Open Architecture Network

• The Tran family is happily residing in their house.

Thursday, May 1st:

Monday, April 7:

siding going up

Monday, March 17th:

Monday, February 18th:

hole in roof fixed and reshingled!!!!

Conference Call Notes: October 15, 2009

Attendance:

• Kimberley O’ Dowd
• Christine Lara
• Isaac Mugumbule
• Eugene Da Silva
• Jhono Bennett
• Mike Heubblein
• Dialing in Reference: US 978.964.0031
• Guest Code: 3232346#

General:

• Unifying Element

Kimberley working with intern in San Francisco, will follow up next week

Khayelitsha:

• Budget Monitoring Meeting discussion

AFH to discuss with arG protocol for approving design changes

sfw needs change order outlining all changes discussed that will use contingency

• Final Approval Drawings

south africa to package for approval

next budget meeting scheduled October 22nd

Namibia:

• Jhono explained status of Nina and Pauls participation

AFH to seeking how VAT and connection fees can be waived

Mali:

2 package or two

Kenya:

• Isaac to follow up on material distributor for in kind donations

pergala cost discussed

Environmental impact assessment in progress

EIA requirement to submit to council

Rwanda:

• Kimberley working on design and programming for next week
• sfw will submit programming mid next week

Ghana:

• report received, consolidated feedback from FFH expected Monday

schematic design can begin after approval, who will design???

Eugene to follow up with Joe Addo

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)!

Conference Call Notes: September 17, 2009

Attendance:

• Kimberley O’ Dowd
• Christine Lara
• Isaac Mugumbule
• Eugene Da Silva
• Jhono Bennett
• Kate Stohr
• Dialing in Reference: US 978.964.0031
• Guest Code: 3232346#

General:

• Unifying Element

Kate discussed soccer theme

Next steps: Submittal of renderings that show the FFH theme throughout the entire space

Khayelitsha:

• Budget Monitoring Meeting discussion

pending issues: tower, arG needs approval ASAP

there is no budget for the mosaic

FIFA has indicated that the signage wall is a PRIORITY

• Final Approval Drawings

other pending issues: building plans approvals needed, caretaker flat payment, water and electrical connection coordination, solar world coordination

• Final Approval Drawings

need updated drawings that reflect the BOQ and what was discussed

next budget meeting scheduled September 10th

Namibia:

• Christine explains costing and way forward
• AFH awaits approval and response to the revised budget from SFW

AFH to seek how VAT and connection fees can be waived

Mali:

• Eugene discusses challenges with AMPJF
  Groundbreaking event scheduled for September 24th

  Kenya:

  • Isaac to follow up on material distributor for in kind donations
  • Andrew is currently working on the drawings, Structural and electrical engineers are working on their drawings as well

  Environmental impact assessment in progress

  EIA requirement to submit to counsil

  Rwanda:

  • Kimberley working on design and programming

  Ghana:

  • site visit scheduled for October 5th

  
  

no updates

Week of Aug. 17-21, 2009:

1. Interior put-back complete (flooring, baseboard, cabinets)
2. Drywall repairs complete
3. Kitchen installation complete (all appliances)
4. Interior trim complete (shelves, closets)
5. Exterior siding complete; caulking & painting 50% done

no updates

no updates

Thursday, November 8

Conference Call Notes: July 2, 2009

Attendance:

• Kimberley O’ Dowd
• Christine Lara
• Isaac Mugumbule

NEW US Toll Free Access Number: 877-366-0711
Canadian Toll Free Access Number: 866-627-1651
International Access Number: +1-302-709-8446

Participant Code L 97729933# 15851672#

General:

• Post Forum Workshop

Update needed from Kate and Eugene

• Unifying Element
• Additional updates needed from Kate and Eugene

Khayelitsha:

• Contractor contract complete?
• Construction schedule and costing delivered this week
• Costing issues will need to be addressed immediately
• arG to discuss with GRS and AFH to discuss to SFW
• bi-weekly SFW call scheduled for Monday, time TBD

Namibia:

• Jhono is on board and will be introduced to the team
• One quote received from potential sub-base contractor
• The QS revised costing still has not been received, Paul will deliver
• Schematic design package will be sent when revised costing is received
• Potential site visit with SFW to work out ministry issues
• Community workshop planning and status need to be followed up on
• Kimberley suggested when submitting the QS estimate to the client, we will use the AfH format (the new format) so the client can see a consistent breakdown and when looking at each centres they can do an apples to apples comparison

Mali:

• Did this happen? Claire will meet Eugene and Kate in Vaal
• Eugene and Federika site visit complete
• Local Architect selected
• Pending:
• Land survey quotes being pursued, did this get completed during site visit?

