Although Alameda County’s March 31 public health order temporarily suspended most construction projects, the school construction has been deemed an “essential government function” and exempt from the order.
So far, the District says, the STEAM building construction is continuing on schedule. The District’s contractor, Overaa Construction, is making “significant strides” in both interior and exterior work. In an email to the Exedra, the District said “window installation and flashing work is now underway in preparation for exterior stucco work. The roll-up doors for the art and engineering patios have been fabricated and delivered and are ready for installation. Inside, crews are focusing on the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, as well as ductwork, insulation, and drywall, and interior painting will begin mid-May.”
Photos taken last week of drywall installation show some of this progress:
If you’ve walked by the construction site in recent days, you will likely notice the precautions the workers are taking. At 7:30 a.m. Monday morning, Exedra observed work crews arriving, donning masks, and taking social distancing precautions as they walked to the work site.
According to the District statement, “Overaa and its workers are committed to meeting or exceeding mandated protocols for worker and community health and safety, including increased social distancing and other measures to reduce person-to-person contact. Overaa has a full-time employee at the STEAM site to ensure distancing and hygiene protocols, and to do daily disinfecting and sterilizing. Workers wear masks and gloves, and avoid sharing equipment, tools, and other items. They hold meetings outdoors, and the jobsite is stocked with hand sanitizer, hand soap, diluted bleach in spray bottles, paper towels, and disinfecting wipes, and workers regularly wipe down communal surfaces as well as tools and equipment. Workers are instructed to stay at home if they have an elevated temperature or any COVID-19-related symptoms, and once on site they remain on site for lunch and other breaks.”