First Unitarian Society - "Hard Hat Update"

February 27, 2008
	Roof! Roof! Greetings from the sunny slope of 900 University Bay. It’s still cold , but everything looks better in the sun. The roof is where the action is this week. The Upper Crossing is decked. I guarantee that there will be proper insulation and not just tar paper. Tuesday the roof trusses started to appear, so the shape of the Auditorium is beginning to emerge. It seems paradoxical, but at each step the space becomes more intimate. The pine ceilings are beautiful in the sun. As soon as there is an ice free path, I will resume Sunday tours. Sidewalk Superintending The roof trusses are the most noticeable change. They are in three parts: a central span and two tapered end-pieces which are bolted in place separately. This week a Glu-lam truss in a different building from the 60’s failed in a church in Madison. Our structure is inherently stronger; there is no bow, and the steel strut on the underside of our trusses will prevent failures. At the west end you can see the framing for the floor of the link to the B wing. Preservation The small lift came back on Monday, and almost all the Auditorium lights are now working. However in the two steps forward, one step back nature of this project, the factory in Atlanta shipped only half as many of the anchor springs as we need. The springs were air freighted yesterday, but we will need to live with the lift through the weekend. Meanwhile enjoy the new rings in the Lobby and Loggia. Out of Sight The Lower Crossing and Education hall look like Antarctica, with shoulder high snow piles separated by well trodden paths. The electricians are roughing in conduit and the fire safety crew is putting up sprinklers. Next Week The roofing crew arrives. They will start on the classroom and Upper Crossing roof. David Weber , Owner's Representative
Looking south into the Education Hall and the Lower Crossing. It feels a bit like Antarctica in there.

A truss for the Auditorium roof being hoisted into place.

Building the Auditorium roof. Each piece of glu-lam has been cut to exact standards at the plant and so far have fit together perfectly to create the gently sweeping curves that echo the Historic Meeting House eaves.