First Unitarian Society - "Hard Hat Update"

March 19, 2008
	Greetings! The sky is gray but the snow is going. It’s Spring Break, and we’re using the lull in Nursery School to finish electrical and sprinkler work in the Lower B-wing, as well as to drill geothermal wells in the parking lot. The snow blower is all packed up to return to the Findorff yard. I did take some pictures with blue sky last week. The bottom photo was contributed by Mat from Findorff, taken from the heights of Children’s Hospital. You can see how it will truly be a campus. Goodbye Big Yeller On Friday we will take advantage of the empty lot to dismantle our big crane. All the big beams are installed, so we can bring in a smaller crane when we have some more heavy lifting. Sidewalk Superintending There are still workers on the Auditorium roof, only now they are electricians instead of carpenters. All the wiring and holes in the ceiling must be completed before the roofers come on Tuesday to add the insulation and membrane. The Upper Crossing floor is complete and is waiting for its final layer of concrete. The red color will be applied closer to completion. All the covers are off the red pine posts (from the Menominee Reservation). They are already finished, and the eaves will keep them dry. And of course the well drilling. Sixteen holes, each one 250 feet deep. I keep recalling how we talked of geothermal wells, but didn’t quite comprehend the bother of drilling in the middle of pour parking lot. No pain, no gain! Behind the Scenes As the building becomes more real, and we know more about the budget, the Building Committee is making final decisions on furniture. Production is already starting on the chairs for the Auditorium. Outside the entrance to the Meeting House, you can see a slab of board-formed concrete with test patches of stain. All our visible concrete will have a warm tan translucent stain. Our green roof contractor http://www.liveroof.com/ has started rooting slips of sedums. They should be healthy and mature by June. Next Week Roofing on the Auditorium, more sprinklers in the Lower Crossing. -- David Weber, Owners Representative davidw@fusmadison.org Come to the Facilities Forum Saturday, March 29 Immediately after the Service Please put this date on your calendar! Please join us for a facilities forum on Saturday, March 29, after the Service (about 5:45). We'll have good food, childcare, and news about what's happening with facilities, including: How we're planning to use the new and historic spaces Planning our move-in Volunteer opportunities And more! See you there! -- Laurie Joiner, 238-6358 ljoiner@mindspring.com
Workers completing the ceiling of the south wall. Note the gracefully tapering beams.

Geothermal wells are being drilled in the parking lot. These 16 wells will be connected together with a system of underground hoses and pipes, forming a giant "radiator," cooled (in summer) and heated (in winter) by the earth itself, creating a very efficient, inexpensive to operate and environmentally-friendly system.
The view from the children's hospital shows our growing campus.