Open Architecture Network

Robinsons move in!

This week, a bustle of activity ensued at 321 Nichols Dr., as the home of Audrey and Andre Robinson passed its final inspections, allowing the family to move into their new home! Community and family members delivered numerous truckloads of new furniture and spent the weekend decorating and celebrating.

A few minor details remain on the exterior of the house, scheduled to be completed next week. More pics and final update to follow!

Monday, April 28th:

Monday, April 21:

Monday, April 7:

Monday, March 31:

Attending:
Isaac Mugumbule (IM)
Kevin Gannon (KG)
Axel Stelter (AS)
Killian Doherty (KD)
Tom Calhoun (TC)
Eugene
Satu Jackson (SJ)
Kimberley O’Dowd (KOD)

Action Items:

>Cape Town to post call notes on FFH Internal OAC site
> Design Fellows need to locate and copy standards of practice in country of work
> KOD and KG to follow up with Mike after call to make sure all is OK / touch base
> All: copy SJ on all payment correspondence
> KG: Namibian tender contract to Joyce for review (after review by KG and KOD)

Minutes:

KG:
> Design Fellows need to locate and copy standards of practice in country of work
This is requested by sfw and FEFA
Ex: Annex – contract assembled with standard of practice in Kenya
Copy of official document must be furnished
Relative to contractor, builder
Warranties
Level of insurance and liability coverage
Health and safety standards
Standard payment practice
Need to find in Mali and Kenya? Yes (as well as all other countries)

Mike cannot join call – cell has trouble receiving calls from US
> KOD and KG to follow up with him after call to make sure all is OK / touch base

KOD: SF to have copy of everyone’s passport and emergency contact info
> All DF’s + KG – please submit passport and contact information

protocol for communications

KG: Requests should be as direct as possible
To field: direct to person who needs to respond
CC: FYI only
Limit info shared with Jan until we know exactly what the communication is

KOD: SJ is tracking all payments that need to go out for reporting to sfw
> Copy SJ on all payment correspondence
All contractual information goes to Joyce – however, it must be cleared by KG and KOD prior.
> Namibian tender contract – SON (Special Olympics Namibia) – KG to verify requirements and who is signing (ask Eugene and Jono?), then review with KOD, before sending to Joyce for review
FYI: VAT cannot be handled up front – needs to be handled later –

KG: no action needed from SF on contracts at this time
FEFA and sfw to revise annex in all cases to read: 5 year warranty on the work OR whatever is the standard of practice in the country of work

Esperance site

required: site plan and basic floor plan
KD: no basic costing will be submitted.
KOD: have the requirements been reviewed with sfw? Yes
KD: will submit plan, site plan, perspective, and section
Will send to schematic to 3 contractors for baseline contracting
KOD: template needs to updated re: deliverables to make sure everyone is on same page / Esperance. All submittals must be reviewed by Kas before submitting.

KD: will draft up agreement / contract and send out
Sfw said this is conditional to committing to a trip to Rwanda
Ie: Rwanda trip will not be approved until contract is signed
KOD to submit to Kas / JE
In SD at this point – submittal due on Monday – SF NEEDS to review
Final approval due on 11th

Will pick up conversation offline / or in another call Friday.

Thrusday, March 13th:

Monday, March 3rd:

going to permit!



Thursday, February 28th:

Monday, February 11th:

Monday, January 7th:

Monday December 3rd

1. Cape Town

AFH & GRS launched high school competition for the Mosaic Project

entry deadline October 5th

Construction meeting held on September 2nd, see photos on the OAN

Pending Items:

Caretaker flat payment awaiting VPUU

ESKOM, pending quotes from Drucon

arG submitted designs for the tower, AFH to forward to team

building plans pending, SFW/arG/AFH currently pursing

Next steps: Revised design drawings to reflect budget expected from arG

2. Mali

Current Phase: Schematic Design

Final SD package to be delivered next week for final approval, package to be distributed to SFW September 7th

AMPJF has submitted design comments that included modifications to the current design brief, SFW to coordinate, AFH to address budget impact

3. Kenya

Council approval challenge, MYSA's existing buildings have not been approved through council, AFH is problem solving!

A meeting with Peter and Henry has been scheduled for next Monday 7th September to discuss how to best proceed with getting the approved drawings of existing structures

MOU for Barker & Barton Kenya (QS) and Gumbi & Associates (Structural Eng.) are being worked on by Kimberley

Isaac working together with MYSA to put together a list of potential donor companies that will contribute towards the shading device and external landscaping for the centre

AFH has initiated tender documentation phase, local architect Andrew working on the drawings

Isaac to meet with a potential donor for the external landscaping pavers

4. Namibia

Team site visit complete, photos and report will be posted next week

Team evaluated SON's program needs and will adjust the design

SD package with entire program needs will be submitted next week for review

MOA signed on behalf of the ministry on Wednesday September 2nd

5. Rwanda

FFH/SFW/AFH site visit completed August 24th - August 29th

Paola submitted site visit report

6. Ghana

SFW/AFH to coordinate site visit in early October

New member added

This month we welcomed the addition of our newest member to the team. Peter Wanjau, an electrical contractor, of PM Electrical Works & General Contractors. He has done a lot of work for various companies in Kenya and will now be working with us on the centre.

As it stands the professional team is now complete and the project is moving along with all parties communicating and working towards the successful completion of the project.

DD package approved

The Design Development package was also approved and we have moved on to the Technical Documentation stage. You view the latest uploaded DD package. All consultants are currently busy working hard on their share of the project and hope to meet the set out deadlines as per the schedule.

We look forward to completing most of the Technical work during this coming month of September. Keep reading and I will do my best to keep you all up to speed.

Conference Call Notes: July 23, 2009

Attendance:

• Kimberley O’ Dowd
• Christine Lara
• Isaac Mugumbule
• Eugene Da Silva
• Claire Lubell

OLD Conference call number used

Dialing in Reference: US 978.964.0031

Guest Code: 3232346#

General:

• Unifying Element
• Schedule posted on OAN, Unifying Element site

ideas discussed: words embedding into the building using local materials such as the seating in arG's original proposal

Cameron suggested a projector idea and giving back something to the community

Follow up workshop to be scheduled for next week

Khayelitsha:

• Budget Discussion

need updated drawings that reflect the BOQ and what was discussed

next budget meeting to be scheduled by arG-Alastair, on holiday thru mid Aug.

Namibia:

• Awaiting approval of design brief from SON

Next steps: Send SON's approval of the brief to Paul and Nina

Jhono to work on schematic design with Paul and Nina for next week

Jhono to research Contractors

AFH to arrange site visit to meet contractors and initiate Design Development

Mali:

• Design Fellow Mike will come to Capetown August 17th
• Soil test bid came in extremely high, team to evaluate if it's needed

AFH will work on design internally and submit by the deadline date

Kenya:

• Update on council submission and changes

Isaac indicates that we can only submit the overall area of the building

Changes after submitted to council can be made as long as the building is not larger

April and Jason are clear on scaling down to 150 sq. m

Kimberley stated that the containers can be used as long as they are designed appropriately

DD date postponed and deadline will be met by design team

• Costing

Isaac to meet with QS and discuss how to deliver BOQ

• Structural engineer quote has been confirmed and he will be brought onto the project
• Pending:
• Isaac to verify that we can plug building into electrical and sewer without major adjustments, costs, and city approval

no updates

Tuesday, October 30th: