Point Cloud View

Point Cloud.A point cloud is a collection of 3D points that are collected with a scanner by shooting a laser at the subject. In this case the subject was the historic Turnblad Mansion and Carriage House. The first laser scan was performed in October of 2010 to assist with completion of the design of the finer details of the new elevator and staircase tower. The deliverable to the project from the first scan were 2D elevation drawings showing all the stone work on the exterior to assist the team with coordination of architectural details.

Navisworks View of BIM Model

More Data. A second scan has been performed to review and ensure everything will slide right down into place in between the two buildings. Technology has changed since the first scan was performed last year. We are now able to load the point cloud into our BIM (Building Information Model) in Autodesk Revit 2012 and cut sections, plan views, details, and 3D views where ever we need more detail about what is existing. These views have been invaluable in our coordination and construction efforts as we come out of the ground with the elevator and staircase tower.

Team Effort. Our subcontractor Lejeune Steel provided us with their digital fabrication model to load into our BIM. This model was built in Tekla by them for their fabrication, but is now seeing more uses throughout the process. With the steel model and point cloud loaded into our BIM we can ensure steel that is fabricated will fit when erected.

The point cloud is also helping us confirm space inside the old community hall to ensure proper fit of MEP equipment above ceilings. Stay tunned for an upcoming post on the 3D coordination of the mechanical systems for the Nelson Cultural Center.

Navisworks View of Steel Model

HGA Rendering - Same orientation as steel view.

First, more than 700 tons of metal, concrete and asphalt were removed and recycled as the site (much of which had been parking lot space) was prepared for excavation. An earth retention wall along the Oakland Avenue side of the Nelson Cultural Center was also installed — 2,200 square feet of wall, to be exact!

This photo was taken looking south over the construction site in late June. You can see the earth retention wall (at far right), as well as recently poured foundation footings and walls and ones that were about to be poured.

Mass excavation began in early June, and crews exported 5,000 cubic yards of soil from the site. Concrete footings for the Nelson Cultural Center were poured, followed by foundation walls. At this moment, foundations walls along the entire west side and much of the south and north sides of the Nelson Cultural Center are in place. Earlier this week, erection of structural steel within the newly formed walls of the Nelson Cultural Center began.

August 4, 2011 3:05 p.m.

Our online construction camera offers a great view of the site, capturing an image (like the one above) once every 15 minutes. What you can’t see on camera, though, is the work that is happening inside the Mansion; spaces on the lower level are being renovated, and newer spaces (the 1983 addition) are being remodeled.

The original floorboards in the lower level of the Turnblad Mansion.

Inside the Turnblad Mansion, modern ceiling tiles, floors and walls on the lower level have now been stripped away, revealing the original plaster ceiling—and how the space was originally divided. In late June, sections of the original floor were cleaned in order to evaluate their condition, as you can see in the photo at left. A portion of the original wood flooring at the foot of the stairs will be restored and left exposed. Remodeling of the 1983 auditorium—which will become two classrooms and a community hall—is also under way.

Demolition of the 1983 link between the Carriage House and the Turnblad Mansion is now complete. Construction crews have just poured the elevator sub-pit and footings for the elevator/stairway tower that will serve to connect both the Turnblad Mansion and Carriage House to the Nelson Cultural Center, greatly improving accessibility to the Mansion. Very soon, masonry on the elevator tower will begin.

On a final note, drilling rigs arrived on site last week, and so far about 20 wells (of a total of 96) have been drilled for the geothermal heating and cooling system that will be one of many sustainable features of the Nelson Cultural Center. You can see where the wells are being drilled in the lower right corner of the construction camera images (like the one above).

Saturday's "ASI To Go" team (L to R): Peggy Korsmo-Kennon, Bruce Karstadt, and Ann Mulfort.

ASI President/CEO Bruce Karstadt, along with a group of ASI staff members, represented ASI at Nisswa-stämman this past weekend. Here are some of his thoughts about the day:

“I spent this past Saturday at Nisswa-stämman, the 12th edition of an annual Scandinavian folk music festival that takes place on the beautiful grounds of the Nisswa Area Historical Society in Nisswa, Minn. Several of my colleagues joined me and together we formed the “ASI To Go” team for the weekend. It was a lovely day and the festival was an incredible success. We visited with many people and lots of ASI members who traveled to Nisswa for the festival, among them George Bergquist from Princeton, John Erickson of Brainerd, Marilyn Moore (former president of SVEA), and Margaret Wreigard, who with her late husband had been active for many years at ASI before moving to Arizona. I brought along a new iPad with ASI’s new app to share images of the campus plans and construction photos with people I talked to. Everyone seemed excited by the progress we’ve made. Finally, the festival had lots of educational opportunities for the young and young-at-heart. My better half, Candace, and I took a 30-minute Finnish tango lesson; my Swedish hips seem to like this dance better than salsa.” -Bruce Karstadt, ASI President/CEO

Bruce Karstadt shares ASI's new iPad app.

(Requires Miscrosoft Internet Explorer to view.)

Snap shot from Photosynth of Historic Turnblad Mansion

The American Swedish Institute App Home Screen

Just about one week ago today, A&P submitted the “ASI APP” for approval in the App Store. We got the good news today that Apple has approved the app and it is now available for download in the App Store. This marks a big milestone and now allows people from all over the world to experience the project in a new and interactive manner that has never been done before. Enjoy this one of a kind tour of the new Nelson Cultural Center and Turnblad Mansion Renovation!

Bill Blotske
Adolfson & Peterson Construction

View of first phase of construction from solarium

The ASI APP will be on display today in the solarium. The solarium is the perfect place to see the app and walk through the interactive floor plans on the new Ipad 2. Look for the Ipad’s to be setup in the solarium on display for all visitors to “get their hands dirty” and walk through the project and see HGA’s design concepts, construction photographs and updates.

Interested in getting the ASI APP on your own Ipad, sign up here for an email notice when the app is avalible in the Apple App Store.

SIGN UP HERE

Phase 1 Site Logistics - Excavation, concrete foundations, and structural steel.

We have been busy here at Adolfson and Peterson getting ready for the ground breaking and the official start of construction. The building plans are in for review with the City of Minneapolis and are awaiting word back on the Building Permit. This is the key to us starting work on site. Plans are being put in place for site logistics for the first phase of construction. Temporary electrical for jobsite is due to be connected in the next couple weeks. With approval we will mobilize the jobsite trailer and get offices set up.

Site logistics concept, view from visitor parking lot looking north towards mansion across jobsite.

Eric Thomsen, A&P Sr. Superintendent, has held meetings with the neighborhood to discuss construction sequencing and logistics.  Bill Blotske, Lead Estimator, and Dave Herzberg, Senior Project Manager, have been busy soliciting bids for the different trades and compiling the construction budget. I have been working with our team to get a 3D model built to allow us to coordinate construction activities and to perform 3D spacial coordination of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems within the new building.