Difference between revisions of "Construction archives"

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(New page: <small>return to construction</small> == Week of October 12 == First up on construction is the roof. These photos show the delivery of polyiso insulation for the roof. The last 2 phot...)
 
 
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<small>return to [[construction]]</small>
 
<small>return to [[construction]]</small>
  
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== Week of October 12 ==
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Construction reporting, week by week, from October 12, 2009 - February 22, 2010. The reporting continues on [[construction archives 2]], [[construction archives 3]] and [[construction archives 4]].
 +
 
 +
== Week of October 12, 2009 ==
 
First up on construction is the roof. These photos show the delivery of polyiso insulation for the roof. The last 2 photos show Eduardo and Heladio digging to find the foundation for the northwest corner of the old building. In the 1920's this was part of the building, but in the '60s it was removed to make another truck well. We're restoring this section of the building and wanted to build on the old foundation, but were surprised to find very little evidence of that foundation, so we're going to put a new one in ourselves.
 
First up on construction is the roof. These photos show the delivery of polyiso insulation for the roof. The last 2 photos show Eduardo and Heladio digging to find the foundation for the northwest corner of the old building. In the 1920's this was part of the building, but in the '60s it was removed to make another truck well. We're restoring this section of the building and wanted to build on the old foundation, but were surprised to find very little evidence of that foundation, so we're going to put a new one in ourselves.
 
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== Week of October 26 ==
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== Week of October 26, 2009 ==
 
More work on the new roof this week. The pictures below show us getting polyisoinsulation up onto the roof, and views of the layers that are being built up there. The layers you're seeing in the pictures begin with 16" laminated veneer lumber, 2 x 8 rafters in between, 3 layers of polyisoinsulation, 2 x 8s on top, covered with OSB, or oriented strand board. Cellulose that has been saved from the deconstruction will be blown into the spaces between the LVL's.  
 
More work on the new roof this week. The pictures below show us getting polyisoinsulation up onto the roof, and views of the layers that are being built up there. The layers you're seeing in the pictures begin with 16" laminated veneer lumber, 2 x 8 rafters in between, 3 layers of polyisoinsulation, 2 x 8s on top, covered with OSB, or oriented strand board. Cellulose that has been saved from the deconstruction will be blown into the spaces between the LVL's.  
  
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== Week of November 2 ==
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== Week of November 2, 2009 ==
  
 
This week we continued working on the roof (by roof, right now I mean the historic bowed roof). Once the polyiso and rafters were up, we filled in the rafters with more polyiso and blew in a mix of used and new cellulose insulation. People like Tom O'Connor and Mike McCarty worked on more materials management inside. The city inspector came by for a 3rd time, and told us he doesn't need to visit for the roof again. We sold our suspended lights to people on Craigslist. Eduardo and Heladio poured the foundation for the new room (front north part of the building).  And most importantly....still no dumpster! The last couple of pictures show our meeting with Frank Lucente, who began working at the GG in 1952, and Dave Patrize, whose father was the original Patrize of Kanners and Patrize. We spent a couple of hours learning about the history of the building, and what life was like during the decades Frank worked at the building.
 
This week we continued working on the roof (by roof, right now I mean the historic bowed roof). Once the polyiso and rafters were up, we filled in the rafters with more polyiso and blew in a mix of used and new cellulose insulation. People like Tom O'Connor and Mike McCarty worked on more materials management inside. The city inspector came by for a 3rd time, and told us he doesn't need to visit for the roof again. We sold our suspended lights to people on Craigslist. Eduardo and Heladio poured the foundation for the new room (front north part of the building).  And most importantly....still no dumpster! The last couple of pictures show our meeting with Frank Lucente, who began working at the GG in 1952, and Dave Patrize, whose father was the original Patrize of Kanners and Patrize. We spent a couple of hours learning about the history of the building, and what life was like during the decades Frank worked at the building.
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==Week of November 9==
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==Week of November 9, 2009==
 
The roof is becoming watertight with the addition of DeckArmor. More polyiso being delivered for the walls. Organizing scrap materials. Work begins on the mezzanine in the front of the building (by Second Ave). Work begins on the 3-season room, the only exterior addition we'll be doing (located on northwest corner of the building).
 
The roof is becoming watertight with the addition of DeckArmor. More polyiso being delivered for the walls. Organizing scrap materials. Work begins on the mezzanine in the front of the building (by Second Ave). Work begins on the 3-season room, the only exterior addition we'll be doing (located on northwest corner of the building).
  
