Construction for Week of 9-27 to 10-4-10

New windows were installed on the east wall of the Town Square facing into the courtyard. Compared with the previous, smaller, single pane windows that were in roughly the same location, the new window wall features double doors with brass hardware (that match the Main Entrance and Westmaple Entrance), tinted glass to preserve the carpet and furnishings and substantial improvement in insulation value that will reduce our energy consumption while at the same time providing more natural light.

With a little imagination one can begin to see what the interior of the new Town Square will look like in two months. The first photograph below shows the fireplace -- the bright green drywall is the hearth seat and the fireplace rises between the two steel columns. The second photograph show a large opening which will ultimately be the central serving area in the Town Square with a large kitchen island and long serving counter accessible from either side.

The third photograph is the view of the Town Square upon entering the new main doors, with the courtyard visible on the far side of the room.

Work started this week to install new roofing shingles on the west end of the newly renovated music wing. Due to a lack of insulation and venting many years ago, the roof was in need of repair. The underlying issues have been addressed (all new ceiling insulation in the music wing, with open vents) and now the new roof is being installed to match the new gym and main entrance roof areas.

The two week schedule for 9-27-10 through 10-11-10 is as follows:

Stage addition completed and fully operational

West Maple Classrooms complete and fully operational

Music Wing complete and fully operational

Site improvements

. Complete Asphalt at Main Entrance
. Complete landscaping

Town Square
· Main Level
· Complete main floor ceiling framing
· Complete main floor ceiling mechanical, electrical
· Inspection process
· Begin drywall operations
· Begin layout for room finishes
· Lower Level
· Continue with room finishes
· Exterior
· Complete stone cap and window sills
· Install aluminum door systems

Interior infrastructure
· Minor wall repairs and painting
· Complete South stairwell
· Ceiling pads Lower Level classroom corridors
· Begin existing stairway infill

Special Coffee Hour September 26

The Sacred Space project team responsible for ongoing communication will be hosting a special coffee hour this Sunday. Stop by the renovated gym for a bite to eat and have your questions answered.

A photo slide show will be running continuously throughout coffee hour including updates on member giving and the overall project budget.

Brief updates will also be provided during each of the three worship services.
See you Sunday!

Best Kept Secret

Perhaps the best kept secret in the Sacred Space project plan is the addition of two large multi-purpose classrooms immediately below the Town Square. Each room individually is nearly the size of the Great Room. A movable partition will allow us to use the rooms individually or together.

The rooms are accessible from either the existing elevator or the new stairwell immediately inside the new main entrance. The carpeted rooms will be equipped with audio/visual capability, storage room and a welcome/registration area.

Ceiling work and painting will begin over the next two weeks.

Work Continues In and Around Town Square

Work continues both inside and outside the new Town Square. More details have been added outside, including the (re)hanging of light fixtures that adorned the former west entrance.
Inside, less visible work continues as the interior walls and associated wiring and plumbing are being completed. Drywall will follow shortly.

Below you can see the ceiling work around the fireplace that is a central feature of the new Town Square.

Choir Begins Rehearsals in New Music Room

Choir practices began this week, Thursday, in the new music room. The piano was professionally moved back to the music room. Music files, choir robes and the like have also been returned. Two new bathrooms are fully functional.

Our new music director, Steve Segraves and other members of the music team are compiling the final "punch list" to bring the room to a finished state.

Main Entrance Doors Installed

The new main entrance is taking shape.

The front doors are being installed this week, similar in design to those just installed at the front entrance to Westmaple Nursery. The new doors and surrounding windows bring more light to the interior and more insight to our visitors passing through the doors for the first time.Work on the canopy proceeds ... the barrel ceiling is nearly complete. Lights will shine up across the curved ceiling. Limestone caps will sit on top of the red brick walls. Slender white columns will soon wrap around the exposed steel beams.
Asphalt will be laid around the newly poured sidewalks.

