Upper left, Russell Harper holds the Temporary Certificate of Use and Occupancy issued 11/21; upper right, the stained glass window is back!!
Below left, workers place wooden pipes in antiphonal box; Below right, sound console in the balcony.

The following are additional pictures from more recent construction: (click on the picture for a larger version)

Excavation began April 26, 2001, along the northern and western portions of the new building. More digging was done for interior and eastern footings. Rebar was set in place to bolster the concrete which was poured around it May 4. On May 7, concrete foundation blocks were delivered along with mortar mixing equipment. Also, the footing forms were removed where concrete had been poured. On May 8, the first concrete blocks were laid along a portion of the northern footings. Gravel was placed on the ground within the walls on May 16 for a base for the concrete pad which will be poured there later. Early in the morning of May 19 a thunderstorm dumped a lot of rain on the site and resulted in some delay. The rain continued almost daily for more than a week.

May 31-June 1 the grading between the sanctuary and the new building was done. Foundation construction has continued. June 8 saw the beginning of erecting scaffolding along the northern and eastern sides of the Family Life Building. These were used to construct the masonry walls. Some steel beams were delivered mid July. Gravel was spread on the ground as a base for the concrete pad. The first bricks were laid June 14. The block was laid high on the east wall, to more than 50 courses. Workers were laying block 6 days a week. Scaffolding was moved to the western walls.

More gravel was spread over the ground July 13 in preparation for pouring the concrete floor. Some steel beams arrived were erected. The first roof trusses were placed 9/5. July 16 marked the beginning of the ring road around the eastern and northern sides of the property. The playground equipment was moved and the trees were taken down. July 20 saw delivery of water pipes, concrete block, erection of steel, hauling away dirt, moving scaffolding, and finishing most of the eastern wall. The highest part of the northern wall was finished 7/24. Scores of truckloads of dirt have been removed from the area of the former playground area to bring it down to grade for the circumferential road and parking. The forms for the tops of the windows in the family life center were put in place. Steel beams and other supports for the second floor were delivered 8/28 and installation began 8/29.

The first concrete for the ground floor was poured in the northern part of the Family Life Center on 9/11 and much of the main floor was poured 10/3. More was poured in the office and music areas. Curb and gutter was begun 9/25, as was exterior brick along the eastern wall. A tall interior wall was built from metal studs on the second floor 10/11. Most of the concrete has been poured in the Family Life Center. Two more parts to do there. The drive from River Road was covered with stone 10/12. Paving to be done shortly. Walls rose in the area between the Family Life Center and the north end of the Sanctuary. Steel roof trusses were erected on the west side of the new building and wooden ones with roof decking on the north end. Decking on the main roof was completed 11/17. Some roof structures still need to be be installed. Plumbing, hvac and electrical rough-in have been done. HVAC and other types of equipment have been delivered and placed in the building.

On January 7, melting snow penetrated the roof of the existing office building and caused damage inside to several rooms in the western end of that building. The roof had been partially removed in order to connect the existing building to the new construction. Most of the exterior block walls on second floor of office area reached max height on 1/12/02. Jan 15 more concrete was poured in atrium and library areas. Wall studs were in place in the adult class areas on the second floor by 1/25, and roofing structures over that began 1/28. Roof trusses and decking were in place over the music suite by 2/8. Roof trusses also were in place above classrooms on second floor by 2/8, and much sheetrock had been hung in part of the youth area. Saturday 2/9 work was done on forms for rounded windows.

The weeks of 2/4 - 2/15 added roof over music room and over new sunday school space and more work on the atrium, and week of 2/11-15 marked the beginning of constructing the conference room. The week of 2/18-22 included taping of sheetrock, removal of roof tiles from office, window lentils on west side, roof work above new classrooms on second floor, placing of more door and window frames, placing of first new roof tiles on the existing office, creation of space for cornerstone.

The week of 2/25 - 3/1 nearly finished the wall around the conference room, brought the pouring of the conference room floor, began installing of roof shingles, brought paint to inside surfaces in the Family Life Center and the next to last portion of the roof went up. During March 4-9, the footings were dug for the columns to cupport the drive-under roof, more painting was done inside, workers began readying window areas to receive windows, and deop ceiling framework began. March 11-15 marked the placement of several windows, more painting, more roof work, stage platform beginning, and the steel supports for the drive-under were erected. March 25-29 the roofers began laying roof tiles on the main building's west side, the roof decking was completed for the conference room and the drive-under, plumbing work and fire suppression work continued, more windows were placed, bathroom wall tiles were installed.

April 1-5 the west side of the FLC roof was tiled, much grading was done around north of property, dirt was added along both sides of sanctuary as base for expansion, construction trailers were moved. April 8-12 brought roof tiling on the east side of the new building, stage platform was concreted, utility work preparatory to sheetrocking in office area and class rooms. April 15-19 the east roof was almost finished, site work/grading was mostly done, bathroom floor tiles were laid, interior windows overlooking large room were installed, office areas were largely sheetrocked, existing brick wall around heating/cooling for sanctuary was taken down to prepare for removing it. April 22-26 sheetrock work was done in office area, roofing continued, curb and gutter was installed along north property line and along west side of new building, several doors were hung, concrete was poured in music library and kitchen, many utility trades worked in the adult classroom area.

April 29-May 3 sheetrock began in the adult classroom area on the second floor; office area sheetrock was taped, mudded, and partially painted; roofing continued, nearing completion; much curbing was poured and gravel applied along northern and eastern parts of property; kitchen tile was laid; bathroom fixtures and lockers installed; projections screens hung; facia pieces installed.