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== Week of November 16 ==
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== Week of November 16, 2009 ==
  
 
This week finds us finished with most of the layers of the historic roof, with only the Duralast layer still to go. Before we can put Duralast up, we need to get 2 more roof sections done. First is a small section of roof that runs in the front of the building that is not bowed like the rest of the historic roof - we're calling this section the front garden roof, because it will be a rooftop patio/garden area. The pictures below reflect he work on this section of the roof. We are also working on the addition to the building (northwest corner), and that will have a small roof. As soon as these roofs are prepped and insulated, the Duralast membrane will be added to the whole thing.  
 
This week finds us finished with most of the layers of the historic roof, with only the Duralast layer still to go. Before we can put Duralast up, we need to get 2 more roof sections done. First is a small section of roof that runs in the front of the building that is not bowed like the rest of the historic roof - we're calling this section the front garden roof, because it will be a rooftop patio/garden area. The pictures below reflect he work on this section of the roof. We are also working on the addition to the building (northwest corner), and that will have a small roof. As soon as these roofs are prepped and insulated, the Duralast membrane will be added to the whole thing.  
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==Week of November 23==
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==Week of November 23, 2009==
 
This week we saw the front of the building finally looking like it did in the 1920's, with the northwest corner well on its way to being reestablished. We even replicated the original weave brick work and limestone accents. We also made great progress on our front rooftop garden area, establishing the walls, parapet and doorway. The last bit of old plaster came off of the inside ceiling. We ran into an issue midway through the week where we almost resorted to a dumpster -- the debris from the old roof had to go, but we couldn't find anyone to take it, and we couldn't use it. We put the message out to Facebook ,and got an answer (connected up to national Recycling, who agreed to take our roof debris and our plaster). Way to go, Facebook community!
 
This week we saw the front of the building finally looking like it did in the 1920's, with the northwest corner well on its way to being reestablished. We even replicated the original weave brick work and limestone accents. We also made great progress on our front rooftop garden area, establishing the walls, parapet and doorway. The last bit of old plaster came off of the inside ceiling. We ran into an issue midway through the week where we almost resorted to a dumpster -- the debris from the old roof had to go, but we couldn't find anyone to take it, and we couldn't use it. We put the message out to Facebook ,and got an answer (connected up to national Recycling, who agreed to take our roof debris and our plaster). Way to go, Facebook community!
  
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</gallery>
  
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== Week of November 30 ==
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== Week of November 30, 2009 ==
  
 
We're opening up the earth in our backyard this week to lay down the earth-air tubes. We ran into a problem with the telephone pole and had to devise a way to get he tubes into our building without knocking over the pole. We also hit a water main after being assured by the city that there was no main in our backyard - ah well, it gave us an adventure. As a result of the digging, the coal chute was removed from the building, allowing the first sunlight to penetrate the basement since the 1920's. We're also working on the roof garden area, and sorting our old roof material into Boxxster boxes for National Recycling to take. Water tanks were also delivered.
 
We're opening up the earth in our backyard this week to lay down the earth-air tubes. We ran into a problem with the telephone pole and had to devise a way to get he tubes into our building without knocking over the pole. We also hit a water main after being assured by the city that there was no main in our backyard - ah well, it gave us an adventure. As a result of the digging, the coal chute was removed from the building, allowing the first sunlight to penetrate the basement since the 1920's. We're also working on the roof garden area, and sorting our old roof material into Boxxster boxes for National Recycling to take. Water tanks were also delivered.
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== Week of December 7 ==
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== Week of December 7, 2009 ==
  
 
This was the week of walnut blasting the ceiling. As far as we knew, our 90-year-old ceiling had never been cleaned, and we considered many options before settling on walnut shell blasting. Ron Wells of Grand Northern Products came over and got us set up, and Eduardo and Heladio did the blasting after some training. Also this week, brick work was completed on parts of the building where brick had been removed for use elsewhere. Also, the Durolast membrane made an entrance. Finally, our old plaster ceiling was taken away for recycling by National Recycling.
 
