Meow Mix - Commercial Space Conversion in W MA

WOW! :shock: I don't think I've ever encountered a thread where all the "BIG GUNS" have all "come to the same PARTY! " :lol: This looks like it's going to be a very exclusive-exciting project. I look forward to seeing the progress of your studio as it unfolds Jon.

frostgfx wrote:

John thinks I might be able to use the entire 14' 7" of ceiling height... which would be awesome considering the size of the space... It will have a 'retro' look to it with the steel beams, pipes, etc. showing. This way I can save some $$$ by not having to add downward facing sprinkler pendants... The downside is that I have to caulk every stinking foor board joint in the existing ceiling, something like 1,000 linear feet with cracks ranging from 1/4" to almost 1" wide... Then add 3 layers of fire Rock to the floor boards...

Jon, I doubt that this works from an isolation point of view - the steel beams are a problem as well as the pipes (which will transmit sounds from your space through the building and vis-versa). You're probably going to still need to isolate your ceiling from the existing structure - but - done correctly, you will still get almost what you have now - not a whole lot of loss. Rod

Stan: Just my luck...location, location, location. Since this is probably the only studio I'll ever build I want to get it done right the first time. I have been out of the business for close to 21 years now, so the technology and practices have changed tremendously. I am like a virgin on her third date. Having Rod come by was worth every penny spent... he saved my roughly 10K with one visit!!! The difference between cored block and solid block is a huge in terms of isolation (MASS) and my mason didn't see anything wrong with using cored block. Rod showed up just before they were going to start laying block. A days delay...AOK. John's designs are wonderful. I visited this forum a few months back and then visited his website. I tried to find others closer to me in NY, MA and VT but they wouldn't touch the project (too small they said). John was happy to find time in his oh so busy schedule for my project and here we are about 2 months later with first & second draft flat plans. I am amazed at how much functionality can fit into 1,200 sq. ft! With some minor changes, we should be working on section plans shortly. So it's just my luck to have all the 'big guns' working on my project. I look forward to many postings and input from everyone on the forum. I have enjoyed wathcing as others progress from an idea to a finished project. Namaste, Jon

March 8 --- This week has seen real tangible progress! Started the week with moving the power panel; Finishing the South wall egress door RO and the 29' West Wall with solid blocks; The detail photo shows what the North wall will include after removing the existing windows & frames and replacing with solid concrete block walls. The block will be laid flush with the existing brick wall (white). There is a 2' gap then the 7" steel beam. The North wall will be built to soffit around the 4" drain from the Apollo Grill next door and above me. This air space should help with isolation quite a bit. The photo with the rock hammer shows the futility of trying to break what you think is concrete and turns out to be granite... 4 hours to do the little damage I could to one bollard. I called Witch Equipment and they are going to come out next month (when the dumpsters get moved for access) to cut the two bollards of granite and saw cut 2' off the right side of the ramp to make more room for the Drum booth and Iso booth. Closet/storage along the other side of the skinnier ramp for mic stands, cables, coats, etc. The ceiling photo shows the detail of the ceiling above and the layout for determining ceiling height somewhat. The floor boards are 2.5" thick; the steel beam is also supporting a timber that runs from 6" thick show here to 4" at the North wall for drainage of the roof structure above. It looks as though the finished ceiling height will be somewhere between 9' 10" and 10' 4". I have to allow access and a plywood deck for sprinkler servicing down the road... sof figured to put in 3/4" plywood decking on top of the TrusJoists spanning the main room. With 3 layers of 5/8" fire rock. I am Ok with the lowered deiling height. What does everyone else think??? More photos of door install and sprinkler changeover coming soon. Namaste, Jon

March 8 Continued... Weds. was demo day for the Fire Door on the South wall so the new steel security doors could be installed. Tim from TradeMark Custom Installations did the door work. Couldn't meet a finer guy... even let me help out a bit. I also took the time to chisel out the spill humps in the floor Still a but to do here and there... Somehow I can't help thinking about Michelangelo... Weds afternoon and Thursday saw the MJ Moran sprinkler crew cutting and threading 20 new heads and downward pendants with temp plugs. Once the final ceiling height is known and walls erected, the guys will come back in to cut the pipes back and install the heads and eschuceons (sp) once the drywall is in place. Friday is 'get out of here' day so the Abide Environmental folks can remove all the asbestos from the old steam and hot water lines. I'll try to get some pics before they get started. Probably not everyone has to deal with this aspect of demolition. Fortunately, the building owner has to foot the bill for this part! Issue of the Week: Does anyone have experience with isolating an exhaust fan (Large/Heavy/Noisy)? The restaurant above and adjacent to the Northwest corner of my space is creating 30dB increase in lower frequency noise infiltration. I assume it is vibrating the whole roof structure. Wondering if there is a reasonable solution to creat greater vibration control? Any ideas? Bueller? Bueller? Have a nice weekend. More pics the end of next week. You won't recognize the place I assure you... Jon

frostgfx wrote:

Issue of the Week: Does anyone have experience with isolating an exhaust fan (Large/Heavy/Noisy)? The restaurant above and adjacent to the Northwest corner of my space is creating 30dB increase in lower frequency noise infiltration. I assume it is vibrating the whole roof structure. Wondering if there is a reasonable solution to creat greater vibration control? Any ideas? Bueller? Bueller?

