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.

Finishing Touches Added to Gym

Two finishing touches are being completed this week inside the renovated gymnasium. Lines for the athletic courts are being painted and new curtains are being prepared for the back and side of the new stage.

To keep costs down, volunteers from Redeemer have reshaped our existing curtains to fit the new stage space. Yes, people do still have sewing skills. Many thanks for their efforts ... sewing, ironing, and steaming.

The other project involved taping and painting lines for our basketball court and volleyball court.

Painted into a corner...

Everyone is familiar with the old expression, "don't paint yourself into a corner ..." Unless that is, the corner has a safe exit. Over the past week the new gymnasium floor has been installed. The installation involves a four layer process that provides cushioning, durability and a smooth attractive top finish. When the heat and humidity subside the lines will be added for volleyball and basketball. Redeemer marks another historic milestone with the addition of their first-ever basketball three point line. ;)

First Projects Nearing Completion

The first two major pieces of Sacred Space are nearing completion.

The renovated gymnasium, with it's new worship and performance stage, audio/visual systems, all-purpose floor, exposed wood ceiling, new (dimmable) lighting, and air conditioning will be done by Labor Day. In fact, you can get your first look this coming Wednesday, August 11 at the camp reunion concert -- the first event hosted in the new space. Only the new floor remains to be installed after the concert, but before Labor Day. In the photo below you can the new acoustical panels which have been hung around the gymnasium, improving sound quality in the gym for all events -- worship, coffee hour, dinners and of course theater. In this photograph you can see the new exposed wood ceiling, three of the sixteen new energy-efficient light fixtures and one of the two new ceiling mounted audio/visual projectors.The second major piece of Sacred Space nearing completion is the renovated Westmaple Nursery wing. Two new classrooms, a teacher's work room, and a Director's office have been added to the three newly renovated classrooms. In the photo below you can see the new carpet has been laid, the cabinetry is complete, the new teacher-controllable HVAC is installed and the new ceiling tiles are ready to be placed after the new fire suppression system has it's final inspection.

Gym Nears Completion

The renovated gymnasium and the new worship and performance stage is nearing completion. Work on the exterior is almost complete. Final brick work was completed this past week. Trim and caulk will be added this coming week. The side walk around the back has been poured ... repairs to the asphalt parking lot in back will be completed shortly.

Inside the gym the full complement of sixteen ceiling lights have now been hung, as have three large ceiling fans that will augment the new heating and cooling capability in the gym. Interior paint is nearly complete. The next two projects include installing fabric-covered acoustic panels and installing carpet on the new stage. The new floor will be poured after the camp reunion concert August 11.

Gymnasium Schedule Released

The final occupancy schedule for the renovated gymnasium was released this week. Pending all appropriate inspections, the following timetable is in place for use of the renovated gymnasium and worship and performance stage:
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A "soft opening", as it is referred to in the business, is planned for the week of August 8 to 15. Most of the gymnasium work will be completed by August 8 including a major cleanup. This will allow our returning campers to hold their annual youth concert and reunion in the new space, Wednesday, August 11. The days leading up to the concert will give the band and worship coordinators an opportunity to test all our new audio/visual/lighting systems. Then following the August 11th concert (which will be air conditioned for the first time in Redeemer's history!), a member wedding weekend will utilize the new facility, including a reception on Sunday, August 15.

On Monday, August 16, we return the space to Frank Rewold & Son to complete one very important element, the pouring of a new floor surface that will bring functional, aesthetic and acoustic benefit to the gym. The cure time for the new floor is such that we will all be required to stay out of the gym for a couple of weeks.

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This will still allow the gym to be 100% complete by Labor Day, and most importantly, for our annual Homecoming festivities the following Sunday, September 12. While the long-range forecast for the 12th is sunny and 72 degrees, it is nice to know our new air conditioned gymnasium will be available just on the outside chance we are blessed with rain that Sunday.

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From the photos you can see that the new exposed ceiling has been cleaned and sealed. Eight of the sixteen new lights have been installed. The stage surround and walls have been painted. Fabric-covered acoustic panels will be hung over the next 10 days. And carpet will be installed around the stage as a final step.

Gym Readies for Paint

Substantial work throughout the gymnasium has progressed to a point where painting will commence this week, starting in the rafters and working throughout the gym, stage and storage rooms.
Two projection screens, each nine feet across, have been mounted on either side of the stage above the new ceiling panels. A large truss capable of supporting stage lights has now been hung in front of the stage. And hundreds of feet of conduit and cable have been put in place to integrate the audio, visual and lighting capabilities throughout the room

Work Proceeds on Schedule

Westmaple - Tremendous progress is visible in the Westmaple wing as two new classrooms are now entirely blocked, with poured concrete floors and steel beams.

The new teacher's work room has been roughed out and is ready for finish work.
Exterior brick and insulation is being added to the Westmaple walls, along with roof trim to match the existing classrooms.

Site Improvements - Work continues in the west parking lot as we expand our parking space between the sanctuary front doors and the new main entrance.

New sidewalks are being poured to facilitate safe passage to and from the parking lot. Crosswalks will be painted at the end of the project. Also, new accessibility ramps are being added at strategic locations around the parking lot.

Town Square - More block is being laid to form the exterior walls of the new main entrance and town square. A new lion's den ...

Gym and Worship Stage - Significant progress is being made in the renovated gymnasium as the sheet rock around the soffits and gables is complete. The necessary trusses to support speakers and lights have been hung as have two large projection screens on either side of the stage itself. The electrical work proceeds to enable both new lighting and audio/video, as well as three large fans. Painting will begin shortly.

Design Update: Gymnasium

A new vision is unfolding for the Redeemer gymnasium. The cinderblock and tile gym completed in the early 1970’s is currently used for a variety of events, from athletics to fellowship to theater. The new vision includes all the existing uses, and the addition of a mid-week family worship program that combines inventive bible studies, teen programs and newly-formatted confirmation classes.

In order to bring this multi-media, multi-dimensional vision to life we will be giving the 1970 gymnasium a major face-lift, including a new floor, new acoustic treatments, new lighting and sound capability, and the cornerstone -- a new worship and performance stage. The elevated stage will be placed on the north wall of the gymnasium. Additional double doors will smooth the movement of visitors and members to and from the gym. New storage and prop rooms will speed the ‘change over’ time as we switch between basketball, worship, coffee hour and theater.

Join us January 19, 2010 when Pastor Mark will offer a “Glimpse of the Future” night to launch the new mid-week family worship program.