Campus and Construction Updates
Dear SMES Families,
As we return for the 2022-23 school year, you’ll find ongoing construction at 8111 Douglas Ave is moving skyward and periodically spreading to the parking lot as necessary. Please note, the short-term utility work underway in the West parking lot perimeter is currently mid-project and the construction only affects perimeter parking.
We remain in close contact with the expert construction team at Manhattan Construction Group to confirm that all safety precautions are in place for our children and campus throughout their varied construction efforts.
Most notably, we are focused on precautions around limiting children’s exposure to dust, particulates, and excessive noise; attentive crane control ensuring that boom loads never swing over the SMES facilities or play area; and guarded access checkpoints to ensure our children’s safety.
Prioritizing and ensuring a high level of safety for our campus, in and around the construction site, remains of utmost concern. Thank you for your continued patience during this construction process and project.
Please note, as the school year progresses, you may also find relevant construction updates online at saintmichael.org/construction.
If you have specific questions, please submit inquiries to lpcdallas.com/connect.
Manhattan Construction Group Campus Safety FAQs
Does Manhattan Construction Group (MCG) have experience working in areas with kids?
The dedicated 8111 Douglas team is accustomed to working around church and school campuses while children are present. The MCG team, and every contractor on this project, share a commitment to safety at all levels throughout the project. MCG takes their responsibility to safety seriously, ensuring that this accountability is built into every aspect of construction site operations.
Is everyone on the construction site from MCG?
If any element of the construction work must be outsourced, MCG will supervise specialty contractors to ensure high expectations around proactive and ongoing safety measures.
How will construction be separated from the SMES campus?
In order to limit access to the 8111 Douglas worksite, an 8-foot green perimeter fence was erected in May between the campus and construction site to act as a heavy-duty separation wall. Only visitors, students and staff will have access to the school and church campus. No contractors or vendors will be permitted to come onto SMES or SMAA’s campus, nor will they enter the worksite from either campus. As construction efforts continue, MCG will utilize a debris net during tower construction to eliminate any errant debris.
How will Manhattan control vehicle access to the worksite?
Construction workers will enter the worksite from a restricted entrance from Douglas Ave or Lomo Alto Dr. Both entrances are staffed with gate guards employed by MCG to manage unauthorized visitors, construction traffic and pedestrian activity. MCG will also develop traffic signage to manage vehicular traffic as needed.
How is airborne dust going to be reduced around the construction zone?
In accordance with OSHA guidelines, MCG’s silica policy will be implemented throughout the duration of the project. This entails hyper focus on reducing dust to limit children’s exposure to dust and particulates caused by construction. The construction team will follow a strict dust mitigation plan and will utilize a myriad of methods to mitigate the amount of dust/particulate in the air, including moisture, sweeping and vacuuming to limit airborne material.
Will the crane go over the school campus and playground while kids are there?
No. The cranes are specifically outfitted with software to manage loads and locations of each crane boom. They are programed not to go over SMES facilities and play area. The crane operations team will operate under Standard Operator Training which means they will adhere to the No Loads Fly*outside of the construction area or adjacent buildings. This is a specific mandate that dictates that the crane will not swing materials over the SMES facilities and play area.
Who is going to operate the crane?
All crane operators on this project are certified operators from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) and will be certified for the specific crane utilized for the project. These operators will be re-tested onsite by a certified instructor as well.
Should I be concerned if I see the crane swinging around in high wind when no one is there?
This is something that is completely normal to see. While the construction site is not active, all cranes weathervane when not in operation for safety precautions. What this means, is that the crane will move with strong wind to prevent any damage that could be caused by inclement weather. Cranes will not be locked into position and will never be stored with the boom near SMES’ facilities or play areas in order to ensure utmost safety of the surrounding area.
Where should I go if I have more questions?
MCG remains committed to transparent and effective communication. All questions regarding the project can be directed to Tricia Morris at [email protected].
For more information on the North Land Initiative, and other answers to frequently asked questions, please visit 8111douglas.com.