Tenant talk [Vol. 8, no. 7 (Winter 2007)]

GEORGIA BUILDING AUTHORITY
TENANT TALK

The Official Newsletter for Tenants of the Georgia Building Authority
Gena Abraham, Executive Director Volume 8, No. 7 Winter Issue

GBA Implements New Customer Service Feedback Program

GBA has implemented a new web-based Customer Service Feedback Program to create and foster a customer-focused culture. Through this system, our customers may now electronically submit comments on our staff and services or easily and quickly report a maintenance issue. The system is easy to use and automatically routes all feedback to the appropriate program areas. The information received is used to address any customer support issues or recognize and acknowledge exceptional performers. Anonymous reports are accepted and ratings are automatically summarized and regularly reviewed by management. The goal of this program is to maintain an awareness of customers' expectations and their actual experiences in order to strive for continuous improvement of our service delivery.
According to Steve Fanczi, Deputy Director of GBA, the Customer Service Feedback Program will establish a baseline of where GBA is in terms of meeting customer expectations and providing good customer services that are "faster, friendlier and easier."

Steve believes that GBA will find that there are areas where they may already be doing a great job, but there is always room for improvement. "Right now, we don't know where we are until we do a formal comprehensive assessment survey", stated Fanczi. "A survey will give us more insight on the details so that we can plan and establish goals in each area." The Customer Service Feedback Program also keeps GBA on target with similar customer-focused initiatives being promoted statewide.
Steve Fanczi considers the Feedback system as GBA's Customer Service "thermometer" to help gauge on-going progress. GBA Customer Service Champion Cecilia Satterfield says that the system, which is already online at www.howsmyservice.spo.ga.gov allows customers and staff to log in feedback from comment cards, letters, phone calls, etc. and will serve as a centralized issue tracking system for GBA. The initial program areas include: Facilities, Access Control, Food Services, and Parking.

The Health Building in Better
"Health"
The Health Building, initially designed in 1957 by architects A. Thomas Bradbury & Associates, is currently being renovated by GBA with the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC) serving as project managers. The renovations include the demolition and abatement of the existing spaces of the Health Building. Renovation of the spaces also include building fixed walls, adding open office furniture, upgrading/replacement of the major heating, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, structural repairs, faade repair and window replacement.
The Architect and Design Team for this project is Stevens & Wilkinson, Stang & Newdow, Inc. and the Construction Manager is Holder Construction Group. The square footage of this renovation totals approximately 195,457 square feet. The actual construction of the project commenced on February 6, 2006

and the completion date is scheduled for March 1, 2007.
Before renovations began to take place, the Architect and Design Team conducted an extensive study/question and answer session (from August 2005 thru January 2006) with the tenants in order to develop a space plan that would overall enhance the facility and include tenants' current and future needs. The tenants of the newly renovated spaces will be the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Technology Authority.
The renovation will be extremely beneficial to both agencies by providing a modern state of the art office building. The Georgia Technology Authority will be able to house most, if not all, of its employees in one building as they will be occupying all but the 5th floor of the building. The estimated cost of the renovation is approximately $28,000,000.00 which is a combination of revenue from the sale of surplus property and tenant appropriated cash funds.

Enhancements at the Capitol
Jeremy Colbaugh Project Manager
The Winter Construction Company
Work on the Capitol's new electrical distribution system has been completed. Over the past several months, crews were busy running new conduit and electrical cable throughout the building infrastructure. New electrical panels, breakers, and transformers were installed as well.
The work presented several challenges. The Capitol is a working facility so transfer of power from the old system to the new required careful coordination, planning, and execution.
The actual power transfers occurred during the weekend with preparatory work taking place during the week. This procedure was implemented to minimize impact to occupants and keep the Capitol functioning during

(New generator at GBA motor pool) (A/V Equipment outlet)

regular business hours. Work also included transferring critical building systems from the existing emergency generator adjacent to the Mitchell Street loading zone to a new, more reliable generator located adjacent the GBA motor pool. This new generator is connected to the new switchgear installed at the north exterior of the Capitol last year. In the unlikely case normal power is lost at the Capitol, the new emergency generator will serve to provide power to the building's critical and life safety systems.
Also part of the project is a new audio visual system at the 2nd Floor Rotunda, north atrium, and south atrium. New floor boxes housing microphone and power connections were tied to existing conduit and routed to new audio visual equipment. The new equipment is located in adjacent Rotunda cells out of view from the public. The new system is an enhancement of modern technology to assist at speaking events and Capitol functions.

Paving the Way
Ronick Joseph Project Engineer
The Winter Construction Company

Replacement of the State Capitol roof has been completed. For the past few months Winter and its trades were busy rerouting ductwork, installing new drains, applying an elastomeric coating along the roof's parapet walls, and laying a new five ply roof membrane system.

Once the new membrane installation was completed, custom pavers were set atop the new roof. In order to accommodate the weight of these pavers, (approx 75 lbs each) new steel members were installed in the Capitol's attic spaces.
For three to four months pavers were delivered to the Capitol and stored along the perimeter drive. In order to minimize the amount of disturbance to the building occupants and surrounding traffic, paver deliveries were scheduled during off hours. The first area that was affected was the northwest quadrant perimeter drive in order to facilitate storage of pavers, a 75 ton crane, and a forklift.

(Five ply roof membrane)

Once the pavers and insulation board were completely installed at the northwest quadrant of the roof, the northwest perimeter drive was reopened for use. During the Replacement Project, similar activities continued clockwise around the Capitol, blocking portions of the perimeter drive as work progressed.