Homecoming 2010

Sunday, September 12, 2010 marked Redeemer's annual Homecoming Celebration. Unique this year was the opportunity for members and visitors to leave a personal inscription on the floor of the newly constructed entrance and town square. These personal "signatures", signed on bare concrete, will then to be covered with carpet and left for the duration. People signed both as individuals and as families, from eight to eighty-eight. Many left the name of one they hope and pray will find Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Many left a favorite bible verse. Others noted their "official" Redeemer dates (baptism, marriage, etc.) And others the names of sainted loved ones.

Below is a small sampling of the hundreds of inscriptions left in the new Town Square...

Meet the Teachers...

Westmaple parents and their children are stopping by the school at the end of the week to meet their '10-'11 teachers and see their new room for the coming school year. School starts Monday, September 13.

Only small details remain to be completed, including wireless connectivity throughout the school wing, carpet in the main hallway, some additional furniture items (on order) and some added cabinetry.

The teachers, as always, have done a wonderful job setting up their rooms...

Sidewalks Poured Around Main Entrance

The sidewalks around the new main entrance have been poured. A handicap accessible ramp leads up one side of the entrance and a double set of double doors awaits at the top of the stairs. The next step is to restore asphalt and the parking islands that have been impacted by the construction. At the same time white colonial columns will be added (like those at the new Westmaple entrance) around the canopy, steps and ramp.

Redemption Services Ready for Blast Off

The gymnasium floor is now in place and the athletic courts have been striped.

The new sound system was being tuned this week to see what additional acoustic treatment might be required.

The stage curtains have been hung.

Musicians for the new Redemption worship service have their first rehearsal in the completed space tonight.

Remember, regular worship services start this coming Wednesday, September 15 at 7:15 p.m. Pizza and dinner served starting at 5:30 p.m. And before services, lots of activity including adult Bible study, confirmation instruction, teen core group, "hands-on" children's program, and parent networking small group. Check it out.

Spit and Polish

The new music room is nearly complete and ready for the choir to return this week. A few items remain to be hung ... a white board, mirrors and finishing touches in the two new bathrooms.

Check out the newly waxed floors. They will never look this good again...

September Parking and Entry Bulletin

Construction is now confined primarily to the new main entrance on the west side of Redeemer. Little by little things are returning to normal. Two important items to note for the month of September:

1. The old west entrance, soon to be the new main entrance, is still closed until further notice – sometime in late November. However:
- The new gymnasium door off the West Parking Lot is open once again, as the new gym floor has been installed., and
- The music wing door is open once again, as the music practice room renovations are complete.
- The Westmaple Nursery doors are open once again, as the school renovations are complete.

2. By order of the state fire marshal we have been required to temporarily close the stairwell along side the chapel that leads to the lower level. Until we implement a permanent solution you may get to the lower level using a new stairwell that was recently constructed at the end of the office corridor.

Remember, access to the sanctuary is possible through the staff office hallway via the Chapel doors, through the church office hallway via the Office doors, through the gymnasium via the new northwest gymnasium doors (until August 16), via the Westmaple doors, via the music wing doors and of course through the Narthex via the church front doors.

We continue with the specially marked parking spaces for those that require proximity to church doors. These are for anyone that requires their use.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Construction for Week of 9-6-10 and 9-13-10

Architect Ron Cieslak and Superintendent Craig Collins

Two week schedule for 9-6-10 thru 9-20-10:

Stage addition completed and fully operational

Westmaple Classrooms complete and fully operational

Music Wing complete and fully operational

Site improvements
· Complete landscaping & restoration of all areas of except Main Entrance outside Town Square
· Begin clearing construction equipment

Town Square
· Main floor ceiling framing
· Main floor ceiling mechanical, electrical
· Drywall lower level classrooms
· Exterior EFIS finishes
· Begin lower level finishes

Interior infrastructure
· Minor wall repairs and painting
· Complete new south stairwell
· Ceiling pads Lower Level classroom corridors

Music Room Awaits Occupants

The music room is nearly ready for occupancy. The floor was laid this week and the ceiling panels were placed. Painting was completed today. All the fixtures are installed in the two new bathrooms. The air conditioning was running on this 80 degree day.Next week Tuesday the floors will be waxed and the music files, chairs, bells and piano will be returned to the room. All that remains are finishing touches like white boards, base board trim and cleanup of the robe cabinets.