AC Returns to Redeemer

Who would have imagined two weeks of heat and humidity in the mid 80's before Memorial Day in Michigan? Well, actually, we could have predicted that back in January when we first learned that the air conditioning in the sanctuary was going to be temporarily disabled starting in May and for much of the summer.

But there is cause for rejoicing, as the air conditioning is back at Redeemer -- specifically in the main sanctuary. The photos below show the temporary air conditioning unit just outside the music wing. This will take the place of our regular unit until such time as the regular air conditioning is restored. In the photos below you can see the large white air handling conduits that run from the portable unit just outside the music wing, through the music wing windows and ultimately to the sanctuary. Hallelujah! Join us for church, and enjoy the air!

Nuts and Bolts

Many of you have asked, given the challenging economic environment, if we have been tempted to substitute lower cost materials to make our budget stretch further. Well, when we were walking the site this week, we came across this picture, which proves that we are using genuine Lutheran bolts ...
... Now, if we could just find some certified Lutheran nuts to go with our bolts ...

Construction for Week of 5-24-10 and 6-7-10

Construction continues on schedule, despite the intermittent rain these past two weeks. Things will continue to move at a rapid pace for the coming two weeks. Work on the music wing will begin this coming Monday, May 24. And work on the new Westmaple classrooms will begin just after Memorial Day, Tuesday, June 1.
The large block work is complete on the new worship and performance stage. The walls are being moisture sealed (see black "paint" above) and the insulation and traditional Redeemer red brick will be started this coming week.
You can just see the beginning of the framing and (bright green) drywall around the stage itself.

The trusses for the stage roof will be added shortly and the concrete floor should be poured at the end of this coming week.

Meanwhile work on the foundations and walls for the lower level classrooms are nearly complete. Stone covers the classroom floor in anticipation of pouring concrete.

The outline of the new main entrance is now visible in the lower level foundation work captured in the two photos below.

The 2 week schedule 5-24-10 through 6-7-10:

Stage Addition
· begin metal stud framing
· begin carpentry work
· begin roofing
· begin brick veneer
· pour concrete floor
· continue with interior electrical
· continue with stage lighting package
Town Square
· complete footing and foundations
· complete Waterproofing
· Begin under floor drainage system
· Begin basement block walls
· Pour basement floor
Interior infrastructure
· Continue with Fire suppression installation
· Continue with electrical relocation
· Continue with demo at New South stairway
· Begin new ceiling grid
West Maple
· Remove trees
· Demo begins
· Exterior site work
· Begin footings
Music Wing
· Begin staging for demo work
· Demo begins
· Begin layout and wall framing
Site improvements
· Install electrical service East side of building
· Begin parking lot site demolition
· Research gas main relocation
· Begin landscape repairs

Front Lawn Restored

Last month the front lawn at Redeemer was literally opened wide, to allow work to proceed on two site improvements. The first, an upgrade to our city water main, which will now allow fire sprinkling throughout Redeemer. And second, additional capability for handling our storm water runoff.

Front Lawn, April 28, 2010 ===>

Front Lawn, May 21, 2010

Now, less than a month later, the site improvements are complete and the lawn has been restored. The new, larger water main, enters the building at the southwest corner of the sanctuary. A boring machine allowed us to connect the main directly underneath the circle drive and formal gardens by the church front steps without disturbing any of the beautiful plantings. And the large concrete basins that were on the front lawn have been installed, connected and buried underground.


The Easter Bunny, commenting from his summer home in Northern Michigan, praised the workmanship and declared the 2011 Redeemer Easter Egg Roll "a go."

Tree Removal and Landscape Plan

You will notice this week that trees have been removed from the area between the west parking lot and the front circle drive. This was necessary to install a new underground storm water detention basin underneath the new parking lot spaces that will adjoin the west parking lot.

But please be assured that for every tree that has been removed, we will be replanting (this fall) in almost a two to one ratio, that is, planting almost two trees for every tree that had to be removed. Both maple trees and spruce trees will ring the new parking area, for the benefit of neighbors to the west, those who pass by on Maple Road and for the general beautification of the Redeemer grounds.

Likewise, the sycamore tree out behind Westmaple was removed this week. It too will be replaced. Interestingly, in almost the exact same location. The foundation work for the new classroom near the base of the tree would have disturbed the root system to such a degree that the tree would no longer thrive. Planting a new tree with it's root system intact, in nearly the same location, is a better, longer lasting solution.

As soon as the hot summer weather passes, we'll be replanting in the fall, not only these trees, but other landscaping around the new main entrance and other areas impacted by construction. In the mean time, lawn repair in the front circle drive will begin over the next few days.

Thanks to Jim Eppink at J Eppink Partners for providing such a complete landscape plan.

