School Office

The expansion of the school office is now being completed. Because of changes to the original plan this work had been delayed. The space will include a new office reception area and an office space for our admissions director, LouAnn Webber. The school will certainly benefit from such a warm and welcoming entry space.

Ceiling Work

Yesterday saw the installation of the ceiling grids for the five classrooms. The spaces are certainly coming along quickly. The only work do be finished up in the rooms is the sprinkler system installation (above the ceiling grid) and the painting. I would suspect that everything but the painting will be finished before the end of the month.

Hallway

As I have mentioned before, the architectural feature of caring the external brick to the interior spaces is very nice. Most of the interior brickwork is being finished up this week. Here you can see the hallway outside the fellowship hall. The brick wall on the right is also brick on the interior of the fellowship hall. On the left you can see the brick columns that carry through the building (inside and outside) around the windows.

Again, I tip my hat to the architect who has done a wonderful job. Thanks Paul.

Commons Taking Shape

The church commons (as it is coming to be called) is starting to take shape as the brick work nears completion. The picture was taken while standing in the doorway of the fellowship hall. This large open space is made beautiful by the brickwork that carries over into the interior space. The ceiling will be high, sloping up with the pitch of the roof.

Here is where we will gather on Sunday mornings for coffee, donuts, and fellowship before making our way to bible class (and don't forget there are three new bible class rooms in the building too). Thanks again to all who have been involved in the planning and funding of this project. It is going to serve our congregation well.

Where is the Sign?

Yesterday (Tuesday) the top of the old sign was taken down. Taken down is putting it lightly, they had to use a cutting torch to cut it down.

Today or tomorrow the remaining brick will be removed too. This is a change from what was planned. Originally we hoped to clean the brick and reuse it with the new electronic sign on top. However, the cleaning process did little to improve the look of the brick. It was decided to simply replace all of the brick so the sign will look great for years to come. Hopefully the new brick will be completed early next week and the new electronic sign will then be ready for installation over the follow two weeks. It is really going to great having a new face on Westheimer: sign, parking, landscape, new building. May the Lord bless our efforts so that many more might come to hear the gospel and receive the gifts of Christ.

Cross Pattern

As you have noticed, there are several cross patterns in and around the building, especially within the windows.Here you can see one that is beginning to really take shape. The wood frame will soon be covered with the brown metal. Little details like this are really making the building come alive.

School Office Expansion

Work has only recently begun on building out the new school office space that attaches directly into the old building. This work has slowed because of some last minute design changes to the plan.

The original plan called for a small school entry with two offices. Since I am now staying permanently as headmaster of the school there is no need for me to move from my current office or to have an additional school office in the new construction. This means that there will be a larger school reception/office area with one office for Mrs. Louann Webber, Director of Admissions. Such a change to the plan meant some additional steel work as well as changes to the mechanical and electrical mezzanine that is above the office space. I am very please that everything is now moving forward and the work will be completed soon.

Main Entrance

I really like this picture. It gives you a good feeling of the look of the new building, especially the main entry with the high windows facing the sanctuary. While many trees were removed I am very happy that the ones which remain fit very well in and around the new building.

Many people have asked about a covered walk between the new building and the sanctuary. The covered walk will be on the west-side of the sanctuary with a covered drop off. The building committee decided against a covered walk over the main path for one important architectural reasons. When one stands in the new commons area you are able to look out the large high windows and see the sanctuary and its pitching roof and skylight. The feel of the volume of the spaces is important and will look beautiful. I think they made a great decision and when it rains we will just walk around to the west side entrance.

Bring on the Water

Today the very last hiccup in the project will be put to bed. For the last several months we have been waiting for a final approval and permit for the sprinkler system in the new building. Last week the permit was granted and final work began on bringing the water into the building off of the city main.

The picture is our tap of the city water main. What is impressive is that they tap the line without turning off the water (that is a very big pipe under a lot of pressure). A company arrived on Tuesday with a special machine that surrounds the pipe (a pressure fitting) and then taps the line and also installs a valve. The whole process is very cool, in my opinion.

The line has now been brought into the building. This means that after the final inspection today the last bit of slab, wall, and exterior brick work can be finished. Let's just pray we never need to use it!

