Let’s get the ugly stuff out of the way first. Last Wednesday we got another soaking rain (Good thing, too. The ground was almost dry…). So Thursday morning when I took out the trusty golf cart, things were a little soupy. Before long, I was in a bit of a mess:
Thankfully, my buddies at BR Kreider had big machines and a chain that they could use to extricate me. Thanks again, guys. On the landscaping front, we are continuing to beautify things. Some more maples have been planted:
Along with some Canaan Firs, at the junction of the new driveway and the connector drive:
This week, they came back and mulched some of the trees:
And finished seeding the last patch on the front of the property, where the excess topsoil pile used to be:
The site work is also moving along steadily. They have been finishing the parking lot grading:
And putting in the final storm water structures:
The plan is to stake out the parking lots today, so that they can begin pouring the curbing this week. After that, stone will be laid and final grading will be completed. That will help with many of the muddy areas up there.
They’ve also begun to repair the washout in the spillway that goes into the main basin. It involves grading, laying fabric, and carefully placing boulders in such a way as to contain the water flow and dissipate the energy of the water as it flows through:
Another shot:
Weather-permitting, they’ll begin trenching for the sewer lines today. Some of the trenches are up to 20′ deep, which necessitates using trench boxes to help guard against collapses. Here they are, laying on their sides:
And here are some of the sewer structures, waiting for installation:
Last, but certainly not least–the building. The footers are almost completed now. First, last Thursday’s pours:
Friday’s:
And Monday’s, including the footers for the deck out back:
They’ve also begun to insulate the block:
And the elevator shaft got a few touches. First, it was primered:
Then the waterproofing membrane was applied:
Followed by the insulation:
They’ve also erected the scaffolding on the concrete wall forms, and putting in the final rebar so that they can finish the forms and bearing plates:
Today, the masons should be arriving to lay block up the step footers, and on the front side of the building. Thursday looks like rain; but hopefully we can pour the main wall on Friday. A couple more weeks of detailed foundation work, and then we should be setting steel and getting some discernible structure into place. November and December should see some dramatic progress.
Until next week.
Thanks, Steve, for all your detailed pictures. You’re really bringing us along in all of this. We’ll end up with a clear history of the whole project! Thanks.
I don’t see tire tracks in the mud behind the golf cart. Steve…did you spin out? Tell the truth!
Tom
I had been driving forward. Got stuck. Drove backward.
You see the results
Is there a visibility concern with fir trees at the junction of the new driveway and the connector drive?
Aaron
Great question. We took the sight lines into consideration when planting. Should be good to go.
Love seeing all the pictures!
Thanks Steve for all you are doing with the building.
Steve,
I laughed out loud at the picture in my head of BR Kreider’s big machinery plucking you and your tiny golf cart out of the mud. Thanks for the amusement! And thanks for keeping us all in the loop with the progress of the building; it’s so cool to see it actually being formed!
Sarah
Steve,
Jude can’t stop looking at the picture of the golf cart in the mud. He has asked me at least a hundred questions about it. I tried reading the whole post to him so that he could understand what is happening with the church building, but he kept saying, “Wait–go back up to the picture where the golf cart got stuck!” and then he’d laugh. Oh, to see everything through the eyes of a child–or a 5-year-old boy!
Thanks for the great update! It’s like being there…but without getting muddy.
Julie
Julie
Next time I’ll let Jude drive. I’m sure we’d do better.
I’m glad he enjoyed it.
Steve, Love the pics but let me give a guy’s perspective on the gold cart thing….we either need a 4 wheel drive monster gold cart or a Gator 6 wheel drive atv. Simple solution right. and one question: Has the run off from the bus parking lot been taken into consideration? Wouldn’t want that nice road and landscaping work being washed out.
Vince
If you’re buying, sign me up. I vote for a Gator. As for the water runoff-you wouldn’t believe the amount of engineering and structures that have gone into all that stuff. I think we’re covered.
I finally got up there on Sunday…what a site! I love that we are incorporating so many trees, and the amphitheater looks amazing. I don’t remember the details of the model, so I couldn’t quite invision the building itself. Is the sanctuary going to be on the upper level, or lower level that is just above the amphitheater? It’s going to be the same idea of a bank barn, right?
Danielle
Glad you finally got to see it. Yes, the multi purpose room is on the main level. The lower level is mostly classrooms. The main level is wider, so it will be a nice, big room.
Trench boxes…….Thanks Steve I finally know what they are. I’ve seen them on my road as they are working on it and have wondered what they were.
Your da man Steve! Keep up the great work!