Kenya:

• Contracts

New version provided by Kimberley, Isaac will modify design architect contract and seek approval from San Francisco early next week

• Isaac will review cost saving strategies with Jason and Andrew during site visit
• Schematic Design Delivered

Isaac provided revised estimated costing based on estimate provided by BBK including structure for future expansion

Conference call with SFW resulted in needed modifications to be made to schematic design package, Kimberley to resubmit early next week

• Fee Structures

QS fee of 2-3% is budget appropriate, Kimberley to discuss with Barb and draft an MOU or LOA to award to QS. Andrew's fee of 5%-6% will equal to $3,000 and is budget appropriate.
Andrew to send us his quote either end of this week or early next week

Isaac to ask Andrew how to award QS (MOU or Letter of Award)WHO WILL DRAFT?

Andrews fee of 4% will equal to $3,000 and is budget appropriate

Updated overall FFH-Kenya project schedule needs to be looked at by Isaac and confirmation needed by end of next week before Jason's visit

• Community Workshop

Potential topics: tower, similar to school workshop in Khayelitsha

Participant age range 15-22 years old

• Community input will be during design development. Community design workshop will build on understanding the relationship between spaces in a building in relation to the organisation activities via a potential walk around with the youth to get an understanding of buildings in relation to activities. The ideas from community workshop must not force any alterations in terms of overall structure or form of the building. Community ideas might contribute towards the aesthetics of the building and choice of materials to be used.
• Pending:
• Isaac to verify that we can plug building into electrical and sewer without major adjustments, costs, and city approval
• Isaac is revising contract for Design Architect and Local Architect, AFH San Francisco to approve
• Isaac introduced Andrew to April and will start conference calls after Jason's visit
• AFH South Africa to write a letter for agreements to QS and those involved in the project to clarify pro-bono issues on all projects, no need for approval
• AFH San Francisco approved and confirmed $3,000USD available for April and $2,000USD available for expenses and reimbursables for Andrew Gremley, any other funds will need to include a drafted agreement and proper request in writing

Thursday, October 11th:

Wednesday, October 24th:

Conference Call Notes: June 25, 2009

Attendance:

• Kimberley O’ Dowd
• Christine Lara
• Isaac Mugumbule

NEW US Toll Free Access Number: 877-366-0711
Canadian Toll Free Access Number: 866-627-1651
International Access Number: +1-302-709-8446

Participant Code L 97729933# 15851672#

General:

• Post Forum Workshop

Eugene and Kate are at the forum and presenting lessons learned to the team on Friday June 26th and Saturday June 27th

• Kate visited Paarl

topic discussions: unifying tower, budget, moving forward, internal challenges, centres update, new accounting procedures, construction admin, PM forms

• Unifying Element
• Christine updated the team on the tower progress
• Water will be a central element in all towers

suggestion is to propose water element as a secondary and redundant system

• Christine will package and send water package to Kate next week to pursue funding

Khayelitsha:

• Contractor - Project Lead Contract Review continued
• Christine requested construction schedule and costing on Thursday, arG responded that they cannot deliver this week

Namibia:

• Jhono is on board and will be introduced to the team
• Still waiting for quote for sub-base from recommended contractors
• Christine updated team on the current budget challenges and will keep everyone posted after the discussions in Vaal
• Schematic design package will be sent out Monday
• Kimberley suggested when submitting the QS estimate to the client, we will use the AfH format (the new format) so the client can see a consistent breakdown and when looking at each centres they can do an apples to apples comparison

Mali:

• Eugene and Kate to discuss with Claire possibilities of being in Mali July-September to assist
• Claire will meet Eugene and Kate in Vaal
• Eugene and Federika site visit scheduled for next week
• Habib assisting with local architect selection and working on further developing schematic design
• Pending:
• Land survey quotes being pursued
• Souadou must be contacted via email about current issues including design fellows, AFH South Africa to follow up
• Contractors, Engineers, Solar World consultants need to be contacted

Kenya:

• Contracts

New version provided by Kimberley, Isaac will modify and seek approval from San Francisco

• Schedules

Delivered and current, Schematic Design delivered this week

Isaac will review cost saving strategies with Jason and Andrew during site visit

• Schematic Design Delivered

Isaac provided estimated costing based on estimate provided by Andrew including structure for future expansion

• Fee Structures

QS fee of 2-3% is budget appropriate

Isaac to ask Andrew how to award QS (MOU or Letter of Award)

