The exterior shell of the buildings is closing up. Permanent electrical power has been brought to the building, and the emergency generator has been set in place in the nearby Campus Square Garage. The goal is to pressurize and provide temporary heating to the interior by Thanksgiving. Check out the construction Web cam to see how far construction has progressed.

Some of the current completion figures for the exterior building envelope are:

• Air and vapor barrier : 98%
• Brick : 90%
• Exterior framing and sheathing of 'A' wing (the portion along Packer Ave) - 95%
• Aluminum window frames and glazing : 35%
• Wood roof decking on 'A' wing - 50%
• Elevator in 'B' wing - 65%

For the interior floor levels in 'B' and 'C' wings:

• Interior framing : 95%
• Rough-ins for electrical, sprinkler, ducting, plumbing and piping : 85%
• Drywall : 45%
• Spackling and painting : 15%
• Acoustical tile grid : 15%
• Laboratory casework (cabinets, countertops, etc.) and fume hoods have begun arriving and installation has begun.

In the immediate weeks ahead on the exterior:

• The main stair towers for 'B' and 'C' wing will be fully clad with brick;
• The aluminum window frames and glazing will be completed on the east elevation of 'B' wing;
• The aluminum and glass curtain walls will be installed on the west and south faces of the atrium which connects 'B' and 'C' wings;
• The HVAC unit will be mounted on 'A' wing.
• The stone work for the south facade of 'A' wing will begin.

And on the interior:

• The various rough-ins of utilities, spackling, and painting will continue to move forward up the various levels of the building;
• The acoustical tile grid will continue being installed;
• Ceramic tile will be installed in the toilet rooms;
• Large, built-in lab equipment will be installed, including the cold rooms and the shielded room.