4 WEEKS TO GO...PROJECT LIMPOPO

With only 4 weeks to go the pressure is mounting and the stress levels are increasing. I've already heard of one of the 5th years experiencing insomnia...William get some sleep!!

However, last week a lot of progress was made. Firstly, the design was originally created on a 2.4m grid to allow for layout of superstructure, heavyweight walls and modular lightweight walls. This works on the method that a standard sheet of material (8x4) is used as a modular element. It was decided that to improve this grid it would be expanded to 2.5m. This now allows for ceilings to be laid from above (rather than the awkward get the board on the back and struggle manoeuvre we experienced last time!) and also allows for a bit of flexibility when building the lightweight wall cassettes. In other design changes or developments, the gabion (heavyweight walls) finally gained a price and we can now budget them in and they were confirmed to sit in line with the trusses rather than infront. This does mean a few more details to draw but the aesthetic is a lot more pleasing.

The detailed drawings are coming along smoothly and all packages are coming together. The groundworks drawings were sent out last week to the contractor in South Africa to price up the clearing works and laying of the slab. We're still waiting to hear back from this, hopefully won't be too long as its due to be laid in just over 2 weeks!

In other news, fundraising this week received a major boost. The 5th year team designed the annual Architecture Hoodie and have been generating orders left, right and centre. All orders are now in with a total of 275!!! Think that has beaten the past 2 years records! This should gain about £2500 for Project Limpopo if all orders are paid for, a massive congrats to the 5th years! and the hoodies look awesome too, check out the image below.

Annual Architecture Hoodie 2011

The 2nd years have also been rather busy ordering the team kit which includes a rugby jersey, polo shirt, a navy t-shirt and a white t-shirt. All are being printed with Project Limpopo and Nottingham logos. However the white t-shirt is being sponsored by K2 Consultancy who are also generously funding our PPE clothing as well as the t-shirt. Over the next couple of weeks every team member will receive a small kit of PPE gear from K2 which includes a printed high vis vest, printed hard hat, goggles and gloves. Keep your eye out for an update of me looking 'good' in my safety gear!

Think that's about enough for now, in the next week there is quite a lot going on. On Thursday we're hoping to review the initial budget and produce a construction programme. Depending on the outcome of these tasks there may be value engineering involved too. K2 Consultancy will be on the phone to offer some help if we need it hopefully!

I hope you are enjoying the blog so far and if you would like to know anymore please don't hestitate to get in touch on h.jones@k2consultancy.com and if you would like to donate to this worthy cause please visit www.justgiving.com/Helen-Projectlimpopo.


All the best,


Helen