Andrews fee of 4% will equal to $3,000 and is budget appropriate

• Community Workshop

Potential topics: tower, similar to school workshop in Khayelitsha

Participant age range 15-22 years old

• Community input will be during design development. Community design workshop will build on understanding the relationship between spaces in a building in relation to the organisation activities via a potential walk around with the youth to get an understanding of buildings in relation to activities. The ideas from community workshop must not force any alterations in terms of overall structure or form of the building. Community ideas might contribute towards the aesthetics of the building and choice of materials to be used.
• Pending:
• Isaac to verify that we can plug building into electrical and sewer without major adjustments, costs, and city approval
• Isaac is revising contract for Design Architect and Local Architect, AFH San Francisco to approve
• Isaac will facilitate conversation between April and Andrew?
• AFH South Africa to write a letter for agreements to QS and those involved in the project to clarify pro-bono issues on all projects, no need for approval
• AFH San Francisco approved and confirmed $3,000USD available for April and $2,000USD available for expenses and reimbursables for Andrew Gremley, any other funds will need to include a drafted agreement and proper request in writing

no updates

Tuesday, May 15th:

no updates

no updates

no updates

On May 15th the Construction Contract was signed between UNICEF and Triple W.

Triple W’s bank had some difficulty providing a bank guarantee in a format that was acceptable to UNICEF. After much communication between Triple W, and UNICEF, it was agreed by all parties that Triple W would pre-finance the first 30% of the project.

The payment schedule was amended to 7 milestone payments for completed work at 10%, 25%, 40%, 55%, 70%, 85%, substantial completion, and final completion. 10% of each of the first 6 payments is retained by UNICEF and paid to the contractor at final completion.

The contractor has submitted a performance bond of 5% of the contract value to UNICEF.

Triple W has taken possession of the site, and have built the site office and warehouse, which are now 85% complete, and the site has been cleared and brushed.

The contractor’s survey has established the site boundaries. The first site meeting was held, Triple W is currently on schedule.

All buildings have been set out on the site, batter boards erected. We had an emergency ground-breaking ceremony last week so that digging could commence. There were speeches (with a wooden microphone), photos, and the ceremonial breaking of the ground. Unfortunately, due to the emergency situation, there was no goat – the workers were very disappointed!

Trenching for foundations has commenced, and is approximately 50% complete. After being in Monrovia for the weekend, and returning to Ganta a day later than expected, the trenches for the community centre and admin building were discovered to have been set out in the incorrect locations. It took one day for Triple W to rectify the mistake.

June 18th is the official groundbreaking ceremony, the Minister of Education will be guest of honour. The Bangladeshi peacekeepers have provided support for the groundbreaking ceremony by providing weather protection, tables, chairs, and a Public Address System.

Pouring of the concrete footings will commence shortly. The reinforced concrete footings are very different to the commonly accepted method of constructing footings here in Liberia so may prove challenging.

1. Cape Town

2nd Construction site meeting schelduled for June 24th at 10am

SFW to followup on Greenfields sub-base inspection meeting held June 11th

Solar world coordination in process, all information has been delivered

Unifying element design guidelines being finalized, draft to be sent next week

2. Mali

Schematic Design Process initiated

Habib Sisoko is currently working on schematic design will submit to AFH late June

Design Fellow Claire will be assisting from July-September

AFH site visit scheduled June 27th-July 2nd

3. Kenya

Schematic design package draft received and being reviewed

AFH coordinating site visit with Design Architect representative Jason for July

Meeting scheduled for next week Wednesday with Antony Levitan, a Quantity Surveyor with Barker & Barton (Kenya)

AFH to initiate discussions between design and local architect

AFH scheduled meeting with Henry Majale (MYSA - Sports Director) to discuss the community design workshop during Jason's site visit in July

Meeting with Dr. Alfred Omenya (Environmental consultant) and Andrew Gremley (local architect) to coordinate the planned July visit by Jason (April Bottman's partner)

4. Namibia

Schematic design DRAFT received, AFH is reviewing

Stakeholder meeting on June 15th, AFH awaits minutes

MOA between SFW and the City to be signed in June

Land agreements pending

Design Volunteer Jhono Bennett to assist from Capetown

Survey of site made by Herman Strydom finalized and complete

AFH pursuing sub-base quote from engineers

AFH/Nina and Paul/Special Olympics conference call held on June 19th

Conference Call Notes: June 11, 2009

Attendance:

• Kimberley O’ Dowd
• Eugene Da Silva
• Christine Lara
• Isaac Mugumbule
• Kate Stohr

Dialing in Reference: US 978.964.0031

Guest Code: 3232346#

General:

• Post Forum Workshop

Eugene will attend and present lessons learned to the team on Friday June 26th and Saturday June 27th

