Update 10/19/11

Sanctuary Renovation Update

Wow!  There is certainly a great deal happening in the Sanctuary right now!  It is amazing what 6 to 8 people working in the Sanctuary for 8 a day can actually accomplish.  And, for that reason, it is difficult to provide a current update.  It is almost “old news” by the time it is actually “news”!  That said, however, what follows is a list of the done or current work that is being done in the Sanctuary.

• The final construction contracts have been executed… thank you John Hagner for your leadership, patience, and perseverance!!
• All asbestos abatement work has been completed, inspected, and approved.
• The old HVAC system has been removed… so long trouble!
• All flooring, windows, wall board, and duct work has been removed.
• All wiring has been removed and the new electric box, which is about ¼ the size of the old one, has been installed.
• The sacristy has been gutted, the walls rebuilt and the windows removed.
• The raised chancel has been removed.
• The outside walls one either side of the stone wall have been removed as new windows will be installed.
• The concrete sidewalk on the side of the Sanctuary facing the Education Building has been prepared and will be poured in the next couple weeks.
• New power and AV outlets have been installed in the floors throughout.
• New insulation has been installed around the base of the building, outside; 2 feet down, as well as all interior walls have had new insulation installed.
• The new niches, for storage and artwork, have been built.
• The chair decisions have been made.  The choice was the two tone, wood chair.
• The tile flooring decisions have been made.  The natural earth tone green color tile was selected to complement the stone wall versus trying to match it.
• The liturgical furnishings plans have been drawn and the creation of what will be true works of art will start the end of October.
• The new roof shingles will be delivered soon, and with the giant white containers in front of the sanctuary right now which contain the roof insulation, the roof replacement will be started soon.  The old roof will be removed by the end of October and the new shingles will be quickly installed.
• The crane that will be used to put the shingles on the roof will also be used to lift the new HVAC system into place and a new fence will be built around the unit.

I am sure there is much more to report as the work being done each day is truly amazing.  It is happening… it is on schedule… and as of this update, it is under budget.   It is an awesome project and quite a sight to see.  Please contact me if you are interested in seeing the progress.  I would be happy to walk you through it one evening.  If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to me at bdshoemaker@gmail.com. 

Thanks, Brent Shoemaker

 

 

Update 10/12/11

It is amazing how quickly the work is going!

INSIDE WORK

Inside work this week entails electrical work, framing out doors, and installing the electrical boxes in the floors to allow us to hook up both electrical and audio in key places, reducing those unsightly extension cords (i.e. tripping hazards!) around the sanctuary.

Once these electrical boxes are installed the concrete for the chancel area will be poured, which will make a huge visual difference to the space.

Next week they will start building the wooden “halo” that will go around the ceiling, containing lights, speakers, ductwork, etc.

OUTSIDE WORK

Meanwhile, you may notice the fence that has gone up around the building, as a means of securing the supplies and keep folks safe.  There are also heaping pallets scattered around, shrink wrapped in white plastic.  This is the foam board insulation that will go on the roof.  Next week they will be removing the shingle and beginning that work.  Pray for nice weather!!!

Update 9/29/11

A lot of work is being done in and around the sanctuary.  In fact, just this week a fence has gone up around the building. This is necessary as the work gets more intense, and our worship space becomes more of a construction zone for a short time before we are able to return.

As we wait, check out some of the action shots to see the progress just since this time last week!

Windows

As we embarked upon this project we realized that there was asbestos in the glazing of the windows.  So, the process of removing the windows became a production all of its own.  Glad to report that they were all removed correctly, and we have approved to continue on, post-abatement!

Entryway

One of the goals of this project is to open up and lighten up the worship space.  As such, we are removing the stone support in the threshold entering the sanctuary.  There will be a new load bearing beam built and filled with concrete to hold the weight distributed there from the roof.  The stones that are being taken out will have a new home… read on!

Chancel

This is perhaps the most emotional part of the whole process, seeing the transformation of this place that has been the center of liturgy for so many decades.  The concrete for the chancel and steps were removed, soon to be leveled out.

You can see along the bottom of the stone wall that the stone becomes uneven.  Our stellar architects and contractors already have a plan!  They will take the stone that comes out of the pillar in the entrance, shave them down, and create a stone facade that seamlessly “replaces” the stone all the way to the bottom.  It is wonderful witnessing the creative adaptations that professionals are capable of.

Update – 9/22/11

What has been done.

Mon Dickenson coordinated the removal of all of the choir chairs and the communion table from the Sanctuary

     •Ingleside church, King Farm

     •August 20th

Congregation helped clean out the Sanctuary… completely!

     •August 21st

Letter of Intent for loan received from Eagle Bank and process to closing started.

     •John Hagner is a rock star!

     •August 24th

Building permits reviewed and completed by Montgomery County

     •September 2nd … FINALLY

Pews were posted online, freepews.org, and we were contacted by roughly 20 churches throughout the country!

     •September 6th

     •Vision of God Church, Plainfield NJ,

       came and picked them all up, and then some, on September 10th

Port a Potty Delivered… perhaps a sign??

