A photographic history of our church. Concrete footings are poured in the ground underneath the floor of basement. They serve as the foundation of the.

A photographic history of our church

Twelve Apostles Parish

13 August 2012

Building Our House on a Rock Solid Foundation

Concrete footings

are poured in the

ground

underneath the

floor of basement.

They serve as the

foundation of the

foundation. Seen

from the east end

, the footings

trace the

“footprint” of the

lower level.

Safety First!

To strengthen the

footings, metal

rebar is placed

inside the

concrete as it is

poured. The

orange plastic

caps are placed

on the ends of the

rebar to prevent

injuries to

workers on site.

Keeping Our Balance

This interior

footing has four

bolts placed

within it. The

base of a support

column will later

be placed atop

these bolts. The

nuts will then be

adjusted to level

the base so the

column is

perfectly vertical.

“He sets up walls and ramparts to protect us”-Is 26:1

Concrete will be

poured into these

forms to create

the walls of the

lower level. The

metal rebar

provides interior

strength to the

concrete; the

walls will also be

buttressed with

steel beams on

the inside.

18 August 2012

The Upper Parking Lot

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The outlines of

the circle drive

and the upper lot

are seen in this

photo, taken from

the site of the

future front door

of the church.

This arrangement

will allow folks to

be dropped off

right at the front

door.

The Upper Parking Lot

This is the upper

lot seen from the

west end, facing

the front of the

church. The

forms for the

basement stand

just beyond the

lot’s edge. The

black plastic on

the right prevents

erosion of the

exposed soil.

The South Terrace

The south terrace,

viewed from the

southwest. The

lower level– which

houses the future

classrooms, parish

hall, and offices—

opens directly into

this area. The

Prius, trailer, and

outhouse will be

removed prior to

occupancy!

The Lower Parking Lot

This lot sets

directly south of

the church. It

provides

convenient access

for entry to the

lower level of the

church where the

future offices,

classrooms, and

fellowship hall

will be located.

Safety First!

The future church

will accommodate

over 400 people,

so it is necessary

to provide

adequate fire

protection. These

hydrants will be

installed near the

south side of the

church to

facilitate fire

control.

The Lower Level

This is a view of

the lower level of

the church from

the northeast

corner. Due to

the height of the

walls, scaffolding

is required just to

install the forms.

Concrete will

soon be poured

into these forms

to make the

outside walls.

This is the electricity

meter for the new

facility. Since the

church sets back several

hundred feet from the

road, it is necessary to

run as much electrical

line to bring power to it.

The extensive power

requirements of our

church, necessitated by

the high demands for

heating and cooling a

large volume of space,

also require specially

designed power

distribution systems.

Let There Be Light!

3 Sept 2012

Basement Walls in Progress

The walls in the

lower level

continue to be

erected. Some

have already

been built, as

seen on the left;

the forms of

others have been

built, but

concrete will be

poured later;

finally, some of

the forms, shown

in center, still

await assembly.

Plumbing

These vertical

white pipes are

for plumbing.

One Last Look . . .

The walls shown

here will

eventually be

buried

underground.

Curbing on the Grade

These curbs show

the outlines of the

roundabout and

driveway out to

Humphrey’s

Road.

Storm Sewers

The impermeable

surfaces of the

parking lot and

driveway create

large amounts of

runoff water.

This storm sewer

conducts the

water to a

detention pond

which delays its

entry into the

drainage ditch

and thereby

prevents flooding.

Making a Highway for Our God, and

His People

The high amount

of traffic entering

and leaving the

campus at Mass

times will affect

traffic flow on

Humphrey’s

Road. In order to

lessen the impact,

we are required

to add an extra

lane along the

frontage of our

property.

Making Connections

In order to get

water to the

building, 1800 feet

of pipe was run

from the

intersection of N

Hwy to the parish

campus. Here the

valve connecting

the main to the

campus is shown.

The concrete vault

on the left will

contain the water

meter and pump.