Easter 2010 Beam Signing

On April 2-4, Easter, 2010, hundreds of Redeemer members, ages 3 to 93, signed special messages on a very large steel beam that was specially displayed in our gymnasium. Now, a few weeks later, that beam has been placed across the top of the new worship stage in our gymnasium. The photographs below capture some of those members and their messages. Everyone who signed the beam was also invited to sign a special book as a commemoration of our 2010 Sacred Space project. Enjoy.

Construction for Week of 5-10-10 and 5-17-10

The two week construction schedule for 5-10-10 thru 5-24-10 is as follows:

Stage addition
· Complete block walls
· Continue with mechanical & electrical work
· Erect remaining steel
· Begin carpentry work
· Begin roofing

Town Square

· Basement footing and foundations
· Waterproofing
· Begin under floor drainage system

Interior infrastructure
· Begin fire suppression installation
· Continue with electrical relocation
· Continue with demo at New South stairway

West Maple
· No work in this area

Music Wing
· Begin staging for demo work, which starts May 24, 2010

Site improvements
· Install electrical service East side of building
· Begin parking lot site demolition
· Complete installation of new water main
· Research gas main relocation
· Begin landscape repairs

Sacred Space Giving Report

Total gifts given and pledged to the Sacred Space capital stewardship campaign totaled $3,860,000 as of April 30, 2010. This total of $3.86 million can be broken down as follows:
Pledged Gifts, $2,458,000 from 225 families
Unpledged Gifts, $1,366,000 from 60 families
Interest Income, $37,000.

Over the past six months we have averaged over $88,000 per month in gifts. March gifts totaled $115,000 and April gifts totaled $100,000.
We are all so grateful for the ongoing sacrifices made by so many families.

Of the total $3.86 million in gifts, $2.30 million has been collected to date. The difference, a little more than $1.56 million, represents outstanding pledges. We are now at the beginning of the second year of our three year capital stewardship campaign, which runs from April 2009 to March 2012.

New gifts, pledged and unpledged, continue to be made each month. We still hope to top $4 million before the campaign is completed.

Ten percent of the outstanding pledges (currently $156,000 as of 4-30-10) are set aside as a contingency against pledge receivables. While this contingency helps assure that we only spend what we can conservatively plan to collect at the end of the three year campaign, it also means that this contingency money is not available to our construction budget.

If you have the flexibility in your financial plans, please consider making a portion of your second year gift while construction work is still in progress. In addition to reducing the 10% pledge contingency, it also will save us the 3% borrowing cost later this year and next. So you can see that the same gift amount, timed for this summer, multiplies in value by almost 15% which directly helps our ongoing construction efforts.

More Construction Photos from 5-4-10

More construction photos from a beautiful sunny May day at Redeemer ...

From the outside the opening for the new stage is now clearly visible on the north wall.

And from the inside, the temporary tarp over the stage opening lights up the entire gym.

Check out the exposed roof and beams that are now visible with the gym ceiling removed.

Meanwhile the cinderblock that surrounds the new maintenance storage room is going up at a rapid pace.

And the lower level classroom walls (below the Town Square) are being readied for concrete.

Out in front work continues on new water retention basins that will soon be hidden from view.

Holier than Thou ...

Wow, what a flurry of activity on site this week. There are holes all over the Redeemer lawn as we upgrade our electrical, gas and water main all at the same time! Rest assured there is landscape budget to put it all back in place. Below are pictures and updates from the activity this week.

Work is proceeding on the worship and performance stage on the north wall of the gymnasium (three photos below.) The first steel beams have been erected this week. The brick will be removed for the stage opening at week's end. The cinder block to finish the exterior walls is now on site.

If you look closely you can see the line that has been cut in the exterior brick to make way for the new stage opening.

Meanwhile, inside the gym, the ceiling and north soffit has been removed in anticipation of the new stage with new lighting and a new ceiling. This photo shows preparation along the new (north) stage wall.

The foundations for the lower level walls are being prepped (below.) Issues with ground water have been resolved. You can almost see the outline of the new classrooms taking shape.

Is that Fred's office underneath that pile of dirt? Where is the choir? All that "good dirt" from the excavation is saved on site, and then used to back fill the lower level walls after they are poured and sealed.

I didn't know we were putting a swimming pool on the front lawn ...

Actually this temporary excavation is required for both the storm sewers and the new water main that runs across Maple Road, up the front lawn, and into the church. I think our neighbors have noticed the construction this week.

New, upgraded electrical service is being routed from the east lot line across the driveway and into the building at the Chapel.

