October 30 Construction Update

Update - October 30, 2013

Rev. Dr. Barry Cass

The Building Committee had an update on the ceiling progress at this week’s meeting.  The staging will all be in place by the end of the day and work has begun on the demolition of the ceiling.  Everything will be removed to the lathe, which will then be raised to the correct height.  When it is at the correct height the plastering will begin.  The best estimate we have now is that the completion of the Meeting House will be delayed six to seven weeks as a result of this.

Work on the main entrance is nearly complete and we should be able to use it by the end of the week.  There may be a few days in the future when we will not be able to use it because of work being done on the driveway and parking lot, but for the most part it will be available.

We are moving ahead toward accepting a bid for a contractor to supply and install the audio visual equipment throughout the new Meeting House.  We have chosen to delay the installation of some of the equipment because the cost proved to be higher than we had budgeted.  The sound equipment in the sanctuary will be that which was recommended and will provide us with top notch sound and sound enhancement.  In the future we will be looking to expand the system to include the Foundation Room.

Even while work is being done on the sanctuary ceiling, work continues throughout the rest of the building.  The Foundation Room and kitchen are nearly completed and all the kitchen equipment should be delivered and installed early next week.  Wainscoting has been installed in Pilgrim Hall and work there is being completed to ready it for painting.  The Meeting Room is also in the final stages of preparation for painting.  All of these areas should be complete in the next three to four weeks.

Work is also continuing in the balcony and around the edges of the sanctuary.  The stained glass windows have arrived and are being installed.  Once the ceiling is replaced work will be done to install the oak flooring and carpet in the sanctuary, the pews will be installed and the final painting will be done.  The balustrades will also be installed around the edge of the balcony.  These are a new feature for us, required by the new codes.  Above the solid wall of the balcony there will be spindles to keep people from falling over the edge into the congregation below. 

The columns for the front of the building will be delivered at the end of this week and installed beginning on Tuesday next week.  Due to some delays this is later than we had hoped and later than had been scheduled, so it looks as though they may not get painted until the spring when the weather is warmer.  There will also be other exterior painting to be completed when the weather warms up again.

The Building Committee spent some time reviewing color choices for the sanctuary now that some of the trim and portions of the walls have been painted.   It was decided to stay with the original colors.  There is growing excitement about how amazing the new Meeting House is going to be!

We continue to invite contributions from the community to help us fund the completion of the Meeting House.  Contributions can be made through the website www.somerscongregational.org or by mail to PO Box 295 Somers, CT 06071.