Making Connections,

Part II

Electricity to the

campus is now

hooked up. The

three strips of

conduit on the

left of the power

pole contain the

wiring which

carry power to

the building.

Power is already

needed for

lighting the

trailer and

running other

construction

equipment.

22 September 2012

Basement Lower Level

Floor

The floor in the

lower level is

seen in this

photo. The

concrete was just

poured this week.

The concrete

slab is sawed into

square sections to

prevent unwanted

cracking.

Lower Level Floor—Part II

The pillars

supporting the

upper level floor

will rest directly

on the footings

below the

basement floor,

hence forms were

placed around the

bases for the

pillars.

The Kitchen

Due to cost

limitations, the

proposed kitchen

cannot be built in

the first phase of

construction. To

facilitate later

construction, this

section of the floor

is deliberately left

unfinished. The

doorway will

provide easy access

to the kitchen from

the outside.

Wall Exterior

The black

material on the

exterior of the

wall is

waterproofing.

The blue

Styrofoam

insulates the wall

to prevent water

condensation on

the interior wall

during cool

weather.

Wall Exterior—Part II

The exterior of

the walls is

backfilled with

gravel rather

than dirt. The

gravel makes it

easier for water

to drain away and

thereby reduces

strain on the

exterior due to

water pressure

and freezing.

Driveway

Prior to the

paving of the

driveway, a base

layer of gravel is

placed on the

driveways and

parking lots.

Hole-y Ground

This photo shows

the water line

connection near

the church. The

yellow caution

tape warns

onlookers—both

Anglo and

Latino--that

falling into a hole

may cause

serious injury.

The contractor is

not responsible

for harm suffered

by illiterates.

28 September 2012

Taking Shape

The structural steel

framework

supports the floor

of the upper level

and buttresses the

lower level walls

too. The concrete

piers will support

the exterior

pilasters in the

finished church.

The remaining

lower level walls

will be made of

wood rather than

concrete.

Bell Tower

This steel frame

is the structural

support for the

bell tower. Due to

budget

constraints, no

bell will be

installed in the

tower at first.

Eventually, a

carillon

(electronic) bell

system will be

installed.

A Stairway to Heaven

The stairway on

the right provides

access from the

lower to the

upper levels of

the building. The

square hole on

the left is the

base of the

elevator shaft.

Due to budgetary

constraints, the

elevator will not

be installed in the

first stage of

construction.

Pier-ing Inside

These concrete

piers mark the

main entrance of

the church. They

will support the

overhang

structure at the

front door that

will shield

worshipers

entering the

church from

inclement

weather.

Side Entrance

These steel posts

frame the side

entrance of the

church. This

entrance will be

situated near a

circle drive. It will

allow for people to

be dropped off

near the church.

Eventually the

section of the

drive near this

entrance will be

covered.

Holy-Mole-y?

Is this the work of

a gigantic

mutant mole?

Not exactly. This

lengthy mound of

dirt traces the

waste disposal

line which runs

from the north

side of the

building to the

northwest corner

of the campus

where the septic

system has been

installed.

A New Kind of Irrigation

The facility’s waste

will be disposed of

in a septic system

on the northwest

corner of the

campus. The

white pipes

indicate the site of

lateral lines of the

plumbing network.

After the county

sewer line is built

to the north, the

waste line will be

connected to it.

5 October 2012

Closing In

The lower walls

on the south and

east sides of the

structure are

made of wood.

The studs and

other support

elements are

shown here. The

doorways and

windows can be

seen from this

view from the

south.

Closing In, Part II

This is a view

from the east.

The doorway into

the lower level

can be seen on

the left. This end

of the lower level

will eventually be

turned into

administrative

offices for the

parish.

Closed In

This is a view

from the inside of

the lower level

looking outside

towards the

southwest. A

doorway and

window openings

can be seen.

Let There Be Light . . . Poles

The base for one

of the parking lot

lights is shown

here.

