What’s New This Week? 10-01-21 to 10-15-21

Work this past week made the shape of the new church sanctuary visible to passerbys and construction cam watchers alike.   The masons completed work on the block walls along the west and south (front) side of the church.  Work is now proceeding along the east wall.  All six sanctuary windows have now been formed, as has the front door opening and narthex windows.

The other dramatic change this past week was the erection of custom fabricated steel that will support both the organ chamber (which holds thousands of organ pipes) and the (much larger) rear balcony.  Both of these structures were erected inside the existing block walls.  The organ chamber is free standing, resting on steel columns that go directly to cement footings below the lower level floor.  The balcony steel rests on similar steel columns and is also notched into the side of the steel reinforced block walls.  The balcony is a particularly interesting as the steel structure is sloped to allow for tiered pews that will provide better viewing.

In the middle of October, weather permitting, concrete floors will be poured on top of metal decking that rests on the steel structures erected for the organ chamber and balcony.  The balcony work involves forming and pouring concrete tiers (large steps) similar to the process that was recently completed for the front chancel steps.

Less visible is the waterproofing work that is underway along the south wall of the office wing.  The lower level rooms below the 1950’s office corridor have historically had water problems.  By excavating this foundation and applying all new waterproofing materials, installing drain tiles and laying pea stone, we hope to improve the situation in these lower level rooms.