Construction Update by Carolyn Phillips
It is good to report to you that it seems more certain that we will return to the nave on May 15, the Day of Pentecost. The floor is almost finished. Noack Organ personnel are “voicing” the organ, now that it is re-assembled.

We will have one service for the re-dedication on May 15 at 10:00 a.m.  We will gather in the courtyard and process into the nave with music by the brass choir.

The altar guild is already planning the move to the new sacristy. That space was redesigned to the needs and specifications of the members of the altar guild. The sacristy is not only beautiful; it is also functional and will serve our worshiping community for decades to come.

The installation of the new turf in the courtyard has made a big difference in our fellowship. We were able to have one combined service outdoors on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. The children are enjoying the playing surface, and we have all but eliminated the tracking of soil and mud into our buildings.

We closed on the property at 5417 Chaucer and have taken possession of the house. We are working on leasing options.

The last construction site to be completed this year is the meditation garden and columbarium. We had to remove the tree from the south end of the nave. We agonized over the decision after consultation with our arborist Steven Anderson. According to Mr. Anderson the tree was already stressed.

The city has required us to install an extensive water retention system in the area of the meditation garden. The installation of 24 inch pipes and French drains around the tree would have killed the tree whose root system extended far beyond the installation. Representatives of flood control and of forestry met with us in our effort to exempt the property and preserve the tree, but the city would not grant the exemption. A new tree will be planted with root barriers to prevent roots getting to the nave and narthex foundation.

These are exciting days of newness and transition. I look forward to living them out with you in faith and in our future.

 

Construction Update April 15, 2016
The Noack organ is slowly and carefully being put back together. Some of the small pipes are being replaced. The floor is coming along, some work on the grout is needed but half the floor is complete and glazed. Work is started on new emergency egress lighting that the city requiured. Work is about to start in the garden. Keep you fingers clossed for a Pentecost return!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Corner March 23, 2016
The lastest pics from the nave: the font is still wrapped for protection but the new south  “arch” is all complete, the new doorway to the narthex, the new flooring (not yet cleaned and polichsed), thew clerestory window and one of the side windows with new credence….we realyh are nearing the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Corner March 4, 2016
The latest look at the nave:  the south window has been rebuilt with tinted and double paned glass; the new arch looks tall and the walls are finshed. Some changes are ocuring in the sacristy and then on to the floor tiles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Corner February 12, 2016
The reconstruction work is moving along…they have started on floor tile repair or replacement where required, the shape of the new rear window is in and the new sacristy entrance, the narthex door and finally the new arch at the rear opening up the back of the church. The ceiling arch and the window curve match. The blue clerestory window still has to come home and be installed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Corner January 21, 2016
Mission Constructors are making very good progress on the nave and sacristy. This is one of the new, higher air conditioning vents..hopefully no cold air on the back of necks. Then a picture of one of the new walls…the steel matches the wooden ceiling beams, the walls have a new skim coat which is nice and clean looking with no cracks or holes. Then there are two shots of the new “arch” area and the top rear where the window will soon come home. The last two pictures show some of the new look of the sacristy..still a work in progress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Corner: December 23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Corner: December 1
Wow…all of a sudden we can really see progress in the nave. Steel beams are going up all over…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Update: November 23
There will be a tour of the new south end of the Nave immediately following the December 6 congregational meeting. Come see the change in the shape of supports!

Construction Update: October 6
A small, but steady stream of members and visitors had a chance to view the nave construction and ask questions about progress on October 4. We hope to plan future viewings as progress is made.

  

 

 

Work proceeds on removing columns and arch…..bare column can be seen and they are working through the back window. Noisy and slow but Mission has a regular safety inspection by an outside company and we receive copies of the reports. All is going OK.

 

 

 

Construction Update: September 20
Now we are really beginning to see major work… Mission, our construction contractor, is overseeing lots of projects by subcontractors….the back part of the roof above the (now empty) clerestory window has been removed (at least the edging and roof covering), lots of the plaster in the interior arch area at the back of the nave, is gone or going, supports there for the roofing at the back end of the church and there is a wooden window in the south wall and they are working on removing exterior stone. We are exploring safe ways to let interested folks take a Sunday peek at what is happening inside. The interior is a hard hat construction area so we have to be cautious re visits. Best of all are on schedule.