After pavers were installed, new ladders and a catwalk at the House were installed to provide access to the flag pole. All work was completed by the end of 2006.

Pavers stored along perimeter drive

(Structural steel atrium attic space)

(Pavers on roof)

Peachtree Street Bridge Replacement at Five Points

Since July 23, 2006, the Peachtree Street Bridge Replacement Project has been ongoing. The Project consists of 0.19 kilometer (0.12 mile) of bridge reconstruction and approaches on Peachtree Street over the CSX Railroad (between Underground Atlanta and the Five Points MARTA Station). For Tenants of Two Peachtree and those entering Two Peachtree, here are key points of information regarding the project:
Peachtree Street is closed to vehicle traffic between Alabama Street and Marietta Street/Decatur Street and will remain closed until the projected re-open date on Monday, February 26, 2008, or until the project is completed.
Detours will be in place throughout the duration of the project. Message boards located at strategic points around the project will direct traffic through the detours.
Some bus routes have been adjusted. For more information on any changes to the bus routes, visit the web site or call the appropriate transit agency below:
MARTA: http://www.itsmarta.com (404) 848-5000 Cobb Community Transit: http://www.cobbdot.org/cct.htm (770) 427-4444

Gwinnett County Transit: http://www.gctransit.com (770) 822-5010 GRTA Xpress: http://www.xpressga.com (404) 463-4782
Pedestrian detours are also in place.
Peachtree Street entrances to the Two Peachtree Street Building, the Wachovia Bank Building and the Five Points Plaza Building have been closed during construction, however, entrances to those buildings along adjacent streets are available. MARTA's Five Points Station Peachtree Street entrance will remain open throughout construction.
An aesthetically pleasing security fence, as well as concrete barrier, has been placed around the work area. A Five-foot pedestrian passage is being maintained, but limited to around the exterior of the security fence. No pedestrian traffic is allowed underneath the bridge during construction.
Lower Wall Street will be closed throughout the construction phase. A temporary loading dock for the Two Peachtree Street building is being provided on Lower Wall Street on the northwest side of the Peachtree Street Bridge.
If you have questions, please email Susan Washington, GBA Tennant Coordinator at: swashington@gba.ga.gov.

GBA Initiates Side Walk Replacement Project
In December 2006, GBA completed repairs on areas of sidewalk that needed work. Specific locations in which repairs were made include:
1. MLK Jr. Drive various locations beginning at the intersection of Butler Street and proceeding up to the intersection of Washington Street.
2. Capitol Place sidewalks between the Transportation Building and Health Building extending up to the intersection of Capitol Square.
3. Trinity Avenue sidewalks/driveway beginning at Washington Street and proceeding to the courtyard parking of the 244/254 Building.
4. Capitol Avenue sidewalks/driveway beginning at Capitol Square and proceeding down to MLK Jr. Drive.

For maintenance issues contact the Work Control Center at (404)-463-HELP

GBA Facility Snack Bars Get Upgrade
GBA has been actively involved in overseeing the renovations to the Department of Labor (DOL) managed blind vendor snack bars located in GBA facilities. In the Coverdell Legislative Office Building, renovations consisted of painting the entire snack bar and replacing the acoustic ceiling tile. GBA's cleaning division was responsible for cleaning the floor tile and floor base. The DOL replaced the store furnishings (casework and shelving). Now tenants have a much cleaner and brighter store environment.
Renovations for the Transportation Building snack bar started on October 27th and were completed on October 30th. The work included painting all the walls and the ceiling, replacing all the surface mounted fluorescent light fixtures which brighten the store tremendously and replacing the floor base. GBA cleaned the floors as well. DOL replaced the store furnishings (casework, shelving and some equipment).
Finally, the West Floyd Tower snack bar, gift shop and adjacent vending area plans and specifications are currently in the Fire Marshal's office for review and approval. The proposed work consists of adding a new storage area for the snack bar utilizing a portion of the space in the gift shop, changing the layout in the snack bar by adding new walls, replacing casework and shelving, adding new snack bar equipment, upgrading the electric system and adding new reach-in coolers. The work in the adjacent vending area will include reducing the amount of similar soda machines, removing some of the interior walls, repairing the finishes, painting and wall covering.

Tenant FAQs
In this section of Tenant Talk, we try to answer a few of your most Frequently Asked Questions.
1. What vacant space is available on Capitol Hill?
Currently there is no office space available on Capitol Hill. We do have some storage space available on the parking levels of a few buildings. Please send all space requests via written letter to the State Properties Commission (SPC) Leasing Division at One M.L. King, Jr. Dr., SW Suite 204 Atlanta, GA 30334-9004.
2. How can I acquire more space or expand my existing area?
Send a written request from your agency or division head to SPC Leasing, Attention Frank Smith, Assistant Deputy Director at fsmith@gspc.ga.gov or use the main address provided above.
If you have a question that you would like answered in our Tenant FAQ section, please send an email to Ericka Davis, GBA Director of Communication at edavis@gba.ga.gov.

For maintenance issues contact the Work Control Center at (404)-463-HELP

Tenant Talk
A GBA Newsletter
Gena Abraham, Executive Director Ericka B. Davis, Editor/Writer
Susan Washington, Tenant Coordinator 1 MLK Jr., Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334 Phone: 404.656.3253 Fax: 404.657.0337 http://www.gba.ga.gov