On Sunday, June 6, the congregation ended it’s groundbreaking worship services by singing “The Church’s One Foundation (is Jesus Christ her Lord)”. The very next morning workers began to dig the perimeter footings and, more noticeably, pour the 18 large concrete pads that will anchor the steel columns that will form the new sanctuary.
With excavation activities nearly complete, another crew of workers began the process of building the sanctuary foundations. The initial work is focused on two things:
One new piece of equipment that construction cam watchers may have noticed is a large concrete pumping truck. The truck’s unique feature is a boom that extends more than 100′ in length. The boom allows concrete to be poured directly into the various pads, footings and walls, or into smaller, mobile equipment as necessary. At the end of the boom a wide hose delivers the concrete to the exact location. The boom and hose fill is controlled remotely by the operator down inside the excavated space. The pumping truck itself does not carry concrete. Concrete can be loaded continuously from supply trucks that connect in tandem with the pumping truck.
The extended boom from the pumping truck fills an anchor bolt pad.
The support pads are aligned on both the east and west sides of the sanctuary.
The sides of the excavated site are beveled for the safety of all workers.
Orange spray paint (just left of the pads) marks the footings location.
Cement mixers line-up to supply the pumping truck with concrete.
Each concrete pad is reinforced with a steel lattice.
The concrete pads each contain a steel plate with four large bolts.
Unneeded soil fill is trucked off site to make room for future material deliveries.
The action of the pumping truck is controlled by the operator (in orange).
The parallel rows of concrete pads are clearly visible from above the town square.
Trenching along the music wing begins. Some water was identified.
The temporary access ramp is visible along the east wall of the excavated site.