 

 

Construction Update: September 2
Construction progress;
Architects selecting the new double pane tinted window glass for south wall.

 

 

The high clerestory window with beautiful blue colors has been removed – bright light enters.
Our beautiful window glass…taken away to clean, repair and store until the roof and supports are completed.
The company that originally developed and installed the clerestory window at the rear of the nave have returned to take it down, repair as needed and store until we are ready for re-installing. We will be replacing the entire window in the south wall….much of that wall is not in good shape and stones will be removed. Work is need on the roof (leaks) and stonework.
Plans continue for making the steel support pieces for the nave walls. In the meantime more support scaffolding at the rear of the nave has been erected.

 

 

Construction Update: August 10

 

Preparation for the major nave & sacristy work is proceeding. Pews and font and kneelers have been gathered together and protected from the construction mess.
The sacristy is almost empty and they are getting ready to move the statue behind the church to the front area and nestle it in the jasmine. The Superb has been carefully
hung in the narthex for smooth sailing throughout the construction. The south window will be removed and the crew will access the nave through that opening.

 

 

 

 

Construction Update: August 4
“It’s a Wrap”
Tuesday 8/4…the organ has been fully and very carefully wrapped….the central part wrapped in place while the other pipes and cabinet pieces from the sides are stored in the narthex. The tallest, largest pipes are standing (third picture)..if they were laid down like the others they would collapse from round to oval and not be useful. Even the construction manager for our nave project was amazed at the detail construction and dovetailing in the organ and how careful the workers were with all the parts. Now the kneelers will also move to the nave and a heavy duty cover built for the font and the ship will be moved and hung in the narthex also. The altar guild has moved out of the sacristy and to temporary quarters.

Construction Update: July 30>

After a multitude of rain days and inspection delays (and an unknown gas line that Centerpoint had to move) the new south parking lot has made good progress. All sidewalks, etc. should be completed after the nave work. Plans for Nave/sacristy and A/C were submitted for permitting and we really expected a long wait for the permits….but we had a pleasant surprise! They got approved quickly so work will start at the beginning of August! We thank Rice for allowing us use of their land for staging.
Final engineering plans for the nave include virtually a total rebuild of the “south interior wall” and when all is done the pseudo-arch will be gone and there will be a much more open view of the nave. The exterior window will also be replaced. For those who are somewhat new to CTK the arch with the pillars was the dividing line between the original nave and narthex (before we built the new, large narthex we now use). The columns were a last minute add to support the “arch”. All of this engineering & architectural work is more than was first projected and estimated, but is a better solution.
Currently the organ is being partly dismantled (i.e. remove the pipes and side towers to protect them). The core will then be sealed and covered. An expert team from Noack (the maker) is here doing the work to avoid any dust in the pipes. The pipes will live in specially built boxes in the narthex during construction. We will be worshiping in the parish hall while the nave is under construction.

Construction Update: July 22
After a multitude of rain days and inspection delays (and an unknown gas line that Centerpoint had to move) the new south parking lot has made good progress…cement has been poured and curing.  All sidewalks, etc. should be done by beginning of August. See photos for visual update.  Plans for Nave/sacristy and A/C were submitted for permitting and we really expected a long wait for the permits….but a pleasant surprise. They got approved quickly so work will start at beginning of August!
Final engineering plans for the nave include virtually a total rebuild of the “south interior wall” and when all is done the pseudo-arch will be gone and there will be a much more open view of the nave. The exterior window will also be replaced. For those who are somewhat new to CTK the arch with the pillars was the dividing line between the original nave and narthex (before we built the new, large narthex we now use). The columns were a last minute add to support the “arch”. All of this work is more than was first projected and estimated. Next week the organ will be partly dismantled (i.e. remove the pipes) and then seal and cover the rest of the instrument.  A team from Noack the maker will be here to do properly to avoid any dust in the pipes. The pipes will live in the narthex during construction. Stay tuned for changes. We will soon worship in the parish hall while the nave is under construction.

Construction Update: May 1, 2015 started a new chapter in our lives at Christ the King. The long awaited south parking lot construction began. The first step required the removal of the old sidewalks and railings. Demolition and removal went quickly. As with any construction project a few unknowns popped up, but were quickly worked around and construction continued. We look forward to seeing the progress throughout the summer!