Coincidentally,

there are twelve

poles in the lots,

corresponding to

the twelve

apostles. As the

Lord told them in

the Sermon on

the Mount: You

are the light of

the world!

Dirty Jobs

These concrete

covers grant

access to the

septic tanks so

that they can be

serviced as

needed. The

tanks are located

to the east of the

church.

Main Entrance

These steel

beams will

support the

overhang above

the front

entrance into the

church.

A Bend in the Road

A change in the

construction

plans was

recently made. It

was decided to

finish paving all

the parking lots.

So additional

preparation work

is being done to

complete this

easternmost

section of the

lower parking lot.

Pooch Pilgrimage

Site?

It is said that all

dogs go to

heaven. We hope

they all don’t go

here! In fact, this

fire hydrant is

located near the

front entrance to

ensure adequate

emergency water

service in the

event of a fire.

12 October 2012

Lower Level-East End

The lower level

walls are being

installed. The

outlines of

doorways and

windows can be

seen in this photo

taken of the east

end of the

building.

Lower LevelSouth Side

This view of the

south side of the

lower level shows

the outlines of the

windows and

doorways. The

lower level will

house the

classrooms,

fellowship hall,

and parish

offices.

Come on in, the Door’s

Open!

The outlines of

the walkway from

the parking lot to

the lower level

are traced by the

gravel path. A

sidewalk will be

installed here

later.

Looking from the Inside Out

This is a view

from the interior

of the south

doorway. The

gravel path leads

to the parking lot.

TJI Fridays

These wooden

floor joists are

known as “TJIs.”

They provide

support for the

upper level floor.

Upper Level Flooring

Plywood is being

placed on the

floor joists to

serve as the base

for the rest of the

upper level

flooring.

Future Kitchen

The kitchen will

eventually be

installed in the

northeast corner

of the lower level,

so this area was

left open for the

installation of the

necessary

equipment in the

future. The pipes

connecting to the

future drains and

sewers can just

barely be seen.

My Friend, Go Up Higher!

. . . But you’ll

have to take the

stairs! This

square opening is

the base of the

shaft of the future

elevator. It will

be covered with a

temporary floor

at first; this floor

section will then

be removed when

the elevator is

installed.

A View from Above

This photo shows

the plywood

being affixed to

the top of the

floor joists.

Main Ent;ry

This photo shows

the main entry of

the church. The

approximate level

of the floor is now

beginning to

appear.

Let the Sun Shine In!

It was a cloudy

day for the Age of

Aquarius.

Nonetheless, by

leaving the

southwest corner

of the flooring

until last, workers

were able to

make use of

natural

illumination. A

set of TJIs rests

just inside the

side entry from

the north.

A Bump in the Road

The concrete has

been poured at

the entry of the

driveway. The

asphalt paving of

the rest of the

drive should

begin soon. In

the meantime,

traffic is entering

from a temporary

driveway on the

east end of the

frontage.

26 October 2012

Glulams

Glulam is

shorthand for

Glued Laminated

Timber. These

are supporting

elements that

support the roof

and upper walls

of the church. A

pair of the

glulams are being

installed here.

Glulams: A Closer Look

Glulams are

actually

composite beams

made of

numerous

wooden beams

(approximately 1”

x 4”) which are

bent and then

glued together

and laminated.

Meeting in the Middle

The glulams are

erected in pairs.

The two glulams

are connected at

top by several

bolts which are

run through these

pre-drilled holes.

Making Connections

The metal

bracket at the

base of this

glulam is called a

“shoe.” The shoe

joins the glulam

base to the steel

frame below.

Working in High Places

Yes, those who

work for the

Church work in

“high places,” but

we usually speak

in figurative

terms. Not so

here! Due to the

high of the

glulams,

scaffolding must

be erected to

enable workers to

fasten the beams

together at top.

Decking

Once the glulams

are in place, the

wooden decking

shown here

(wrapped in

protective plastic)

will be ready to

install. This

decking will be

fastened to the

top of the glulams

and will

constitute the

church ceiling.