This was the week of walnut blasting the ceiling. As far as we knew, our 90-year-old ceiling had never been cleaned, and we considered many options before settling on walnut shell blasting. Ron Wells of Grand Northern Products came over and got us set up, and Eduardo and Heladio did the blasting after some training. Also this week, brick work was completed on parts of the building where brick had been removed for use elsewhere. Also, the Durolast membrane made an entrance. Finally, our old plaster ceiling was taken away for recycling by National Recycling.
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</gallery>  
  
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==Week of December 14==
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==Week of December 14, 2009==
 
Big week of progress. First, the Durolast membrane was attached to the historic roof. Work began on the annex roof. Blasting finished up inside, and we moved pieces of limestone from the side of the building to the front, over the new 3-season room. In its place on the side, we'll put a historic ceramic parapet. One of the reasons we moved the limestone from the sides was for increased visibility when on the rooftop patio. Also, we needed it for the 3-season room.
 
Big week of progress. First, the Durolast membrane was attached to the historic roof. Work began on the annex roof. Blasting finished up inside, and we moved pieces of limestone from the side of the building to the front, over the new 3-season room. In its place on the side, we'll put a historic ceramic parapet. One of the reasons we moved the limestone from the sides was for increased visibility when on the rooftop patio. Also, we needed it for the 3-season room.
  
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==Week of December 21==
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==Week of December 21, 2009==
  
 
Blasting finished...beginning the process of insulating the annex by cutting out the cement from the perimeter.
 
Blasting finished...beginning the process of insulating the annex by cutting out the cement from the perimeter.
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</gallery>
  
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==Week of December 28==
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==Week of December 28, 2009==
 
Digging the trench in the annex perimeter...preparing for the tubes.
 
Digging the trench in the annex perimeter...preparing for the tubes.
 
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[[Category:site index]]
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==Week of January 4, 2010==
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<gallery>
 +
Image:removing-concrete.jpg|Eduardo and Heladio removing concrete at site of new alley entrance
 +
 
 +
Image:new-graffiti.jpg|New graffiti in the 3-season room
 +
 
 +
Image:old-windows.jpg|Old windows stored for later reuse
 +
 
 +
Image:window-group.jpg|meeting on the windows on Wednesday
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</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===January 4, 2010 Video===
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 +
<youtube width="425" height="344" align=left>NE2dEN8u4mQ</youtube>
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<br style="clear:both;"/>
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 +
Tom describing the innovative way we will be heating and cooling the annex portion of the building. We can't put radiant heating under a wood floor because we want to leave the cement in place for anticipated use by heavy equipment. But there is another way...
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 +
==Week of January 12, 2010==
 +
The trench has been dug around the perimeter of the annex. This week involved laying the 1" tubing that will be used to cool the building in the summer (with cool water), then filling in with soil and laying down a vapor barrier and insulation. We also met with Billy West of [http://6447mack.com/ Dormouse] and Woody Melcher of Woodbury Associates to work on the design of a new stairway in the front of the building.
 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:annex perimeter.jpg|annex perimeter prepped for insulation
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 +
Image:vapor barrier.jpg|[http://www.stegoindustries.com/ Stego Industries Vapor Barrier]
 +
 
 +
Image:richard of aero.jpg|Richard of Aero cutting pieces of insulation
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 +
Image:laying annex insulation.jpg|Richard laying the annex insulation
 +
 
 +
Image:annex insulation 1.jpg|adding insulation and a vapor barrier
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Image:annex insulation 2.jpg|insulation in
 +
 
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Image:annex insulation 3.jpg|insulation
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 +
Image:cooling pipes in annex.jpg|cooling pipes that will be under insulation
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 +
Image:warming pipes.jpg|warming the pipes to improve flexibility
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 +
Image:hot-water-tubes.jpg|tubes that will carry water to heat the perimeter of the annex
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 +
Image:hot-water-tubes-2.jpg|tubes that will carry water to heat the perimeter of the annex
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 +
Image:tubes-point-of-origin.jpg|point of origin for heating and cooling tubes
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 +
Image:billy and woody.jpg|Billy (metalworker) and Woody (designer) discussing plans for stairway
 +
 
