New roof, new matching gift, new photos
01/19/2017 01:24:43 PM
After taking some time off, the seismic retrofit project blog is back, and the news is all good. The project remains on schedule and budget, with the bulk of the work being completed by February. Waterproofing the dome is underway, which will be followed by installing a new roof—all measures to further protect our beautiful building from the elements. In a few weeks, the scaffolding will come down, the organ pipes will be brought back and Bart Hall will be reopened for our use.
The Seismic Retrofit Campaign closed out 2016 with a great December. We raised nearly $400,000, thanks to a matching gift from congregant and New York resident Denise Littlefield Sobel, who agreed to match every dollar of new gifts or pledges in December two-for-one. We raised more than $131,000, and Denise’s match added nearly $263,000. Much thanks to Denise for her vision and generosity and to our congregants who stepped up to make the match!
The wonderful photos below taken by congregants Maurice Kamins and Lisa Erdberg capture the construction highlights over the past few months:
The dome gets new waterproofing and at the same time, is restored to its original color. Good-bye to the pink paint.
The dome in transition.
Working on the dome is not for those with a fear of heights.
The dome, restored to its original color.
A new set of interior stairs to the roof dangles over the dome as they are prepared to be lowered down into place.
Nitinol rods are installed in the attic to seismically brace the dome. Using this flexible nickel-titanium alloy is a stroke of structural genius by our talented structural engineers, Wiss Janney Elstner.
A close-up look at the nitinol rods, which are only ¼-inch in diameter but a significant component of the structural design.
The north side of the building is a web of scaffolding and rebar in preparation for the concrete pour for the new pilasters.
The original Colusa sandstone is cleaned and repaired on the north side as part of the buttress work.
And yes, we have a new heating system! No more freezing in the sanctuary.
Our construction crew learns some building history from congregant Maurice Kamins.