Work in Progress

Getting material

into place for

assembly is a job in

itself! The orange

forklift in front is

used to lift the

material from the

ground to the floor

of the church for

assembly. The

wooden frame for

one of the dormers

on the south side

has just been

installed in the

center.

More Work in Progress

Two cranes are

used to raise the

glulams into place.

Wind has proved to

be a significant

challenge due to

the high elevation

of the site and the

height of the

glulams. The

glulams are

fastened to one

another and also

attached by cables

to the floor for

stability.

Handle with Care

The protective

plastic and other

materials are

used to shield the

glulams from

damage during

assembly.

Shortening the Long and

Winding Road

The asphalt

surfacing has

made the trip up

the driveway a

little shorter, or

at least, a bit

smoother.

Parking Lot

The asphalt has

also been laid

down on the

parking lots.

Quite a Handful

This orange

instrument is

used by a worker

on the floor to

steady the glulam

while it is being

hoisted by the

crane.

Taking Shape

This photo is

taken from the

vicinity of the

future choir area

in the north

transept, looking

into the main

nave. It gives

some idea of how

the structure will

appear when

finished.

Worshipers will

not be required to

wear hardhats!

Safety Railing

Temporary safety

railing is erected

around the floor

during

construction to

prevent workers

and authorized

visitors from

falling off.

Holding It Together

At this stage of

construction, the

glulams must be

kept stable using

cables attached

to the floor as

well as by

fastening them to

each other.

Dormers

This is the

wooden frame,

partially

assembled, for

one of the

dormers which

run along the

sides of the

church. The

frames are

assembled on the

floor and then

raised into place

along the walls.

Taking Shape—Main Entrance

This photo from

the west gives the

viewer a sense of

the how the

outline of the east

side of the church

will appear. The

steeple of the bell

tower will rise

slightly higher

than the top of

the crane on the

right.

2 Nov 2012

Ridgebeam & Purlins : The glulams are now being connected to each other via the ridgebeam running along the top of the structure and the purlins which run horizontally from one glulam to another.

X Marks the Spot

These diagonal

beams in the bell

tower denote

shear walls. The

shear walls help

reinforce the

structure against

the stresses

induced by high

winds.

Narthex

This pair of

smaller glulams

in the foreground

gives the

observer a sense

of the narthex,

that is, the

gathering area at

the front of the

church. It has a

lower roof that

segregates it

from the nave,

that is, the main

body of the

church.

Taking Shape: This perspective lets one see the outline of the different sections of the church: the north transept on the left, the main body of the church in the center, and the narthex on the right.

It’s Beginning to Look a Bit

Like Christmas

. . . but not too

much! This

temporary

lighting in the

lower level allows

work to continue

downstairs even

during inclement

weather.

Gas Line

This is the gas

line coming from

the east. Natural

gas will be used

to heat the

church.

Some Assembly

Required . . . Still

This light pole

still needs to be

attached to its

base on the edge

of the upper

parking lot.

As Ye Sow, Ye Shall Reap! The exposed earth in the background is a “swale”, an excavated channel that will conduct water to the detention basin on the south end of the campus. To prevent erosion, rye is being

sown in the swale.

9 November 2012

Light Poles

The light poles

have now been

erected. They

provide

illumination to

the upper and

lower parking

lots.

Circuit Box

This circuit box

has been installed

in the lower level.

It contains the

circuit breakers

and power

switches which

regulate

electricity coming

into the building.

Glulams etc.: The glulams and other support elements have almost been completely installed now. The decking will begin to be installed next week. Some of the studs for the side walls in the upper level have also been put in.

Front Entrance: This updated photo of the front entrance shows the glulams and ridgebeam for the side entrance in profile. In subsequent construction, the north side of the structure will have a covered drive thru entrance for dropping off worshipers.

Safety Concerns

Although the

bright red fire

hydrants are hard

to miss, it can be

done! So this

long beam has

been attached to

one in a high

traffic area to

alert operators of

man-lifts,

forklifts, etc.