     •September 9th

Construction began!!!

     •September 12th

Demolition began immediately

     •All flooring removed

     •HVAC system removed

     •All duct work removed

     •Lighting removed

     •6 workers, daily from 6 am to 3 pm

Preconstruction meeting conducted

     •September 13th

    •Agreed to regular meetings 2nd and 4th Tuesday

      of each month through construction

Liturgical furnishings discussion

    •September 15th

Assure financial and contractual oversight and monitoring.. .ongoing

    •Jon Spargur and John Hagner running

    •Need to complete contract with Chamberlain by October 21st

    •Draft contract has been circulated

    •Comments provided by Hagner, Chamberlain reviewing

What needs to be done

Selection of chairs by end of September

    •Multiple samples received and under review

    •Maximum flexibility is the goal

    •Capacity realizations

Flooring

    •New flooring, new design, new price

    •Tile mock up will be provided by end of September

Build interior finishes plan

    •Paint, chair fabric, flooring, ceilings

    •Mock up by middle of October
•Overall goal is to lighten up!

Additional discussion and design of liturgical furnishings

    •Walnut tree from Education Building lot

Assure financial oversight and monitoring

     •Rachel is fully engaged

Assure contractual oversight and monitoring

     •Need to complete contract with Chamberlain by September 21st

Watch out for surprises!

     •Stone wall/ Interior door support

     •Other?

Focus by Month for 2011:

September thru December…  construction phase, support as needed, communicate with Congregation

Budgeted Cost  $1,481,000

Actual Cost  $1,463,900

*includes 10% construction contingency

The Project is on Schedule and under Budget as Planned!!

Update – 7/7/11

What has been done…

•Building permit request to Montgomery County… working through the process

•The permit review number assigned to the project- 570394.

•Target approval August 15th

•Hired permit expeditor to manage

•Review and acceptance of RFP responses … Closed 6/27, Reviewed July 12th

•Review done of all bids, clarifications and further direction as needed

•Sub contractors confirmed July 15th

•Sub pricing locked in via Letter of Intent July 17th

•Overall, bids were roughly $50K less that forecasted!!

•Suspended stone floor mock up

•Determined natural stone floor was too uneven (both for walking and for chairs), too busy, and just not aesthetically pleasing

•Canceled prior to completion, saved money and stone will be reused

•Conducted hazmat study and obtained abatement quotes

•Asbestos was found in the window glazing, all windows will be removed prior to construction

•All areas of concern will be dealt with by contractor and certified be consultant.

•Increased expense of roughly $8K

•Discussed changes in scope based on cost/ benefit analysis

•Liturgical furnishings

•Electric chandelier winch

•AV optional equipment

•Congressional chairs

•Determined the following would be added to the scope of the project

•Acoustical glass

•Paint interior ceiling

•Paint all of the exterior

•Asbestos abatement… required

•Assure financial and contractual oversight and monitoring

•Jon Spargur and John Hagner running

•Need to complete contract with Chamberlain by August 15th

•Draft contract has been circulated

•Focus on communication

•Weekly Wednesday conference calls, 9:30 am

•Web blog

•Face to face discussions

•Actively began clean out and prep of sanctuary

What needs to be done…

•Selection of chairs

•Maximum flexibility is the goal

•Capacity realizations

•Flooring

•New flooring, new design, new price

•Needs to be communicated to Congregation

•Build interior finishes plan

•Paint, chair fabric, flooring, ceilings

•Presentation to Session August 16th… Congregational “vote” through end of the month

•Overall goal is to lighten up!

•Discussion and design of liturgical furnishings

•Assure financial oversight and monitoring

•Rachel is fully engaged

•Assure contractual oversight and monitoring

•Need to complete contract with Chamberlain by August 15th

•Schedule monthly standing meeting, last week of month with Chamberlain and Kerns

•Complete cleaning out of sanctuary… tentatively scheduled for Sunday August 21st … details pending

Update – 6/14/11

What’s Been Done…

•Submitted building permit request to Montgomery County

•The permit review number assigned to the project- 570394.

•Released the RFP for bids June 2nd

•Review & comment of Construction Documents… completed

•Begin stone floor mock up

•Test, trial, and comment

•Will be done by the end of June

•Assure financial oversight and monitoring

•Loan document mostly completed

•Assure contractual oversight and monitoring

•John Hagner

•Focus on communication

•Weekly Wednesday conference calls, 9:30 am

•Web blog

•Face to face discussions

•Actively began clean out and prep of sanctuary

What needs to be done.

•“The Big Four”

•Chairs vs. Pews

•Maximum flexibility is the goal

•Capacity realizations

•Flooring

•Removal of the raised chancel

•Build interior finishes plan

•Paint, chair fabric, flooring, ceilings

•Overall goal is to lighten up!

•Assure financial oversight and monitoring

•Assure contractual oversight and monitoring

•Schedule for bid review, recommendation and award

–End of June

•Select asbestos consultant, removal, and certification/ approval resource… done today

•Complete cleaning out of sanctuary