Oh, so Blue

They continue to install the blue metal on the south entrance (youth room entrance) of the building. Below the blue is the door and to the right are two large windows (one above the other). On the right side brick wall will be brushed metal letters (not blue) reading: Memorial Lutheran Church and School.

Because this part of the building faces Westheimer (but is set back because of the new parking) I hope that the color and the strong architectural design (the angled brickwork) will draw attention to us.

BBQ Team

A huge thank you to the fellas who helped me with the grill duties on Saturday: Mr. Jess Thacker (MLS fourth grade teacher) and Mr. Mike Jeffers (long time member and MLS fourth grade parent). The burgers and dogs made a sweet smelling aroma and only a few were sacrificed.

Main Entrance

The main entrance to the new building (facing the sanctuary) is receiving the finishing touches of brick and glass. The large windows (above and below) will allow us to see the roof line and the sky-light of the sanctuary as we gather in the commons (the open fellowship area). The high ceiling and windows are going to make the space a real delight.

Sheet Rock Party

The sheet rock party (Saturday, April 12) was a huge success. There were nearly 200 folks in attendance as we placed our prayers in the wall, toured the building, joined in fellowship around food and drink and painted the wall tiles for the west exterior wall of the building.

It is great to see the excitement growing as the project turns toward the final stretch. By the end of this month the exterior will be completed and detail work will begin on the interior (painting and cabinet installation). Thanks be to God.

Tape and Float

When exterior work can not be done because of weather the crew takes up more interior details. The sheet rock on the west end of the fellowship hall was taped and floated earlier in the week. This afternoon work has been progressing on the fellowship hall duct work and ceiling.

More Masonry

Today (and all week) the exterior of the building is being wrapped in brick. This image is of the south side of the building across from the sanctuary. You can see again the cross detail in the brick. Because the south side of the building is dominated by windows the crew has already turned the corner and is working on the east side of the building (the exterior of the church office space). The exterior will be bricked within the week and the interior brick work will be finished within another week or two.

A Hint of Blue

On the south entrance of the new building (facing Westheimer) there will be blue metal work which will emphasis the building. Yesterday they started the metal work and you can just begin to get a hint of what is to come (along the roof line).

The non-brick part of the building (covered in black paper) will be wrapped in the blue metal. Perhaps now more people will know we are here!

Insulation Installed

For the last several days the crew has been placing the insulation under the roof. This is being done with fine wires being strung on the underside the metal roof. The insulation is basically hanging directly on the backside of the new roof.

Today the crew began insulating the interior walls of the building and then closing the spaces up with more sheet rock. The final electrical inspection was on Monday meaning wall spaces can now be permanently closed up.

Youth Room Entrance

Late this afternoon they began the brick work on the south entrance of the building (the youth room entrance). At the speed they are moving they will have the entire entrance bricked by the end of the day on Wednesday. You will recall that there is very little brick work on the rest of the south side of the building which is mostly glass windows.

Chiller Brick

Today they began the brick work around the chiller. While the chiller is a wonderful addition to the new facility it is not much to look at. The patterned brick wall will be much nicer. It should be finished tomorrow.

Tile Painting, April 12

On Saturday, April 12 the church and school will gather for another special day in celebration of our new facility. Our "Sheetrock Party" will be from 3-6 PM with food and fun provided for all.

Besides touring the building we will participate in a very special project! On the exterior of the west end of the building are six-inch tiles, about three-hundred and fifty of them! Rather than using colored tiles the building committee has decided to ask people to paint the tiles which will then be glazed, fired, and mounted on the wall. This will make a beautiful addition to the building. We are especially hopefully that children will paint the tiles reflecting their faith and trust in Christ (adults can too).

The cost of painting a tile will be $2

West Side

Monday saw lots of work on the west end of the new building. The masonry work should be completed today.

This is the new school wing of the building. These five classrooms will be home to our youngest children (infants through 2 years old). The space will include an indoor play area as well as an outside learning garden.

Jesus said, "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them. For to such is the Kingdom of God." May the Lord bless those who teach and those who grow and learn in this new space.

Brick Detail

There are several nice brick details in and around the building. One of the first was done yesterday afternoon. This cross will be visible from the courtyard (it is on the outside wall of the fellowship hall).

You will also notice that the final roof work is being completed: gutters and vertical panels tying the two roof lines together.