Construction for Week of 4-26-10 and 5-3-10

We have all witnessed tremendous progress these past two weeks. The cinder block outline of the new stage addition on the north wall of the gymnasium is now clearly visible (see photo above.) Also, the demolition of the west entrance which was necessary to make room for the new main entrance and town square is largely complete. Excavation in this area is underway, below grade support walls have been placed (see photo above), and the foundation work begins next week. Less visible but no less important is all the ongoing work necessary to upgrade the water, gas and electrical service throughout Redeemer.

Please note, with the conclusion of the production Music Man this weekend, the gymnasium will now be closed during the work day. However, the new gym door off the west parking lot will continue to be available for Sunday morning services.

The schedule for the weeks of 4-26-10 and 5-3-10:

Stage addition
· Exterior Door frames arrive
· Asbestos abatement
· Interior demolition
· Set imbedded steel
· Continue with block walls
· Begin Mechanical & Electrical work

Town Square
· Basement footing and foundations Interior infrastructure
· Continue with fire suppression research
· Continue with electrical relocation
· Continue with demo at new South stairway

West Maple
· Research storm water basin below playground

Music Wing
· No work in this area

Site improvements
· Begin demolition for new (West) parking lot site
· Finalize electrical service design East (chapel) side of building
· Install new water main from Maple Road to Sanctuary
· Research gas main relocation

Construction for Week of 4-12-10 and 4-19-10

Construction is well underway as we complete the second full week of work. Everyone is impressed with how quickly things are proceeding. Which is not to say that we aren't all dealing with a little noise and dust around church! Enjoy the pictures below.

Just a reminder, the construction gates are sometimes left open as trucks come and go from the construction site. An open construction gate is not an open construction site. Please be careful and never enter the fenced areas without a hard hat and permission.

The construction schedule for the weeks of April 12 and 19, 2010:

Stage addition
· Continue exterior masonry walls
· Begin interior footings
· Staging for interior demo to begin 4-26 (after Music Man performances)

Town Square
· Begin basement excavation (week of 4-19)
· Install shoring for new lower level classrooms
· Begin relocation of sewers
· Begin basement footing and foundations

Interior infrastructure
· Continue with fire suppression research
· Continue with electrical relocation
· Begin demo at New South stairway (across from Chapel doors)

West Maple
· No work in this area

Music Wing
· No work in this area

Site improvements
· Continue electrical service East side of building
· Begin parking lot site demolition
· Research and layout for new water main
· Research and layout for new sewer mains

Construction Begins!

Construction started in earnest this Monday, April 5, 2010. Work started on the stage addition to the existing gymnasium as well demolition work to prepare for the new Main Entrance and Town Square space. Also, work is occurring inside the church as we prepare to add a fire suppression system throughout the church.

The pictures below capture some of the dramatic demolition of the old west entrance and maintenance room necessary to make room for the new.

View to the northwest, over courtyard

Sanctuary on far left; gym on far right

View to the north -- CAT equipment sits inside old nursery View to the west -- note old west entrance doors in center of photo

Easter Sunday

Come join us Easter Sunday at Redeemer! Worship services are being held at 7:30 a.m. (communion) and at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.

After each service (or before if you come early) you will have a chance to sign your name to the largest piece of steel that will be used to support the new worship and performance stage in the renovated gymnasium.

Be a part of Redeemer history and attach your name or favorite bible verse to the beam before it is hoisted into place. There will also be a special book for signing to record the names of this generation of Redeemer members that are stewards of His Sacred Space: That all may find a place at His table.

Come join us Sunday.

Construction for Week of 4-5-10 and 4-12-10

The clock is about to strike midnight ... no glass slipper, but a lot of construction dust about to fly ...

The construction schedule will be posted here on a regular basis so you know what activity is expected around Redeemer each week. The construction manager has a copy of our master calendar at all times, so they are aware of Redeemer programming during the day and evenings.

Please be conscious of staying out of the fenced construction areas. For the safety of all our members, adults and children, it is important that we respect clearly marked construction areas. Want a tour? We'll arrange these from time to time at key construction milestones.

Schedule for week of April 5 and 12, 2010

Interior Infrastructure
- Remove ceiling tiles and grid
- Wire up existing lights
- Begin plumbing for new fire suppression system
- Begin electrical

Gym Stage Addition
- Erect temporary construction fence
- Stage materials
- Begin site demolition outside (sidewalk, parking lot driveway)
- Begin exterior footings
- Purchase Wing and a Prayer tickets for Music Man

Town Square and Main Entrance
- Erect temporary construction fence
- Asbestos abatement
- Cut and cap utilities prior to demolition
- Interior selective demolition
- Exterior demolition

Westmaple
- No work in this area

Music Wing
- no work in this area

Site Improvements
- Begin new electrical service by Chapel side door
- Begin new parking lot site (south end of west parking lot)
- Research and layout new water main (for fire suppression)
- Research and layout new sewer mains (for new bathrooms)