This edition of Construction News contains the following articles: "It’s Good To Be Home”, "New Building Going Up!!", "Fire Damage Cleanup Status", "What’s Next on Turner Schedule?", "Sanctuary/Narthex and Administration Wing Off-limits”, “How Do You Get to the Church Office”, and “Fire Doors or Sprinklers – That Is The Question”.

It’s Good To Be Home

We are grateful to the staff at Randolph School for making their auditorium and children’s classrooms available so that we could conduct church services, as well as nursery and extended care services, for the three Sundays after the fire.  But, we are glad to be back home. 

Regular Sunday services resumed in Fellowship Hall on October 12 as did nursery care.  Both children’s and adult Sunday School classes started up on October 19 and the Wednesday Night Alive program picked up where it had left off on October 22.

New Building Going Up!!

Praise the Lord!!!  After many months of site prep work (rock removal, etc.) and laying the foundation, we can now see concrete blocks and steel going up.  It’s even possible to identify a room or two in the new building.   For the first time, bad weather didn’t stop work.  The construction crew had a dry place to work during the rain showers last Friday.

Fire Damage Cleanup Status

On Wednesday, October 22, a walk-through of portions of Covenant was conducted by the cleanup company, Dirtbusters, Inc., Turner Universal, and Covenant staff.  Covered in the walk-through were Fellowship Hall and kitchen, Chapel, Children’s Education wing, Adult Education wing, and the basement.  A few problems were noted and corrected on Thursday.  These areas are now “officially clean”.

Cleanup in the Sanctuary, Narthex, and the first floor of the old Administrative wing continues with expected completion date of November 3.  In order to keep from re-contaminating the cleaned areas, Turner has isolated the above from the rest of the facility.  They will likely continue to be isolated until renovations are completed.

What’s Next On Turner Schedule?

After assessing the impact of fire damage cleanup and recovery, Turner and Covenant developed a new, slightly revised schedule.  The key item is the hope that we will be able to have our first services in the Sanctuary on Christmas Eve.  Shortly after we move into the Sanctuary, work on the Fellowship Hall renovation will begin.  If all goes well, the new music room and renovated restrooms will be available in mid-January, while the new library and elevator should be ready by mid-February.  The new building and parking lot should open by mid-March.

The adult education wing is scheduled for renovation in January and February.  The plan is to renovate one classroom at a time; this will result in some disruptions in adult classes, but hopefully not more than one classroom at a time.

Sanctuary/Narthex and Administration Wing Off-limits

As noted elsewhere, the Sanctuary/Narthex and former Administration wing are Construction zones.  There will be no access to these areas from other parts of the church until construction is completed!!

How Do You Get to the Church Offices?

Very carefully!  With the narthex off limits and demolition of Hal’s old office and the stairs to the Adult Education wing underway, there is only one way.  Put the following directions in your GPS.

1. Walk through the hallway outside Fellowship Hall toward the children’s wing. 
2. You will see a railing missing on the right side of the walkway.  You will also see a gravel path.
3. Follow the gravel path to the double doors.
4. Go through the doors and turn left.  The entrance to the church office (aka Chapel) will be on your right.

Fire Doors or Sprinklers – That Is The Question

After a visit last month from the Fire Marshall through the children’s wing, we were told to build fire exits in each classroom, plus add fire/smoke dampers throughout the wing.  Because the Fire Marshall has added a requirement of sprinklers in the new building, we have determined that installing sprinklers in the preschool connected to the new building will be less expensive than fire exits and also allow for future growth.  Once the architect completes the new drawings, Turner will schedule the work.  We are assured that there will be no impact on preschool classes.