 +
Image:jim kelly.jpg|Jim Kelly with copy of upper window for sizing
 +
</gallery>
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 +
== Week of January 19, 2010 ==
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 +
This week a number of things happened. First, Eduardo and Heladio spent some time removing non-essentials from all around the walls and ceiling of the building in preparation for our upcoming wall work. In the first picture below, you see the lights that have been removed (they will be used in the finished building elsewhere). Also, insulation was added to the ceiling in the front part of the building, under the mezzanine area. Eduardo and Heladio worked on removing rotted wood from our ceiling and replacing it with good wood. Finally, the perimeter of the annex was filled with cement after all tubes and insulation were in place.
 +
<gallery>
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Image:lights.jpg|lights that have been removed from annex ceiling
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 +
Image:brick work in arch.jpg|repaired arch - brick work
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 +
Image:insulation at ceiling wall.jpg|insulation at the joint of the ceiling and front wall
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Image:insulation in ceiling.jpg|insulation in the ceiling
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 +
Image:repairing wood.jpg|Eduardo and Heladio removing rotted wood from ceiling in order to repair it
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Image:start of the pour.jpg|starting the pouring of cement in the annex
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Image:first load of concrete.jpg|first load of concrete
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Image:spread it out.jpg|spread it out
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 +
Image:coming around the corner.jpg|coming around the corner
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 +
Image:cement mixer peeking in.jpg|easy access
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 +
Image:smoothing concrete.jpg|smoothing concrete
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 +
Image:all poured.jpg|all poured
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 +
Image:almost done.jpg|almost done
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Image:a little form.jpg|a little form
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 +
Image:no waste cement.jpg|no waste
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 +
</gallery>
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== Week of January 26, 2010 ==
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 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:green-pipes.jpg|Green pipes that will be used for heating and cooling in the main building.
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Image:window-sample.jpg|A sample of our future windows.
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Image:infrared-camera.jpg|Ken's infrared camera showing us the cold (blue) and warm (white) spaces in the annex.
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 +
Image:beautiful-michigan-day.jpg|Beautiful Michigan day in January
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</gallery>
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 +
== Week of February 8, 2010 ==
 +
One of the things happening this week was testing soil samples to determine if there was any gas or harmful substances underground. Eduardo and Heladio also painted the annex ceiling.
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<gallery>
 +
Image:sample.jpg|soil sample
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Image:soil sample.jpg|soil sample
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Image:sample to send out.jpg|sample to send out
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Image:silty clay.jpg|silty clay
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Image:testing for vapors.jpg|testing for vapors
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Image:drilling concrete.jpg|drilling concrete
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Image:sampling inside.jpg|sampling inside
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Image:mcdowell.jpg|McDowell and Assoc, who are doing the sampling
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Image:painting annex ceiling.jpg|painting the annex ceiling
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Image:feb friday meeting.jpg|Commissioning meeting Friday, Feb. 12
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Image:ben ken and anderson.jpg|Ben, Ken and Anderson working on Ken's document communication systems on Friday
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Image:joe tom and kevin.jpg|Joe, Tom and Kevin working on Friday
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Image:u d mercy students sketching.jpg| U of D Mercy students sketching in front of the building
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Image:insulation for walls.jpg|insulation stacked and ready for walls
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Image:wood stacked.jpg|wood stacked and ready for use
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Image:white ceiling in annex.jpg|new white ceiling in the annex
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</gallery>
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 +
== Week of February 15, 2010 ==
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 +
Eduardo and Heladio worked on putting Defy sealer on the ceiling all week. The east loft was first to be done, so we celebrated by having our Friday meeting there.
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 +
<gallery>
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Image:sealing-ceiling.jpg|Eduardo sealing the ceiling
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Image:meeting-in-loft.jpg|Lunch meeting in the loft
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Image:friday-commissioning-meetin.jpg|Commissioning meeting Friday, Feb. 19
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Image:stacks-of-polyiso.jpg|Stacks of polyiso ready for the walls
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Image:stacked-materials-3.jpg|Stacked materials
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 +
Image:materials-storage.jpg|the inside right now
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Image:justin-zill-2.jpg|Justin Zill, student at Walsh College
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 +
Image:sunlight.jpg|spring is near...
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</gallery>
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 +
== Week of February 22, 2010 ==
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 +
This week began the work of the archiving group. We are taking old materials, mainly paper, that have been found in the building and cleaning them up and putting them away in a safe, acid-free environment until we can sort through it for display when the building opens. Aquatherms made a presentation about their Greenpipe product, and the Net Zero energy group reconvened for another discussion.
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
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Image:new use for old foam.jpg|New use for old foam
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Image:voc sampler.jpg|Sampling gases under the building
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Image:archiving 1.jpg|Archiving materials found in deconstruction phase
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 +
Image:archiving 2.jpg|More on the archiving
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 +
Image:green pipe group.jpg|Gathering to hear about the use of green pipes in our building
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 +
Image:jim of aquatherm.jpg|Jim of [http://www.aquathermpipe.com/ Aquatherm] telling us about his product, [http://www.aquathermpipe.com/aquatherm-greenpipe.html Greenpipe].
 +
 