Jon, everything depends on the fan itself - weight - as well as frequency........ The solutions availible are quite wide depending on the need......... Mason Industries is one source...... For examples: http://209.200.80.33/html/spring_mounts_bulletin.htm http://209.200.80.33/html/mas_data_sheet.htm http://209.200.80.33/html/114_datasheet_ds21w.htm http://209.200.80.33/html/slf2_data_sheet.htm Anway - I'm sure you get the idea - so first gather all of the physical data about the fan itself- and then after putting that together - you can take some pictures of the assembly- and contact Mason Industries direct - they will be hapy to guide you to the right product for your application. Rod

Rod: Thanks for the info on Mason Ind. Will get some photos next week and try to determine the weight of the unit and it's current mounting. John has the final Flat plan worked out except for moving a door 18"... By months end, I should have plans to put out to bid!!!! Namaste, Jon

March 14th --- Finally reached the end of Demolition... Now the pros come in to remove old steam pipes which weigh something like 100#/ft... and the asbestos guys have to come back to finish where they hastily stopped on Friday last. The masons will then come back to finish blocking my walls and doorway frames. concrete fill the old drains... Just to give folks some idea of costs to date; $5,000 for first, last security and 6 months reduced rent during renovations; $18,500 for solid block walls on South Wall door' East Wall two areas; Window bays on North wall and 3 old duct holes on North wall; 29' x 15.6' West wall; fill in misc holes around all walls from demo'd pipes and such; $4,600 for 6' and 3' Entrance & Egress door systems prepped for alarm/access system; $6,000 for redesign, removal of all heads and installation of new upward facing sprinkler heads and downward sprinkler pendants to finish flush with new ceilings. Removal of Sprinkler Test Valves to new location out of my space; relocation of main 4" waste line from Apollo Grill to the other side of East wall...; $4,400 for Alarm/Access/Camera systems; $2,800 for Electrical 100A service panel install and demo of old electrical/lighting systems; Installation of outlets for mailing area lighting, mailing machinery circuits and inserter circuit - 20A 220v; $1,000 for new 14' custom work platform for mailing machines; $225 concrete cutting/rock hammer demo of 2' width from rear ramp; $500 misc tools for demo; ladder and rock hammer rentals ; $1,000 in Dumpster fees for demo'd materials... not much left to dump until new construction starts....................... I don't want to know at this moment what the total is... so you can do the math yourselves...I know it's something like $43,000 to date....OUCH. But you know what, I've had good luck with weather, contractors, no disasters (to date) and only great energy and positive intentions guiding me to the place I am today. John S. is working hard on the final flat plans, and by months end, I should have plans to put out to bid... I'm making my list, checking it three times, and trying to come up with specs, wall by wall for the framing, rocking/insulation, etc. Rod G. said he'd come back up to check the plans from John S. for code and ADA compliance, and meet with prospective contractors so they know exactly what I am expecting of them in the build process. I will help where I can, however, I have neither the time or experience with anything other than audio/video/MM wiring and systems integration. I'll post pics and the final flat plan from John S. when I get back from NJ... My friends house burned down and I'm trying to lend her some support and ideas about getting her and her kids lives back in order. Have a great week, enjoy the summer like weather... Namaste, Jon

WOW! It's been awhile since I posted on the progress at Meow Mix... John S has been hard at work on the final changes to the design and here is the jpeg of the final plan, save for a door moved in the 'flop room'... Each room is independent and the floors will be either cork or hardwood. I really enjoy the sight lines and the ingenious storage John incorporated into the CR walls. No wasted space in this CR! This coming week the last of the steam/water pipes will be demo'd, the East and West walls will be completed and the doors/alarm system sealed and activated. Now I have to come up with another 10K for the North wall demo and block wall construction. Final building plans should be ready by months end to send to the Building Department for permitting, as well as to Rod Gervais for code/ADA compliance. The building owner wants to have his architect go over them as well... With lots of luck and positive intentions, the studio construction should begin sometime in May! Enjoy the Spring weather and everyone get to building!!!! Namaste, Jon Frost

Aloha Jon, Congrats on your progress, it's looking really good! Looking forward to your build diary pics. :wink: Aloha 8)

Great progress! Exciting! :mrgreen: I can only imagine the stress! Hey, I'm sorry I missed your post from a coyple of weeks ago... What was the cause of the fire at your friend's house, Was anyone hurt (physically)? --Keith :mrgreen:

