WestCon Tribune

April 1998

For the month of April we hope to exercise our potential as a forum to discuss (not argue) a particular project from different points of view... that is, defense, plaintiff, our professions and the public.

Last month's speakers Ken Klein and Carolyn Searls from Simpson Gumpertz and Heger and Bob Diamond from Swinerton Walberg worked on the side of the plaintiffs in the Park Plaza Overcladding repair.

Ms. Searls, Mr. Klein and Mr. Diamond brought to light many of the issues and challenges involved with the design and construction of the recladding of the Pacific Park Plaza condominium building in Emeryville. They are being invited back to be available to best utilize our spectrum of a complete presentation.

Defense members including Westcon's Gary Gray will speak on the architectural and structural aspects of the building and Harv Abernathey, also a member of Westcon will give insight to the windows and calking. Defense attorney Geoff Wood will give background information and an inside look from the defense's legal standpoint. Dick Hopkins, a nationally known exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) expert will be available to explain the elements of the materials used for this particular construction.

It is hoped that process and results, desirable and otherwise, will be the focus.

You can expect to hear some different opinions from what you heard last month. Questions and subsequent discussion should not be argumentative, but rather informative.

The format will vary from our normal "speaker starts at 8:00 pm and concludes at 9:00 pm" with a shorter presentation time of one half-hour. The second half-hour will be left for participation from the assembly.

Those of us who worked on the project as well as those who have questions from last month's meeting, are invited to put a little polish on their questions and bring them up at this question and answer period.

Review MARCH MEETING: Pacific Park Plaza Overcladding Repair Speakers: Carolyn Searls, Ken Klein & Bob Diamond

Carolyn Searls and Kenneth Klein of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc. presented the March meeting on the Pacific Park Plaza Overcladding Repair. In addition to presenting a discussion of the investigation of the initial water infiltration by Mr. Klein and the design of the new exterior cladding by Ms. Searls, Bob Diamond of Swinerton Walberg gave us the inside story of the construction management as the conclusion to this eighteen million dollar, three year construction and design project.

(See our announcement for the April meeting which will be a presentation of the case study of this same project from the point of view of the defense team members.)

Mr. Klein presented slides to show the original conditions of the building facade. His discussion emphasized the investigation of the exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) and also the almost 40 miles of sealant used in the installation of these panels.

Ms. Searls followed Mr. Klein's presentation explaining the design requirements, and how unique solutions to some interesting problems were arrived at that went into the concepts and creation of a new overcladding. She also gave us an understanding of the selection process and how and why the final decision was reached to leave the existing system in place.

Mr. Diamond shared his experiences of the construction and the number of complications that were met and satisfied to complete the project.

A question and answer session followed to produce a lively interchange of ideas and opinions among the speakers and audience.

BULL BOARD

Coming up..... In the hopes to give members more notice and a better opportunity to plan attending the dinner meetings, here are some tentative upcoming topics and speakers:

For May we have asked Bill Hitchcock, a damage claim adjuster and supervisor from one of the industry's largest insurance companies to speak on how we can best work together to accomplish our mutual goals. Mr. Hitchcock is a staff consultant for the Construction Defects Unit at CNA Insurance Companies and is working on putting together a panel of approved CNA consultants and experts for our meeting.

In June we hope to have a guest speaker from ECHO, the organization of homeowners, property managers and the like. They are having their annual fair and seminars Friday, June 5, 1998. More information will be forth coming in our May Tribune.

Coming up as evening speakers in the month of July, we have tentatively planned an informative evening, which should help us become enlightened on materials testing. This presentation should help us better understand how our job samples are analyzed, what testing procedures are involved and how they prove or disprove our assumptions or expectations.

We are also considering a month as a "self-promotion" and "member-awareness" night. This would be an evening to not have a specified speaker but pass the mike around the room to each member wanting to do a little self-promotion. Each member would have from one to three minutes to share information on who they are, what they do, where they do it, etc.

Please feel free to give us some direction as to what you feel is a good idea for our evening meetings. What do YOU want to have as topics for dinner meetings? Call, fax or send in your ideas and suggestions.

