Exposition Park Construction Sequencing and Logistics Study Notes

Reconstruction Sequencing and General Logistics Strategy

• The project will follow a logistical strategy of working from the "inside out." This approach ensures that the design on the interior sections is completed first so that heavy machinery and construction equipment do not have to drive over newly installed surfaces to reach other areas. This is a critical quality control measure to prevent damage to new installations.
• The team will utilize a map-based, area-by-area approach to avoid jumping around the site and ensuring a logical progression of work.
• Key locations involved in the project include the Rose Garden, Exposition Park Drive, State Drive, Exposition Boulevard, Kinsey Drive, Victory Walk, the Wallace Annenberg Building, the DC-$8$ airplane area, the California Science Center, the African American Museum, and the IMAX Theater.
• Haul routes will prioritize using State Drive to access the site. The team intends to avoid using Exposition Boulevard as much as possible to minimize disruptions to street traffic and the need for lane closures.

Phase $1$: Rose Garden Reconstruction

• Objective: The Rose Garden is identified as the first point of work. It is a central interior feature that must be finished before moving to the surrounding roads.
• Protection and Safety Measures:
  • Use of panel fencing or chain link fencing to separate the grass and the garden itself from the concrete work.
  • Barriers will be erected to keep workers out of the garden proper and block off pedestrian access during construction.
  • Discussion includes using themed screens on fencing to maintain aesthetics, pending owner feedback.
• Sequencing Scenarios:
  • Scenario $1$ (Cost-Effective): Complete shutdown of the Rose Garden for the duration of the work. This is estimated to take approximately $45$ days to $2$ months.
  • Scenario $2$ (Partial Access): Splitting the work into halves (e.g., closing one side and keeping the other open for counterclockwise walking). This would likely double the project duration and is considered inefficient for stair and ramp construction.
• Demolition and Grading:
  • Nearest access road for demolition debris evacuation is State Drive via Exposition Park Drive.
  • Equipment to be used includes lowboys and dump trucks.
  • Estimated timeline: $2$ weeks for demolition and grading, followed by $1$ to $2$ weeks of base work.
• Concrete and Structure:
  • Concrete placement is estimated to take $2$ weeks.
  • The project includes evaluating existing steps and potentially adding an ADA ramp. The middle ramp is currently an ADA ramp but may be temporary; new features may be added to the left or right to complement the design. If new steps are required, it adds an additional $2$ weeks to the schedule.

Phase $2$: Kinsey Drive and State Drive Rebuilding

• Timeline and Sequence: This work will occur immediately after the Rose Garden is complete to avoid hauling debris over the new garden paths. It is estimated to take approximately $1$ month in total.
• Demolition and Installation:
  • Demolition is expected to take $1$ to $1.5$ weeks.
  • Reinstallation of the road, curb, and gutter is expected to take approximately $2.5$ weeks.
• Pedestrian Safety: The area will be barricaded with temporary fencing to establish a construction zone and protect the public. The roads are relatively flat, allowing for a quicker turnaround if the design is straightforward.

Phase $3$: Victory Walk and Natural History Museum Interface

• Scope: Includes the Victory Walkway and connections near the Natural History Museum.
• Duration: Estimated at approximately $1$ month ($1.5$ weeks for demo, $1$ week for base, and $2$ weeks for installation).
• Logistics:
  • Pedestrians can still access the Natural History Museum from the south, north, or west (near the parking lot).
  • Debris will be hauled out through Exposition Park Drive, avoiding Exposition Boulevard.
  • Protection will involve either chain link or hard barricades, depending on aesthetic requirements from the owner.

Phase $4$: Wallace Annenberg Building and DC-$8$ Area

• Scope: Focuses on the east side of the Wallace Annenberg Building and the area surrounding the Douglas DC-$8$ airplane.
• Duration: Estimated at $2$ to $3$ weeks for completion.
• Material Assumptions: The area under the DC-$8$ plane currently has a concrete base with surrounding asphalt. The team assumes the asphalt will be ground and paved while the concrete base remains intact.
• Coordination: If work is required on the west side of the Annenberg building, it may be performed simultaneously with the Rose Garden to save time before starting on Kinsey Drive.

Phase $5$: Main Entrances and Interior Walkways

• Scope: This is the most complex phase, encompassing the interior walkways from the Blue Structure (parking) to the main entrances of the California Science Center, the African American Museum, and the IMAX Theater. It also includes Christmas Tree Lane.
• Duration: Estimated at $3$ to $4$ months due to the complexity of the scope and high visitor volume.
• Phasing and Egress:
  • The team must maintain safe egress for hundreds to thousands of weekly visitors.
  • Initial steps involve working with the Science Center and Space Center to establish the best "paths of travel."
  • Entrances will be sequenced: one entrance will be repaired while another remains open, followed by a switch. Large entrances may be done half-at-a-time.
• Physical Measures:
  • Potential for second-shift (overnight/off-shift) work to handle demolition.
  • Use of temporary plywood surfaces to maintain walking paths over exposed areas.
  • Multiple crews will likely be required to manage the extensive durations and diverse locations.

Questions & Discussion

• Pedestrian Routing in the Rose Garden:
  • Speaker $1$: "Would we split this in a half and allow them to walk counterclockwise and then close the other side?"
  • Speaker $2$: "I think Scenario $1$, which would be the most cost-effective way, would be to just close down the Rose Garden."
  • Response: The group noted that alternate entrances appear to exist on the plan east and plan west ends of the garden, which could be used to provide viewing access without keeping the main construction path open.
• Involvement of the Annenberg West Side:
  • Question: Does the west side of the Wallace Annenberg Building need redoing?
  • Answer: The current Exhibit A only calls out the east side. However, if the west side is added, the team would aim to perform that work concurrently with the Rose Garden phase.
• Science Center Front Entry Complexity:
  • Question: What is the extent of the work at the front of the Science Center?
  • Discussion: The area contains "Dolby color concrete," stairs, and ramps with switchbacks. The team noted that if the owner wants a fancy redesign or modification of the rock features and lights, the duration will lean closer to the $4$-month estimate.
• Technical Limit Encountered: Towards the end of the session, the host noted they hit an upload limit on the recording software and transitioned to start a new meeting via Google Meets.