Thanks for asking... Yes, there is way too much stress... that's why I am happily following my doctors advice... "Better living through chemistry". By the end of this week, I will be out of money for the time being. The final plans, permitting & bidding process will take a few weeks. I want to find a GC who has previous studio build experience (and can prove it) and bid the job competitively. I am OK to help with smaller projects like the insulation and twining, humping in sand and supplies when needed, going for pizza, etc. There is some serious time involved in the CR build with all the compound angle cuts, etc. All the walls will be built first, then the floor of each room has to be leveled with a laser and laid due to the uneven concrete floor and the fact that it was previously used for chemical storage, so ther are angled floors for drainage... Nothing to serious... the greatest change is 2" in the back corner of the drum booth and where the computers are stored in the rear right corner of the CR. There will be a steel beam at the front of the CR which will "fly' the monitors and hold the weight of the CR ceiling and for the live room. Remember that there has to be enough support above the studio structure for a man to crawl around to service the fire sprinklers in the void space above... It's the code around here... so more $$$. I am comtemplating that building costs are going to run around $200-225/sq. ft. About the fire in NJ. Everyone was out when it happened... Seems a memorial candle was lit, put out and reignited sometime after the owner had left... Might be able to rebuild from the frist floor walls up>>> Maybe. I'll upload some pix after Weds. when the masons come to finish the east and west block walls. Aloha and Namaste, Jon

frostgfx wrote:

Once that is complete, the plans should be ready to send to the Building Department for their OK as well as to Rod Gervais for code/ADA compliance.

Jon, get me floor plans sooner rather than later - there are some accessibility issue I can alread see - and you're better off making everythig right before the building dept gets them. Nothing really serious - place looks beautiful - but some American specific oddities........ no where else in the world.................. Sincerely, Rod

Here are some pics from the pipe cutting that took place today and will finish tomorrow morning... love the sparks... The first shot is cutting a pipe that was filled with Pine Sol type cleaner in it... Stinks to high heaven! The white pipes I cut myself a couple of weeks ago with a Sears Saws All... Need to remember to buy METAL blades! Oops. The crew doing the pipe cutting was a blast to watch and work with... They are working all over the building demoing old conveyors and such... so this was an easy day for them. Tomorrow, the Asbestos guy comes back (for the thrid time) to take off 6" he forgot about last time... yeah right... can you say $$$. No suits, no masks, etc... I guess OSHA might be interested in pics if I had any... The mason will finish up the block walls and then the alarm guys come to activate the system. By weeks end, I should be able to get my shop set up to process mailings --- and make some $$$ to pay for all this mess. Next job is filling in the three window bays with solid block... another $7,400.00 OUUCH! I'll bring down my drum kit and some recording gear... to test out the 'before' acoustics... and see if I can piss off my neighbors... LOL. The Fire department and the building inspector were through my space and the rest of the basement dwellers areas today for their annual inspecition. Passed with flying colors and have to obtain an occupancy permit for $40 and my d/b/a certificate at the clerk's office next week. Then I am all set for finishing the studio plans and getting permits. The building inspector also told me that I only need one entrance to the space that is ADA compliant, so that will be the double door into the mailing space and then a single heavier door into the studio, so I can keep the ramp as is... Yee haaa... Jon

More Photos of the pipe cutting

nice.....................

here's a walkthrough of the design for you all to view. The wall treatments aren't finalised yet as we are still working on the general layout, ceiling heights etc. http://johnlsayers.com/Stuff/meow_mix.wmv cheers john

Ok all I can say is WOW. The walk through was great. John well done. I need one of those for my site. better and more comprehensive than a video. All the ins and outs Tom

(since when's this thread sticky?)

(Not sure... Must've been done by mistake somehow. I fixed it.) Awesome pictures!!!!! :twisted: --Keith :mrgreen:

It's REALLY amazing how technology is so available and can be "filtered" into so many areas, including Studio Design! That was r-e-a-l nice John. I'm just curious though... How long did it take to put that together?

John Sayers wrote:

here's a walkthrough of the design for you all to view. The wall treatments aren't finalised yet as we are still working on the general layout, ceiling heights etc. http://johnlsayers.com/Stuff/MeowMix.wmv cheers john

John, that is absolutely magnificent........... nothing shy of a beautiful studio, my hat is off to you sir.............. Sincerely, Rod

Genius! 8) :twisted: :D --Keith :mrgreen:

camistan wrote:

It's REALLY amazing how technology is so available and can be "filtered" into so many areas, including Studio Design! That was r-e-a-l nice John. I'm just curious though... How long did it take to put that together?

camistan - I have the Pro6 version of Sketchup - The paid for version. ;) It has the added option of creating a video of the page sequences. YOu can determine how many seconds between each page and whether to pause at each page etc. There are a variety of different codecs for generating the video. I just made it a small file for web posting but I could have made it full size, 24fps ending up with a 100meg+ AVI file. Thanks guys for you kind comments. Jon really has a great building for a studio, plenty of ceiling height and only one damn pole to get around. The additional space in the building is for Jons current business but eventually he can expand the main studio and incorporate that space as well. Having Rod available with his vast experience is also a great bonus for me and for Jon. This is a serious studio guys :) cheers john

John, This is an impressive presentation of a very nice studio. Congratulations. And for whatever part Rod is involved in it, congratulations as well My utmost respect for this.