Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Building Update
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March 2008 |
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A peek into the basement level |
Looking down into the future lobby. |
From our existing building toward |
Day-By-Day Updates (scroll down for more photos and the Building Committee's monthly update)
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 It is an amazing thing to work right here at Good Shepherd each day. The workers arrive anywhere from 6:45-7:30am and faithfully build our dream until the mid-afternoon. We continue to keep their safety in prayer as they build for us. As of today, the full roof is in place and the roofing paper has been tacked down. The remaining opening will be the Sound Control Booth that will be connected to the office level. Even though the walls and steel beams are in place for the lobby/office area, the floor slabs for the upper level will not be delivered until later in April.
Monday, March 10, 2008 The bathroom construction is nearing completion. Today the diaper changing tables are being installed; tomorrow new windows will be installed in the bathrooms as well as the Fireside (Music) Room. Outside, concrete is being poured on top of the sanctuary floor slabs and in the new lobby area.
Wednesday, March 6, 2008 Even though I see the changes everyday as I arrive at work and before I depart, I am still amazed at the progress. The Sanctuary floor has been place, the wall of the lower level are built up to ground level, and the progress goes on!
Thursday, March 13, 2008 Today we passed the inspection of the bathrooms. We will begin using them this weekend. Later in the day the first arch was being installed along with the central brace.
March Building Committee Update:
Building
Bandwagon
The term “Bandwagon” enjoys a special place in the Washington area. Of course, there are the “Political Bandwagons” which will be rolling full steam ahead toward the November 2008 election. In the past many of us jumped on the “Redskins Bandwagon” to cheer our NFL team on to victory. We have been using the phrase “Building Update” for almost three years now to introduce articles about our facilities improvement project. But this phrase just doesn’t convey the exciting progress of our project and the ministry opportunities that will be available in less than a year. Time to try a new phrase – maybe a new vehicle – Building Bandwagon!
As you come to Good Shepherd to worship and study, the territory already covered by the Building Bandwagon is quite obvious. A few of the major milestones: fellowship hall, lobby, and narthex demolished; massive excavation for new sanctuary; foundation, footings, and walls for basement in place; former office area about 75% converted into new bathrooms.
So where is the Building Bandwagon headed in the next month?
Our new sanctuary: Starting on February 25, the precast concrete sanctuary
floor will arrive and be lifted into place. By the time you read this article
the precast basement-ceiling/sanctuary-floor will be completed. By March 7, the
precast slab will be topped with a several inch thick concrete slab poured on
site. The erection of the laminated timber arches for our new sanctuary will
begin March 17, one week before Easter.
Our new lobby-narthex-kitchen area: The backfilling of the new
lobby-narthex-kitchen-adult area has already begun. The grease trap for the
kitchen is in place and will be under the new patio on the Rt. 355 side. All
needed underground utilities (water, drains, and electricity) are being located.
The on-grade concrete slab for this area will be completed by March 17.
Our new bathrooms: The water connections and sanitary/floor drains are complete. The drywall partitions are up and painted. The heating ducts and ceiling are in. Next, the doors and tile floor will be installed, followed by the bathroom fixtures, counter tops, toilet partitions, and drinking fountains. Yes, frosted, privacy glass will be installed in the windows! Although there are many finishing details that must be completed, fully functional bathrooms by Easter Sunday (March 23) are expected.
Who is riding on the Building Bandwagon?
Using the image of a moving vehicle (the Bandwagon)
provides a natural way to recognize groups of dedicated people who have and are
contributing so much to our building effort.
Building Committee – meeting, planning, making decisions for more than three
years
Transition Team – organizing and executing the use of our facilities during
construction (Penny Risen, Chair)
Church Staff – planning, moving the offices, writing and sending the checks,
accommodating the construction traffic
Church Council – supporting and advising the overall building process
Stained Glass Window subcommittee – working with Statesville Stained Glass to
provide 18 small windows and a new Good Shepherd Window for our sanctuary (Elise
Bowman, chair)
Furnishings subcommittee – choosing the sanctuary furnishings, carpet, floor
tile, paint colors, etc. to make our new building feel like home (Mark Meuschke,
chair)
Are there any unoccupied seats on the Building Bandwagon?
There are reserved seats available for every member of Good Shepherd. We are on an exciting trip that will last 10 to 12 more months. We invite you to climb aboard the Bandwagon and help Good Shepherd complete new first-rate facilities that will support our ministry here in Gaithersburg for many years to come. All Aboard!!!
Ernie Kessler – Building Committee Chair
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Two new water fountains have been installed. |
Fresh concrete is poured to lay the flooring in place. |
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Each day we see more progress. |
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| 03/18/08 Roofing begins to go up. | Our old cross still stands |
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| New lobby walls being built. | Roof beam support spindle |
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| Roof slatting attached. | Sanctuary walls going up |
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Last Updated: 05/10/08 07:15 AM