 +
Image:jim and laurie.jpg|Jim showing Laurie Catey how to repair Greenpipe
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 +
Image:net zero energy group 2.jpg|Net zero energy group 2.0 meeting to discuss updates to various systems in the building
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 +
Image:radiant floor design.jpg|Rough sketch of radiant floor design
 +
 
 +
</gallery>
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<br style="clear:both;"/>
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 +
== See also ==
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 +
[[construction archives 2]] March 1, 2010 - August 30, 2010
 +
 
 +
[[construction archives 3]] September 7, 2010 - April 25, 2011
 +
 
 +
[[construction archives 4]] May 2, 2011 - Nov, 7, 2011

Latest revision as of 21:09, 3 January 2016

return to construction

Construction reporting, week by week, from October 12, 2009 - February 22, 2010. The reporting continues on construction archives 2, construction archives 3 and construction archives 4.

Week of October 12, 2009

First up on construction is the roof. These photos show the delivery of polyiso insulation for the roof. The last 2 photos show Eduardo and Heladio digging to find the foundation for the northwest corner of the old building. In the 1920's this was part of the building, but in the '60s it was removed to make another truck well. We're restoring this section of the building and wanted to build on the old foundation, but were surprised to find very little evidence of that foundation, so we're going to put a new one in ourselves.

  • Being delivered in truck

  • Unloading polyiso

  • John Linardos and his forklift providing assistance

  • Truck finally empty

  • Stacking it up in building

  • Some of it is being stored in the parking lot

  • Eduardo and Heladio digging to find foundation

  • Still digging

Video of the Week



Week of October 26, 2009

More work on the new roof this week. The pictures below show us getting polyisoinsulation up onto the roof, and views of the layers that are being built up there. The layers you're seeing in the pictures begin with 16" laminated veneer lumber, 2 x 8 rafters in between, 3 layers of polyisoinsulation, 2 x 8s on top, covered with OSB, or oriented strand board. Cellulose that has been saved from the deconstruction will be blown into the spaces between the LVL's.

A couple of points: The annex, or newer section of the building, is currently a staging area for materials we're using on the roof of the historic building. As soon as we're done doing the roof on the historic side, we'll do the annex roof. Also, you'll see me mention a moisture barrier in a couple of the photos. It was recommended that we install a moisture barrier along the sides of the roof to keep the cellulose insulation free from moisture. This week we also started selling or donating things we didn't need that we had accumulated from the deconstruction, primarily using Craigslist.

  • The new front fascia

  • Loading insulation up onto the roof

  • Showing the Skytrack, which helped us move the insulation

  • Future home for a Solatube

  • The annex, right now a staging area

  • Moisture barrier

  • Close-up of moisture barrier

  • Second layer of polyiso

  • Laying another layer of polyiso

  • Polyiso layer 3

  • Layer 3

  • Layer above the polyiso

  • Hole in ceiling for Solatube

  • center Solatube hole

  • Looking at the line of Solatube holes

  • Shaft for Solatube as seen from the roof

  • Solatube hole in shaft

  • Fitting more polyiso between 2x8's

  • Fitting more polyiso under

  • Layering more polyiso at Solatube boxes

  • Leaving a space to blow in cellulose

  • Give an artist a platform...

  • Sold our lights on Craigslist


Video of the Week



Week of November 2, 2009

This week we continued working on the roof (by roof, right now I mean the historic bowed roof). Once the polyiso and rafters were up, we filled in the rafters with more polyiso and blew in a mix of used and new cellulose insulation. People like Tom O'Connor and Mike McCarty worked on more materials management inside. The city inspector came by for a 3rd time, and told us he doesn't need to visit for the roof again. We sold our suspended lights to people on Craigslist. Eduardo and Heladio poured the foundation for the new room (front north part of the building). And most importantly....still no dumpster! The last couple of pictures show our meeting with Frank Lucente, who began working at the GG in 1952, and Dave Patrize, whose father was the original Patrize of Kanners and Patrize. We spent a couple of hours learning about the history of the building, and what life was like during the decades Frank worked at the building.