May 6-11 saw bathroom stalls installed, basketball goals were hung, the stucco-like finish was applied, room doors were hung upstairs, sheetrock in the adult class area was taped and mudded, more sprinkler work was done, the old Sanctuary boiler was removed, electricity was switched over to new system, skylights installed, roofing neared completion, more ceiling lights and air vents installed, drop ceiling frames were hung in many parts of the building. May 13-20 we saw new curbing along the west side, a sidewalk along the north side, more fire suppression work, the roofing was basically completed, last windows in the cupola, more floor tiling, sheetrock finishing, painting, hvac began operation, beginning of final grading, and much more. May 20-24 more sidewalks were poured and more curbing installed near west entrance; window framing was begun; bathroom stalls installed upstairs; sprinkler work about finished; more ceiling tile frames installed; sheetrock work in foyer; painting of walls; installation of many door frames.

From May 27-31 concrete was poured under the drive through and in east side sidewalks; ceiling tiles and room dividers were installed; more sheetrock was taped and mudded and other was painted; the big floor was smoothed and cleaned for the new floor surface; many doors were hung; more windows and doors were framed.

During June 3-7 the main floor surface was laid, there was much painting and some concrete was poured for sidewalks

June 10-14 saw the oak floor installed on the platform, cabinets and sinks in bathrooms, bleachers installed, brick sidewalk work in front of the building, exterior window framing, and tile floor in youth room.

June 17-21 the speaker system was installed, several sidewalks were poured and one was repaired, and a road was paved around the north side of the property.

During June 24-28 we saw carpet laid in the library and also shelves brought in, baseboard and cabinets installed on the second floor, beginning of the risers in the choir practice room, and the chandelier in the foyer.

The week of July 1-5 the tile floor was laid in the foyer, the platform curtain was installed, more work on the choir risers, dumpster pads poured, other concrete work done, and many small details pertaining to utilities.

From July 8-12 much detail work in the conference room, wall paper upstairs and in the office area, much painting, some ceiling tile in the foyer.

The week of July 15-19 a temp construction wall was erected at the south end of the commons area, shelves were delivered to the recreation office, much painting was done, carpet in youth areas upstairs. July 22-26 saw more painting, the front doors were installed, cabinets put in the youth music room, dumpster walls, much work in the conference room, including the table, ceiling tiles in the commons, room signage carpet in adult classes upstairs, kitchen equipment installed.

From July 29-August 2, carpet was laid in office areas, halls, and choir robing rooms, the round exterior window finally were placed, decorative molding over the front door in the commons area, paper runners were placed on the hall carpets for protection, additional decking in the choir room to support tile, interior round window moldings in the commons area.

The week of August 5-9 most of the tile was laid in the choir room, chairs were delivered, the wood rail was placed on the upstairs railing, outside lights were installed, replacement cabinets in the rec. office, the exterior molding was installed on the conference room windows, Rev. Spence's shelves and cabinets were begun, the lowest section of downspouts were added, and the decorative columns were begun.

From August 12-16 cabinet and shelf work was done in the hall by the conference room, the top and side windows were installed at the front door, the exterior wood was painted at the conference room and the commons chandelier was sent back for corrections, more sinks and cabinets were installed and the reception desk was built in the commons area, dumpster pad concrete was poured, the rest of the edge strips were placed on the choir risers, and more painting was done.

August 17 was a church-wide work day during which the playground equipment was moved to the new area and mulch was spread over the whole playground area as the temporary area was cleaned up, many sidewalks were power washed, windows were washed, much tree and shrub pruning was done, and a lot of weeding was done around bushes.

August 19-26 the rest of the front door glass was installed as was the wood work around the front door, and more commons wall paper, Rev. Spence's cabinets were stained, counter tops were placed, there was a demonstration of floor lines for various sports in the main room, fences were erected on the playground, the decorative rail above the drive-through was installed, more painting was done.

The week of August 26-31 the chiller was removed from in front of the new building and the last support column was placed, choir risers were placed on the stage, the sanctuary pews were removed, hvac adjustments continued during the week, the counter was placed in the library, kitchen cabinets were mounted on the walls, telephones were installed, decorative column work continued, much painting and cleaning was done, desks and credenzas were delivered, the piano and organ were moved to the new building, brick work was done under the drive-through, sod was laid near the building, the pulpit and chairs were placed on the stage, some door and drawer pulls were installed, and on August 31 many tables and decorations were placed on the first floor and the first placing of the chairs was done for the first service on September 1.

There will continue to be much confusion, and traffic through the campus will change again as the circumferential road will continue around the perimeter of the property. The drive and parking are paved from River Road almost to the northern property line.

When you see little flags of any description anywhere on campus, they indicate locations of utilities or property corners or building corners. If any of the flags are removed, it could result in utility damage and additional cost. Please take all possible care to leave them in place.

We will keep you apprised of the construction and we will continue to post pictures of the work site from time to time, generally several times a week. The date of each picture will show if you hold your cursor over the picture area.

In 1999, a committee was appointed to study the feasibility of additional buildings and this led to a plan for construction.

In 2000, the plans were substantially complete and the Congregation voted to proceed to raise pledges for construction, which was estimated to require about nine million dollars.

A building fund committee was constituted and through its efforts about 8 million dollars have been pledged.

Ground breaking ceremonies were held October 15 immediately after the 11:00 service. There were delays while the Building Planning Committee negotiated contracts and made other plans.

Grading work commenced March 21, removing the surface where the tennis courts once were. The gravel beneath the old courts was removed and stored for other use. Many truck loads of dirt have been removed, with many more to go.

(New photos coming weekly!!)