One Life Blog

If you have been around during the last few days you might have heard the noise of the jack hammers, concrete saws and such. The contractor is attempting to minimize the impact of construction noise as much as possible.

This week’s progress update includes completion of the removal of old walls and doorways that will not be used in the new “B” Wing. A couple of minor engineering problems have been resolved and await corrective action that will take place in a couple of weeks. Survey work is in the process of being done for bringing in new electrical service, additional sewer capability to accommodate the new restrooms and a new water line to supply the new fire sprinkler system. Sections of the present concrete floor are being cut to allow interior installation of new underground plumbing that will service all facets of the new facilities. 

We will soon be hooking up the water and sewage lines. There will be times when the building will be required to be closed while the change over to the new systems are being performed. Later in the process, the electric must be shifted over to accommodate the new electric feeders required to power the increased loads of the expanded building. During that changeover time, there will be a loss of power in many parts of the campus. The loss of utilities will be scheduled so as to minimize the time of impact on Immanuel operations; in most cases less than a day per event. The exact time of these changeovers is not presently available, but we will keep you informed as we know more details.

Just a reminder, access to the construction area is limited to those actively involved in the project unless arranged for ahead of time. If visitation is agreed to, Hardhats are required for those entering the construction area. There are a few IBC hardhats available for those IBC/ICS personnel needing to go into the construction area (they are kept in the Jack Bays construction trailer and can be checked out from the Jack Bays project superintendent).

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for this process and the people involved. We all appreciate your patience and prayers.

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This week we have been demolishing walls that are to be removed to make larger classrooms, to prepare for construction of the new electrical service and fire sprinkler manifold rooms, and modify classroom access to current ADA standards. We have identified in-ceiling wiring/systems that must be retained and operated during the construction process and other old non-functional wiring has been removed along with heating and AC ducting and other such items that are to be replaced/rerouted in order to be compatible with the new design/second floor locations. 

From time-to-time, we expect that there will be some noise issues as walls are removed, concrete slabs are cut, and other similar work takes place. Sometime in the next few weeks we will also be doing outside trenching work to bring in the new electric service, water supply for the sprinkler system, and to put in a larger sewage line to connect to the city service under Backlick Road. Traffic flow around the church on the Backlick side (Backlick parking lot) will be limited as required for this effort. 

Still to be scheduled will be hooking up the water main to the new sprinkler system; water will be cut off to the building for about a day. During that time we will not be able to occupy the building. We will endeavor to do this at hours that least impact IBC/ICS operations. The timing is not presently available, but we will keep you informed as we know more details.

The temporary barriers are being and/or have been replaced with more permanent barriers. As of now, there is no access authorized to the Glass Breezeway or “B” Wing areas except for those individuals who are involved in the project. Hardhats are required for those authorized to go into the construction area. We have made some IBC hardhats available for those IBC/ICS personnel needing to go into the construction area. The Jack Bays people will have hard-hats with their logo on them; workers who must work outside the designated construction areas should have picture badges issued by Immanuel.

New outdoor signs have been fabricated and placed at three locations around the building: outside the Bookstore, at the entrance to the Glass Breezeway, and at the (temporary) main entrance to Immanuel Christian School at the South Parking Lot. With the addition of temporary directional signage put up on Sundays and the help of our First Five Greeters, regular attenders as well as visitors to Immanuel should be able to quickly find their way to their destination while avoiding construction areas.

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Members of the First Five Greeter Team helped to provide information as well as navigation to our congregation this past Sunday. With the move of children’s ministry classrooms and nursery rooms to the C-wing, the anticipated confusion resulting from the closing of the B-wing and Glass Breezeway was minimalized.

Wearing yellow hardhats and armed with smiles and maps of the building, our greeters were stationed at doors to the Gym and C-wing, as well as the Worship Center Lobby, and helped folks navigate quickly from one end of the building to the other.

Families with children are encouraged to use the South Parking lot and enter the building using Entrance 4. Members are encouraged to ride the shuttles on Sundays. There is plenty of parking at Phillips School, behind Gold’s Gym, and at the Fairfax County Adult Education Building lot on Edsall Road.

Click to view the building map

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