  • The front of the building as of November 4

  • Finishing the roof, annex holding debris

  • This is where we're building an addition to restore the building to its 1920s look

  • Wall insulation at the annex

  • Kenco truck powering the blowing of the insulation

  • Kenny of Kenco blowing in used cellulose

  • Mike McCarty working on electrical components

  • Frank Lucente and his son Dave - Frank started working in this building in 1952

  • Dave Patrize, Dave, Winnie, Frank L.


Videos of the Week

When we deconstructed the place, we saved all of our old cellulose insulation. This stuff is made from old newspapers and dates back to the 1920's. We stored it in a plastic-lined room in the back of the building and this week retrieved it for use on our new roof. Here you will see Kenny of Kenco blowing it into open areas in our new roof. At least that's what I think they were trying to do...


Our meeting with Frank Lucente and Dave Patrize about the history of the building got Frank to recall his old boss, Sam Kanners, a short, cigar-smoking, spitting man who wanted things the way he wanted them.




Week of November 9, 2009

The roof is becoming watertight with the addition of DeckArmor. More polyiso being delivered for the walls. Organizing scrap materials. Work begins on the mezzanine in the front of the building (by Second Ave). Work begins on the 3-season room, the only exterior addition we'll be doing (located on northwest corner of the building).

  • Watertight roof with DeckArmor

  • More polyiso for the walls

  • John Linardos helping once again

  • Work begins on the mezzanine

  • Heladio up on a lift

  • Organizing scrap drywall

  • Hole for Solatube, as seen from inside

  • Space reserved for new doorway to roof garden

  • Cinderblock and cement waiting for use tomorrow for 3-season room

  • Storing useable drywall (will use in walls for insulation)

  • Shaft of light coming from the west

  • Drilling a pocket to place a steel beam

  • Getting ready for the steel beam

  • Placing second beam

  • Repairing masonry where fence used to be

  • Friday tour of the building

  • Friday commissioning group

  • Attawa Power Plant in Lansing (source of our new greenhouse windows)

  • Selling space heaters through Craigslist

Week of November 16, 2009

This week finds us finished with most of the layers of the historic roof, with only the Duralast layer still to go. Before we can put Duralast up, we need to get 2 more roof sections done. First is a small section of roof that runs in the front of the building that is not bowed like the rest of the historic roof - we're calling this section the front garden roof, because it will be a rooftop patio/garden area. The pictures below reflect he work on this section of the roof. We are also working on the addition to the building (northwest corner), and that will have a small roof. As soon as these roofs are prepped and insulated, the Duralast membrane will be added to the whole thing.

One picture shows the carpentry group looking over the edge of the building at something. That something was the filming of a movie chase scene right along Second Ave.

  • Building a new deck in the front of the building

  • Working on new roof in front of building

  • Layers on new roof

  • Location of new roof

  • More on new roof

  • Future roof garden door

  • Out with the old

  • Will and cohort working on roof

  • View from the back of the building

  • Old roof membrane

  • New door to deck

  • Old gravel on the roof

  • The crew looking at the filming of a new movie on Second Ave

  • New room on Nov 20

  • Another view of new room

  • No more Kanners and Patrize sign

  • Tom O'Connor shoveling up garden roof debris

  • New artwork on our sidewalk

  • New back wall in back of building

  • Floor going into mezzanine

  • Tom O'Connor with common and scratch bricks

  • Friday commissioning group on Nov. 20

Video of the Week


Week of November 23, 2009

This week we saw the front of the building finally looking like it did in the 1920's, with the northwest corner well on its way to being reestablished. We even replicated the original weave brick work and limestone accents. We also made great progress on our front rooftop garden area, establishing the walls, parapet and doorway. The last bit of old plaster came off of the inside ceiling. We ran into an issue midway through the week where we almost resorted to a dumpster -- the debris from the old roof had to go, but we couldn't find anyone to take it, and we couldn't use it. We put the message out to Facebook ,and got an answer (connected up to national Recycling, who agreed to take our roof debris and our plaster). Way to go, Facebook community!

  • back to original front width

  • the front as of 11/25

  • reestablished corner

  • weave brick work

  • new pieces of limestone ready for placement

  • roof debris hiding Tom O' Connor

  • new mezzanine door

  • back wall of future roof garden

  • new roof garden

  • the last bit of plaster

  • who needs windows?

