CONSTRUCTION NEWS
June 20, 2008
During this past week, work started on placing rebar for the foundation walls. In addition, the elevator pit was excavated and the footing drains put in place on the outside of the previously poured footings. Renovation work continued with additional rough electrical and HVAC installed.
Framing was done in the kitchen and downstairs classrooms.
June 12, 2008
Last week, following completion of the soils work the previous week, the north and south footings for the addition were poured. In addition, the rough plumbing in the new first floor ladies bathroom behind the sanctuary and the two lower level bathrooms was finished. Major progress was made in these same areas on the rough electrical work and about half of the duct work for the lower level HVAC (heating, ventilation, air
conditioning) was installed. The HVAC duct work for the sanctuary and Pilgrim Hall had previously been installed.
We have collected $1,950,000 of the $2,900,000 pledged. Thank you so much for your pledges and giving to date. As the renovations and construction progresses, our spending also accelerates. So please be sure to give toward your pledge if you have not already done so.
We'll keep you updated on the project in eNews and on the church website.
BUILDING OUR HOUSE
UPON A ROCK
Ledge requires special handling as church works to complete new foundation.
In the photo below you see the ledge rock uncovered by excavation for our new expansion project.
Work has been completed on underpinning the existing foundation. Since some of this underpinning is resting on ledge, we will have to drill a series of holes in that ledge along the underpinning.
This way, our contractor, Roche Inc. can safely use a hydraulic ram to break up the newly uncovered ledge without endangering the ledge under the present structure.
Once the newly uncovered ledge is removed, processed gravel will be used to provide necessary support-strength for the new building. As of this writing, the target date for completing the whole project is still September of this year.
Digging Deeper. What is now a hole in the ground will be the basement—location of the large new Youth Room.The deepest area of the excavation is about 7 feet lower than required by the original plans.
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Stonehenge? No, this imposing wall of boulders is to keep people and vehicles from falling into the hole. (Did you know that Connecticut soil is so rocky, farmers sometimes describe stones as “Connecticut Potatoes?”) |
Black and blue water control The black tarp under the downspout is to protect the soil that is still under the existing building from water erosion. The blue pipe is the sanitary sewer line from the church to the new town sewer line under Ridgefield Rd. The line needs to stay in place during construction so we can continue to use bathrooms, kitchen etc. |
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This is no picnic. This cooler is to keep concrete samples in. A sample of each load of concrete is taken to confirm that it meets specifications |
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Old timers. Howie Colwell, church member for over 48 years, stands next to ledge rock—a metamorphic rock formed between 290 and 540 million years ago. It is known geologically as a “Harrison Gneiss.” |
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Photos by Debbie Hunsberger
April 3, 2008 |
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Ice Cold Ground-Breaking
Gets Warm Reception
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GROUND BREAKING TEAM IN ACTION
Wilton Congregational Digs In. Led by Senior Minister Rev. Brigitta Remole, (shovel in hand) the ground-breaking team includes (left to right) Associate Minister Rev. Diane Stevenson; Peter Kosche, Chairman, Building Committee; Robert Kelso, WCC General Chairman; Paul Bailey, Architect; Tim Clark, Roche, Inc, contractor; William Brennan, Wilton First Selectman; Rev. Susan Townsley, UCC Regional Conference Minister.
Cold hands, warm hearts—that was the story on Sunday morning, January 20, 2008, as leaders from church, town and business took part in the frigid groundbreaking for the Wilton Congregational Church’s historic $3.7 million expansion project.
Wilton First Selectman William Brennan, United Church Regional Conference Minister Rev. Susan Townsley, Stamford Architect Paul Bailey and Tim Clark of Roche Inc, Contractor were all part of the milestone ceremony—led off with the hymn The Church’s One Foundation and a trumpet fanfare by Wilton’s Brilliant Brass quartet.
WCC Senior Minister, Brigitta Remole led the litany for breaking ground and was the first of eight groundbreakers to take a shovel to the rock-hard, frozen dirt.
The chilly digging was followed by a reception in the church’s Pilgrim Hall where Building Committee Chairman, Peter Kosche, and Capital Campaign Chairman Mike Cella and their committees were honored for their work on the project. It is the first Church expansion since l952, when the church social hall, Pilgrim Hall, was created by Wilton architect, Nelson Breed.
BUILDING THE FUTURE
WCC Building Committee (front row, left to right) Peter Kosche Chairman, Ted Bihuniak, Pat Smith, Ian Tesar, Jim Turnbull. (back row left to right) Tim Clark, VP Roche, Inc. contractor; Mark Engenro, Project manager, Roche, Inc; Paul Bailey, Architect; Randi Westermann, Architect at Paul Bailey
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