REPORT OF ACTIVITY - NUMBER ONE - MAY 1970 through JUNE 2016
history 1969 to 1972, part III:
after the earthquake - reconstruction, finishing and opening
The pre-fabricated, manufactured and factory finished materials and components for the modular school units, had of necessity to be transported to the sites from a distance. As such, these materials had to conform to the size limitations for all of the different modes of transportation from the source to the site. Certain locally available materials such as water, sand and stone, aggregate for concrete, some cane products and other materials and equipment, didn’t necessarily require long distance transportation but still had to be transported from the source to the site.
1970 post earthquake, anti-seismic, prefabricated, modular school construction.
The engineered structural framework consisted of perforated steel angle irons, of the type used generally to make book cases and storage units. Bolted together and braced, the steel angles and other bolted in components formed a strong yet flexible, anti-seismic, one storey structure. The design of the modular units with non-load-bearing exterior and interior walls provided a great deal of flexibility in layout. The rigidity the non-bearing interior and exterior partitions provided to the structure was critical to the performance of the structure. In a seismic event the damage and/or collapse of some or all of the non-bearing partitions did not cause the collapse of the structure itself.
At right and below, construction at Huambacho el Arenal, 1970.
Prefabricated modular windows and doors were bolted into the structure at locations as required by the particular school program, site conditions and orientation, with the only restriction to their size, quantity and location being the amount of wall space available. Lightweight roofing panels and elements were attached to the steel truss framework for protection from the sun and the weather. Plumbing and electrical components, etc., were procured both locally and from a distance. Cement was combined at the site with water, and aggregate, i.e., sand, and stone to form concrete for footings, slabs, masonry units or perhaps adobe for the non-bearing exterior walls and interior partitions .
For about two years Bob both actively participated in and managed the construction and development of the projects through to completion and occupancy, no mean task. He also worked in community relations, site selection, coordination with various authorities and agencies, the logistics of moving materials, all essential to the construction of the projects. Because of the nature of the design, his work in the construction included monitoring the laying out of the footings, assembly of columns, structure and roofs, as well as participating in the various methods of assembly. A total of about fourteen projects were successfully completed in rural and remote areas, using various combinations of the module adapted for the numbers of classes, as well as layout configuration with adjustments of the foundations for the terrain at the particular sites.
1970 Site preparation and final finishing of the new school in preparation for the opening.
In 1972 after Bob completed his share of the projects and his Peace Corps tour, he passed the work on to new PCV’s before returning home with his bride of three months, Sue. Bob has returned to Perú various times with his family, starting early in 2008 and later with John in May of 2008. They have reconnected, founded PCD and renewed with their experiences in Perú, especially with the people of the villages with whom they had worked, who so warmly received them.
Above and to the right, grand opening of a new school.
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