B.C. (in our case that is Before Construction) our existing facilities were a much-loved, patchwork quilt of buildings constructed by different projects in different decades. There was no grand design and although the front façade didn’t quite match the dimensions or style of the rest of the buildings and we had a roof that in places possessed basket like qualities it was all part of the buildings’ charm (well maybe not the roof but even that had a charm of its own to the roof repair company). The problem with our patchwork quilt of buildings comes when you try and add another piece and it is not just the visible that's a problem but also the hidden beams, roofing frames and quirky utilities that our new buildings have to tie in to, it’s all about the “construction integration” challenge.
The integration challenge has been a recurring theme throughout the building process and I have tried to describe these challenges, as they were explained to me, in this blog (unfortunately I’ve probably misinformed the readership on more than one occasion but that is completely my fault and no reflection on those experts who have spent so much of their valuable time trying to explain the details to a complete building novice such as myself). There was the floor challenge (back wing 6 inches lower than the library floor), the electrical challenge (connecting into the existing electrical systems exposed some “odd” cabling), the sewer challenge (unexpected and covert third sewer line running to the day school wing) and of course the ever-enduring roof challenge that I can only describe as akin to being color blind and trying to solve the Rubik’s Cube. So it is with a merry demeanor and in keeping with the spirt of the season that I am delighted to mark the reaching a critical milestone in this past week. The last major challenge in stitching the new building to the old focused on a patch of roofing above Father Bob’s and Gretchen’s offices for it in this small area that new pitched roof and flat roofs meets the old. It would be no understatement to tell you that even our maestro of construction Scott Crumley was mildly concerned about the implications of this challenge and by way of preparation both Father Bob and Gretchen were evacuated from their respective offices just in case a laminated beam, or worse still a roofer, unexpectedly “dropped in.” The rooms were also cleared and whatever remained covered under sheets of heavy plastic in case it rained (see the pictures above) and my deep gratitude goes to Blair Hood for his help in the “humping and dumping.” Meanwhile Scott, his carpenter and his roofer huddled in conference to consider the problem and the best approach. The result speaks for itself. The work started on Thursday and by close of business Friday parts of the old roof were gone, new frames and beams had been installed and the new flat and pitched roofs were in place and joined to the original structures without a gable end in sight! Writing this just doesn’t do justice to the prior planning and preparation that resulted in such a perfect execution so when, in the future, you walk into the Narthex main entrance spare a moment to look up to your right and admire one small piece of roof that meant so much in the grand design (and hopefully by the time you do that we will have moved Father Bob and Gretchen back into their respective offices!). Before I end (yes, I’m sorry there is more…it’s been a busy week) I have to give a mention to that same Narthex main entrance. As the sun climbed over the horizon on Saturday morning the Narthex main entrance was but a concrete pad and four upright steel girders but by the time that sun went down on that same day the entrance canopy was in place. To a building luddite, and I count myself as one, this might seem to be a trivial piece of work so, without his permission, let me use Scott’s own words, illuminated by the pictures below, to describe the level of planning and attention to detail that went into making this happen and please know that this level of planning and attention to detail is what has gone into and will continue to go into every piece of construction right to, and probably beyond, the very end: “It started with Bart's (viz the architect) picture, then the structural engineer sized the beams, then the steel fabrication company drew shop drawings that passed back through the before mentioned (viz Bart) for confirmation. Then it was made and delivered. The beams sat in the mud for a while until the concrete guy poured the floors. On construction day (viz Saturday), all those measurements were accurate enough that a 3/4 inch bolt fitted through a 13/16" hole. Then, wood trusses from another company were tied into the beams making the roof pitch and equal overhangs. Not to mention the architecturally pleasing round columns (for looks only) wound up dropping in place mysteriously along with their vernacular correct cap and bases from yet another company. Easy stuff!!!” Have a very Peaceful and Blessed Christmas, stay safe and stay healthy, David Beach
1 Comment
Mal Higgins
12/22/2020 03:15:01 pm
David (and Scott)--
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AuthorDavid Beach is our Building Project Manager, and has been an active part of our parish family for more than a decade. He is retired from NATO and the British Army and is a joy and blessing to all of us. Archives
July 2021
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