  • daylight

Week of November 30, 2009

We're opening up the earth in our backyard this week to lay down the earth-air tubes. We ran into a problem with the telephone pole and had to devise a way to get he tubes into our building without knocking over the pole. We also hit a water main after being assured by the city that there was no main in our backyard - ah well, it gave us an adventure. As a result of the digging, the coal chute was removed from the building, allowing the first sunlight to penetrate the basement since the 1920's. We're also working on the roof garden area, and sorting our old roof material into Boxxster boxes for National Recycling to take. Water tanks were also delivered.

  • New room as of December 1

  • Boxxster, boxes for sorting material to be recycled

  • Boxxster boxes

  • Pile of dirt (from earth-air tubes trench) seen from back door

  • tube origins in backyard

  • Connecting earth-air tube pipes in the trench

  • Trouble with the telephone pole caused us to pause and reconsider the dig

  • New pipe design avoids pole and water main

  • Final tube placement

  • Final connections of tubes

  • Finished earth air tubes

  • Hole for old coal chute

  • Eduardo and Heladio at the old coal chute

  • Coal chute was dug up, allowing the first sunlight into the basement in 75 years

  • Basement with new holes for earth-air tubes

  • Tubes coming into building

  • tubes in basement

  • Roof garden area as of December 1

  • Back wall of roof garden area

  • Polyiso on gable

  • foam joints of gable

  • Insulation for roof garden area

  • Insulation on rooftop garden area

  • New water tanks

  • Tom is still biking in!

  • Laurie Catey, Kirsten Lyons and Laura Long meeting again this Friday

  • empty truck well, after National Recycling removed roofing materials

Videos of the Week

Music video with pictures from our 2 days of installing earth air tubes.


The end of the day of ET installation - Day 2.



Week of December 7, 2009

This was the week of walnut blasting the ceiling. As far as we knew, our 90-year-old ceiling had never been cleaned, and we considered many options before settling on walnut shell blasting. Ron Wells of Grand Northern Products came over and got us set up, and Eduardo and Heladio did the blasting after some training. Also this week, brick work was completed on parts of the building where brick had been removed for use elsewhere. Also, the Durolast membrane made an entrance. Finally, our old plaster ceiling was taken away for recycling by National Recycling.


  • Ron Wells of Grand Northern Products setting up blasting

  • The blaster, who bears a little resemblance to Wall-E

  • The crushed walnuts that we are using for the blasting

  • Sifting-walnuts.jpg

    Eduardo Jr sifting walnuts so they can be reused

  • A little dust from the walnut blasting

  • Up, up and way

  • Before and after

  • The finished wood

  • The results are terrific

  • Unrolling first Durolast roll

  • Fastening Durolast membrane to roof

  • Beautiful Detroit scene from our roof

  • New brick work on side of building

  • New alley wall and fascia

  • Recycling plaster

  • Out with a Boxxster

Week of December 14, 2009

Big week of progress. First, the Durolast membrane was attached to the historic roof. Work began on the annex roof. Blasting finished up inside, and we moved pieces of limestone from the side of the building to the front, over the new 3-season room. In its place on the side, we'll put a historic ceramic parapet. One of the reasons we moved the limestone from the sides was for increased visibility when on the rooftop patio. Also, we needed it for the 3-season room.

  • A look at the new roof with Durolast membrane.

  • Durolast roof

  • Another look at roof

  • layering polyiso on annex roof

  • welding solatube boxes to roof

  • picture of a Durolast vent on the roof

  • a view of the Durolast covering over both roofs on the building

  • Juan and Felix attaching limestone to crane

  • crane

  • 1500 lbs of limestone

  • Piece by piece

  • moving limestone cap

  • setting it in new location

  • last piece in

  • back to its former glory

  • Limestone replaced over 3 season room

  • Christmas party at Motor City Brewing Works

Week of December 21, 2009

Blasting finished...beginning the process of insulating the annex by cutting out the cement from the perimeter.

  • walnut dust everywhere

  • stellar working conditions

  • worn out blaster after blasting

  • the exterior on Dec. 23

  • cutting cement floor in annex

  • the cut

  • bags of walnut residue

  • a blasted welcome

  • blasted wall

Week of December 28, 2009

Digging the trench in the annex perimeter...preparing for the tubes.

  • digging the trench in the annex

  • the trench

  • adding soil to the trench

  • woodwork showing results of blasting

Week of January 4, 2010

  • Eduardo and Heladio removing concrete at site of new alley entrance

  • New graffiti in the 3-season room

  • Old windows stored for later reuse

  • meeting on the windows on Wednesday

January 4, 2010 Video


Tom describing the innovative way we will be heating and cooling the annex portion of the building. We can't put radiant heating under a wood floor because we want to leave the cement in place for anticipated use by heavy equipment. But there is another way...

