Construction Update: Week of March 17, 2008

-- by Chris Munson, Director of Support Services

You may have noticed our Easter banner facing 183 this week. Thanks goes to VRW Construction Company and the iron workers for putting it up. The new building is already starting to work for the kingdom, providing a place for us to hang billboard-size notices to attract the attention of passers-by to this church on the corner.  Be sure and invite your friends this Sunday!

Probably the most noticeable change this week is the removal of most of the tree protection fencing outside of the fully fenced construction site. Nearly all utility work has been completed, and the landscapers have been tasked by our contractor to have things cleaned up and as nice as possible for Easter. It won’t be perfect, but it will be a lot better than what we've seen recently.

Among the many details that were attended to this week: The forms for the arches are completed and the concrete was poured Thursday morning. Small sections of the forms will come off on Monday, if the weather cooperates, and new forms and modifications will be added to prepare for the final concrete pour on the building entry.

As I write this on Wednesday, March 19, the first steel erection inspection is scheduled for tomorrow. Roof decking will eventually cover much of what will be examined; this inspection allows installation of the decking to proceed.  Bundles of roof decking already are being lifted up onto the trusses, in preparation for the opportunity to commence installation.

The iron workers lost most Tuesday with light rain early in the morning, wind throughout the day, and then heavy rain starting at about 2 pm. The superintendent told me that he was on a project at St. Edward’s University a few years ago, when intermittent rain was playing havoc with the construction schedule. He suggested to his contacts that the St. Ed’s board pray for a hole in the rain pattern. He said that is what happened. Sure enough, rain bypassed the campus for about three weeks, long enough for them to get done what they needed to get done. The Lord works in mysterious ways!

Please do continue to pray for the work here, for safety of the workers, for good problem-solving skills, and for the Lord’s intervention as needed for timing on the project.