TRILOGY AT LA QUINTA

60-750 Trilogy Parkway
La Quinta, CA 92253
1,493 sq. ft. Aerobics and Storage Room additions -Santa Rosa Club
and 1,496 sq. ft. Arts & Crafts Room renovation - Coral Club

Trilogy La Quinta encompasses three small projects for Orr Builders. Each project consists of renovating all three existing buildings as well as adding square footage to improve functionality. The three projects are Arts and Crafts, new Storage and Aerobics expansion. Arts and Crafts consisted of demolition of the old sales and marketing offices for Trilogy Homes and converting the spaces to accommodate a potter's wheel and a kiln to fire ceramics. The Home Owners Associations will also utilize the new Arts and Crafts area for art classes, cooking classes, and socials. ORR received the certificate of occupancy in November and the Association has already utilized the new facility with several art classes and a holiday party.

The New Storage facility will add 500 square feet for general facility storage. The new building is constructed with steel studs and stucco, shear walls on a concrete pad. The roof is Fibertite. The new landscape was installed to match existing landscaping.

The Aerobics expansion has been the most complicated and challenging project of the three. The aerobics facility is a 900 square foot addition which doubles the size of the existing aerobics room. The general construction materials and methods used for the storage facility were also used on the aerobics building.

There are both building challenges and on-site challenges for Trilogy. One building challenge for both the storage facility and aerobics expansion is the requirement of seismic separation. Even though the old building pad and the new building pad is constructed at the same elevation, the concrete was dowelled together to stabilize the transition of the old and the new concrete pads. In theory, the old and new pads will both move at the same rate and the storage floor and the aerobics floor will not crack or separate at the new concrete control joint. The transition from the existing buildings to the new buildings required a two inch air gap for storage and a three inch air gap for aerobics. Both storage and aerobics required specified weather stripping on all the interior transitional gaps and a sheet metal cap for each roof structure. Based on the architectural features and the construction materials the transition from the existing building to the new construction is seamless and appears as original construction.

Several on-site challenges have made this job interesting. ORR's goal was to build the new aerobics outer shell prior to demolishing the existing wall that would open up the building to expand the aerobics room. ORR wanted to minimize any class disruption or displace the classes to the banquet room until we could not continue specific trades prior to demolition. ORR performed light demolition, forming concrete footings, pouring the concrete pad, installing all the structural steel, most of the roofing structure as well as some of the new interior walls until we were required to relocate classes. Classes moved to the banquet room December 1st. Final demolition was finished in 3 days.

Trilogy is a VERY active adult community. In addition to my responsibilities as Superintendant, I have also addressed tons of questions from the home owners about construction methods, schedule for completion and safety. Since Trilogy is so active, a clean job site is a must. It's important to make sure all paths, walkways and parking stalls do not have obstructions or tripping hazards. Pedestrian control is the most critical. Sometimes ORR has to utilize a handicap parking stall to move material in and out of the site. This of course disrupts several homeowners and they are not shy with their suggestions where I should move the material or equipment. My response is usually "that's a great suggestion; however, I am required to keep the emergency fire lane clear. The association has allowed me to utilize a handicap stall, so I do not block the fire access. The handicap stall is the best place to load and unload material, while keeping safety in mind. I ask if I can be of assistance". The key is to ask with a smile. They usually decline the offer and are OK with the slight inconvenience.

I have been on-site since September. Each project seems to take on its own personality. It's fun to get to know some of the home owners. There are some of them that I see and talk to every day. Lois who leads the charge for the aerobics expansion, Wally the retired concrete contractor, Steve the retired Palm Springs Building Inspector and Bob the stone supplier and fabricator. In general, the home owners have been very positive and enjoy the daily progress and many comment - keep up the good work. The one thing I have learned in the last few months - these ladies lover their aerobics.