Week of January 12, 2010

The trench has been dug around the perimeter of the annex. This week involved laying the 1" tubing that will be used to cool the building in the summer (with cool water), then filling in with soil and laying down a vapor barrier and insulation. We also met with Billy West of Dormouse and Woody Melcher of Woodbury Associates to work on the design of a new stairway in the front of the building.

  • annex perimeter prepped for insulation

  • Richard of Aero cutting pieces of insulation

  • Richard laying the annex insulation

  • adding insulation and a vapor barrier

  • insulation in

  • insulation

  • cooling pipes that will be under insulation

  • warming the pipes to improve flexibility

  • tubes that will carry water to heat the perimeter of the annex

  • tubes that will carry water to heat the perimeter of the annex

  • point of origin for heating and cooling tubes

  • Billy (metalworker) and Woody (designer) discussing plans for stairway

  • Jim Kelly with copy of upper window for sizing

Week of January 19, 2010

This week a number of things happened. First, Eduardo and Heladio spent some time removing non-essentials from all around the walls and ceiling of the building in preparation for our upcoming wall work. In the first picture below, you see the lights that have been removed (they will be used in the finished building elsewhere). Also, insulation was added to the ceiling in the front part of the building, under the mezzanine area. Eduardo and Heladio worked on removing rotted wood from our ceiling and replacing it with good wood. Finally, the perimeter of the annex was filled with cement after all tubes and insulation were in place.

  • lights that have been removed from annex ceiling

  • repaired arch - brick work

  • insulation at the joint of the ceiling and front wall

  • insulation in the ceiling

  • Eduardo and Heladio removing rotted wood from ceiling in order to repair it

  • starting the pouring of cement in the annex

  • first load of concrete

  • spread it out

  • coming around the corner

  • easy access

  • smoothing concrete

  • all poured

  • almost done

  • a little form

  • no waste

Week of January 26, 2010

  • Green pipes that will be used for heating and cooling in the main building.

  • A sample of our future windows.

  • Ken's infrared camera showing us the cold (blue) and warm (white) spaces in the annex.

  • Beautiful Michigan day in January

Week of February 8, 2010

One of the things happening this week was testing soil samples to determine if there was any gas or harmful substances underground. Eduardo and Heladio also painted the annex ceiling.

  • soil sample

  • soil sample

  • sample to send out

  • silty clay

  • testing for vapors

  • drilling concrete

  • sampling inside

  • McDowell and Assoc, who are doing the sampling

  • painting the annex ceiling

  • Commissioning meeting Friday, Feb. 12

  • Ben, Ken and Anderson working on Ken's document communication systems on Friday

  • Joe, Tom and Kevin working on Friday

  • U of D Mercy students sketching in front of the building

  • insulation stacked and ready for walls

  • wood stacked and ready for use

  • new white ceiling in the annex

Week of February 15, 2010

Eduardo and Heladio worked on putting Defy sealer on the ceiling all week. The east loft was first to be done, so we celebrated by having our Friday meeting there.

  • Eduardo sealing the ceiling

  • Lunch meeting in the loft

  • Commissioning meeting Friday, Feb. 19

  • Stacks of polyiso ready for the walls

  • Stacked materials

  • the inside right now

  • Justin Zill, student at Walsh College

  • spring is near...

Week of February 22, 2010

This week began the work of the archiving group. We are taking old materials, mainly paper, that have been found in the building and cleaning them up and putting them away in a safe, acid-free environment until we can sort through it for display when the building opens. Aquatherms made a presentation about their Greenpipe product, and the Net Zero energy group reconvened for another discussion.

  • New use for old foam

  • Sampling gases under the building

  • Archiving materials found in deconstruction phase

  • More on the archiving

  • Gathering to hear about the use of green pipes in our building

  • Jim of Aquatherm telling us about his product, Greenpipe.

  • Jim showing Laurie Catey how to repair Greenpipe

  • Net zero energy group 2.0 meeting to discuss updates to various systems in the building

  • Rough sketch of radiant floor design


See also

construction archives 2 March 1, 2010 - August 30, 2010

construction archives 3 September 7, 2010 - April 25, 2011

construction archives 4 May 2, 2011 - Nov, 7, 2011

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