• Kate visits Paarl

dates to be confirmed: June 20-25

will discuss new AFH accounting procedures

• Unifying Element
• Kate asked to think about the branding
• Agreed that the signage for the FFH centres is too bold and overpowering
• New ideas to San Francisco before AFH internal call next week
• Request made to remove image from all AFH documents, request forwarded to FFH
• Kate mentioned she would send some suggestions through to SA, we await
• Schedules

Everyone discussed schedules that have not been approved by SF, we await

SFW requested updated schedules on June 12th

• New Staff

Program Manager that joined the AFH SF office - Frederika Zipp was born in Africa, is an Engineer by profession and fluent in French. Kate will be travelling with her on a training program either India or Africa. If need be she could help with the translations. Her father is based in Bamako, he is works in Oil, but could provide social support to the design fellow that is sent to work in Mali

Khayelitsha:

• Contractor - Project Lead Contract Review continued
• AFH SF requested construction schedule, request made to arG twice this week
• Team SA mentions the caretakers flat might be removed because of challenges being faced with CoCT
• Team SF reminds us to stay out of the battles between FFH and other parties.
• The construction of the GreenFields sub base is not AFH responsibility
• Kate to write a detailed report outlining the progress done so far on the various FFH centres. Since Jan's report only highlights Khayelitsha, we await

Namibia:

• Agreed that Jhono will assist first as a volunteer with the potential to transition to design fellow position dependent on budget and availability

E to follow up with volunteer agreement and scope of work

• Christine to pursue getting quote for sub-base with Nina and Pauls reccomendations for contractors
• AFH South Africa to speak to Nina and Paul about community design workshop
• Budget might be reduced to 100k, next steps AFH SF, we await
• Schematic Design expected around June 20th for internal review, workshop in Vaal will give us more time to review internally as availability for approvals will be limited

Mali:

• Kimberely discussing with Claire possibilities of being in Mali July-September to assist
• Claire is available to assist the next two weeks
• Habib assisting with local architect selection and working on further developing schematic design
• E to think about how to utilize all volunteers
• Pending from last week:
• Land survey quotes being pursued
• Souadou must be contacted via email about current issues including design fellows, AFH South Africa to follow up
• Contractors, Engineers, Solar World consultants need to be contacted

Kenya:

• Contracts

Same contract as SIDAREC, Kate to investigate SIDAREC contract with contractor, together with Joyce so as to come up with a standard contract on all FFH centre projects. No contracts have yet been signed between SIDAREC and the contractor. Isaac to find out from Andrew how building contracts are handled in Kenya

• Schedules

Kate said we cannot push the whole schedules forward, will have to shorten the duration of certain proposed programmes so as to fit in within the original schedule, SA Team awaits revised schedule to follow

• Fee Structures

Kate mentions we cannot pay to architects a percentage of construction as AFH

QS and Structural Engineer, we can do a percentage of construction cost

Flat rate cap will be inclusive of all out of pocket expenses. E to work this out with Andrew

• Community Labour

Mysa has a large opportunity to have community labour. It is important to find out from MYSA if this is something they would want and if so we need to factor in the time element. If it will save costs on construction then it is worth looking into but if it will cause time delays then we should not pursue

• Cost comparison is needed from SIDAREC. Isaac will wait for the B.O.Qs from the SIDAREC project. But the architect on the SIDAREC project had estimated Kshs. 17,000 per sq. metre
• Community Workshop

Community workshop will be geared more towards building a sense of community ownership, this is the same goal for the mosaic workshop in Khayelitsha

• Community input will be during design development. Community design workshop will build on understanding the relationship between spaces in a building in relation to the organisation activities via a potential walk around with the youth to get an understanding of buildings in relation to activities. The ideas from community workshop must not force any alterations in terms of overall structure or form of the building. Community ideas might contribute towards the aesthetics of the building and choice of materials to be used.
• Schematic Design Review

Kate commenting on design, thinks the counseling rooms are small, these rooms could be combined such that instead of four individual small rooms we have two rooms that can be sub-divided.She has visited a number of previous completed projects and found these small rooms unused

• E requested for design comments to filter through to him
• Kate to send us a project example on how the designers stayed true to the core design elements and were able to save costs on the entire project, we await
• thank you for reading this far
• Pending from last week:
• Isaac to verify that we can plug building into electrical and sewer without major adjustments, costs, and city approval
• Isaac is revising contract for Design Architect and Local Architect, AFH San Francisco to approve
• Isaac will facilitate conversation between April and Andrew next week
• AFH South Africa to write a letter for agreements to QS and those involved in the project to clarify pro-bono issues on all projects, no need for approval
• AFH San Francisco approved and confirmed $3,000USD available for April and $2,000USD available for expenses and reimbursables for Andrew Gremley, any other funds will need to include a drafted agreement and proper request in writing