The past week temperatures have been above 90 degrees, at times reaching into the low 100s. However, construction continues on the Atrium even under these extreme conditions. Skies have turned white in the hazy afternoon light and it is hard to pick out the roof skyline.
Work on the roof has progressed sufficiently that the installation of the cross has been scheduled for Thursday, July 8 at 11am.
Only a week has passed since the crane arrived and the process of installing the big steel columns, girders, and trusses began. Already the outlines of the Atrium can be seen as one approaches Immanuel driving down Braddock Road. Imagine what a sight it will be when the cross is finally set into place! There is still a lot that needs to be done before that can happen, however. Due to the Monday holiday, the current schedule for “raising the cross” has been moved to Thursday, July 8.
Work continues on other areas of the project. New stairs have been poured from the Atrium entering into the Gym, stairs and a handicap-access ramp constructed in the alley outside the Bookstore, and the elevator shaft in the A-Wing hallway near the Gym is being dug out.
On the second floor, exterior wall supports are going in. They can be seen from the Braddock Road Parking Lot. Inside the Fireside Rooms, temporary roof drainage pipes have been installed above the ceiling. they can be seen in the Braddock Road stairwell. And punch list items from our B-Wing construction, including the column covers in the Glass Breezeway, are being worked on.
Today the trusses began to go up in the Atrium. What a sight! It’s hard to get a sense of scale as to how large the interior of the Atrium will eventually be, but the roof will definitely soar overhead. When the trusses have all been positioned, the cross will be set into place. After that the roof will be layed out and we should be be dry inside.
Along with steel going up in the Atrium, construction began on the second floor walls beginning at the corner of the Bookstore near the alley.