Meeting House Construction Update July 11

Update - July 10, 2013

Rev. Dr. Barry Cass

The focus of work this week at the new Meeting House has been inside, although there is work continuing on the granite veneer on the front steps and the window wells.  More work is being done getting the plumbing and electrical service roughed in.  This will allow for materials needed for the next phases of construction to be brought to the site.  Clear plastic will be spread over the windows to allow more light into the building while protecting it from the elements.  Custom wood and stained glass windows for the second and third floors of the sanctuary are scheduled to be competed and installed in mid-August.

Some members of the Building Committee took a field trip to Lloyd’s to see how progress was coming on the pews.  The wood has been selected and is being prepared so it will be ready to be used when pew construction begins in the next few weeks.  Installation of the pews is on schedule and should begin in early October.  Fabric has been selected for the pew cushions and they will also be in process in the very near future.  In order to bolster sanctuary acoustics, there will be no cushions on the pews in the balcony.  This is the same arrangement as the former Meeting House, but the pews in the balcony have now been selected to be more comfortable and ergonomically appropriate. 

After seeing a sample of the exterior siding and trim last week, the Building Committee gave its approval for work to move ahead on siding the exterior of the building.  The siding will be “Hardie Plank” and finished artic white.  This is a fiber cement material that is widely used for homes and other buildings.  It is resistant to moisture and rotting and does not need to be repainted for 25 years or more.  It also resists fire.  Because it is composed of natural and renewable components, Hardie Plank is considered a “green” alternative to siding.  A portion of the Office wing exterior, still in need of repair, will be sided in the same material so that the buildings will match.

Although it was not entirely clear that it would happen, we did have A/C restored to the second floor of the Office wing in time for the beginning of Vacation Bible School this week.  We have a concern about a leak due to a problem with a joint, that caused damage to the wall and floor in Liz’s Office.  The water was removed, the carpet cleaned and the office returned to a useable condition, but there is a question about who is responsible for paying for the repairs.

Moriarty Landscaping has completed the wall and new stairway in the Memorial Garden.  There will be hand rails on either side of the step which still need to be installed.  The only access to the garden at this point is through the Office wing of the building.  Access from the outside will be closed until the Meeting House construction is completed. 

We continue to have updated pictures from Joe Driscoll and members of our tech committee, which are posted to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SomersCongUCC) that we hope you will look at, as well as some posted to the webpage.  (www.somercongregaional.org)

It is not too late to be a part of the community supporting the building of the new Meeting House by contributing to our Capital Campaign.