Code committee meeting Wednesday, April 15th before dinner Please join us!

Westcon Members....

Do you have short announcements, business items for sale, business updates? Are you looking for a particular answer, service or product?

This space in the Tribune can help get the word out! If you have small messages or announcements you need communicated, call or fax the information to Rikki at (415) 451-4897. Items can be printed on a space availability basis. This is YOUR newsletter. Use your imagination to let it help you with whatever you need.

MAY MEETING AT SPENGER'S! Due to a conflict with an Encinal Yacht Club member event, Westcon's May Dinner Meeting will be held at Spenger's Fish Grotto in Berkeley. The meeting time is the same and the dinner price will remain $30.00 in advance and $35.00 for late pays.

Spenger's is located in Berkeley off of Highway 80. To get there, take the University Avenue exit and go east. Take a left on 6th a left on Hearst and a left on 4th and you are there.

Dinner Attendance

Employees of Westcon Members are invited and encouraged to attend dinner meetings. The price for employees is the regular dinner price of $30.00 or $35.00 if you don't sign up in advance.

APRIL MENU

A. Grilled Rib Eye Steak with creole mushrooms

B. Duckling Bigarde roasted with orange juice and red wine sauce

C. Sweet Potato Pancakes with roasted zucchini, corn and black beans

Names of those attending: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Please put the names and menu choices of those attending and make a notation if you are a guest or first time invitee.

Phone: (415) 451-4897 Fax: (415) 451-4897 Email: rikkif.earthlink.com Post Mail: Westcon, P.O. Box 305, Ross, CA 94957

The cost is $30 per member or invitee ($35 late fee) and $15 for a first time guest. Reservations are due by Friday, April 10, 1998. Calls or faxes received after Monday, April 8th will be assessed the late charge.

RECAP

Westcon made its debut into the product fair circuit last month by purchasing a booth.

Thanks to all of you who stopped by or helped out with the set-up and takedown. A big thank you is in order to the following individuals: Chris Nelson, Roland Vierra, Dan Zbozian, Fred Honeck, Larry Carducci, Steve Shambaugh, Bob Mueller, Bob Alvarado, Jacob Habache, Sharon Waterman, and Charles Salter.

We had a brochure made up for distribution at the Fair. Copies will be available at the sign-in table at our meeting on April 15th. Please take a couple to give to your friends, business associates or someone you know who would be interested in general or interested in the organization as a prospective member.

The response to our presence was a positive one. We represent a rather new segment of the construction industry and, as anything new, reactions to our association were quite varied. From what we experienced, attending our booth at the fair, most of those who stopped to express an interest, or curiosity, agreed with both a need for a group such as ours and our purpose to satisfy that need.

We had two new people attending the March dinner meeting as a direct result of our being at the fair. We also had a referral faxed. We would venture to guess that we have left a stamp of identification in the minds of many more who will be positively influenced the next time they hear Westcon.

CSI Profair

Westcon made its debut into the product fair circuit last month with our booth shown below.

Thanks to all of you who stopped by or helped out with the set-up and takedown. A big thank you is in order to the following individuals: Chris Nelson, Roland Vierra, Dan Zbozian, Fred Honeck, Larry Carducci, Steve Shambaugh, Bob Mueller, Jacob Habache, Sharon Waterman, and Charles Salter.

We had a brochure made up for distribution at the Fair. Copies will be available at the sign-in table at our meeting on April 15th. Please take a couple to give to your friends, business assiciates or someone you know who would be interested in general or interested in the organization as a prospective member.

The response to our presence was a positive one. We represent a rather new segment of the construction industry and, as anything new, reactions to our association were quite varied. From what we experienced, attending our booth at the fair, most of those who stopped to express an interest, or curiosity, agreed with both a need for a group such as ours and our purpose to satisfy that need.

We had two new people attending the March meeting as a direct result of our being at the fair plus a referral faxed. we would venture to guess that we have left a stamp of identification in the minds of many more who will be positively influenced the next time they hear Westcon.