Work continues at a brisk pace down in the Atrium. Concrete masonry walls are going up along the Gym exterior wall and the wall outside the offices and Fireside Rooms 1 and 2. Another truck load of block arrived today.
From top to bottom and a little of everything in between. Though the big excitement last week of lifting the cross into place is past, still there remains a lot of activity at our construction site/church. On the roof of the Atrium, welders have nearly finished the task of installing the perforated decking material. Lower down in the Atrium, masons are putting up the block walls which will separate the room from the Gym and the Narthex. And down in the A-Wing hallway, work continues on excavating the shaft for the three-stop elevator.
Through out the buidling smaller jobs go unnoticed. HVAC up near the ceiling of the Gym spiders across the room. New walls for the stairwells in the Gym are nearly completed. Metal wall studs on the second floor of the A-Wing now enclose the space and it won’t be long before the steel beams and joists are layed into position. Each day brings new signs of progress and moves us closer to our completion date.
When it happened, it didn’t take more than a few minutes; those of us who had been waiting around in the hot sun sought shelter in the shade of a couple of trees. Steve Holley led those assembled in prayer. Construction workers received a safety briefing before climbing up to the heights of the Atrium roof. On the ground, construction workers, Immanuel staff and visitors, members of Jack Bays, Inc. waited with anticipation and a tremendous sense of excitement. And then…it’s off the ground!
Gently rising over the buidling, past the framework of the second floor, then guided gently into position, the new cross takes its place high above Immanuel.
Our Video Team has put together a snapshot of the event. Take a look at it on our vimeo site.