preliminary design proposal, Architecture for Humanity has taken on schematic design work internally. Between the office in San Francisco and the team in Cape Town we submitted a package to streetfootballworld for review at the end of last week. This updated proposal is driven by the onsite discussions between Eugene and Souadou Diabate. We have focused on three aspects: strengthening the buildings relationship with the landscape given its rural setting, enhancing the “feminine” qualities of the building given the center host, AMPJF’s, commitment to the role of women in the community, and incorporating local textile products to bring colour and character to the project. We will be discussing the schematic package with Mr Berthe and Mme Diabate in order to continue with the design process. We are also commencing initial cost estimates for the building and searching for a local QS.
It has been a year since the building was handed over to AMPJF. AFH went for a last visit to the site: Anthony Thomson and Delphine Luboz met with Youssouf Berthe, the architect of records and the contractors to check out the few last things that needed to be finished and sign off the final completion certificate.
Last update:
- The solar panels have been installed and the center is now fully power equipped.
- The well has been drilled and protected. The only thing missing is to install the pump and connect it to the solar panels.
Unfortunately we visited the center during the local holidays so we couldn't meet any of the users but the center is now up and running and it got famous in the region, lot's of people coming to visit it.
The centre indeed looks really good. Great job to Mike Heublein, Youssouf Berthe and all the local people involved!