Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Blacksburg) Building Expansion

	Unitarian Universalist Congregation Building Expansion

	At our 2006 annual meeting in May, the UUC Congregation approved the construction of a new meeting hall and congregational life space with classrooms on a lower level. During October through December 2006, the Congregation ran a very successful Capital Campaign. On Sunday, October 7, 2007, between the two services, we had our formal ground-breaking ceremony.
Most Recent Updates
Floor Plans Main-level plan (PDF: 8 January 2008) ZOOM in to see details. Lower-level plan (PDF: 10 December 2007) Scott Myers, our owners’ representative for the building expansion, has been taking pictures during the construction, and several people have contributed pictures from the ground-breaking ceremony as well as from stages of the construction. Janne Mathes is preparing photo albums. Here are photos from September through January. (Note that you can view a photo album as a slide show by clicking on the Slideshow tag.) Construction During February
	The framed lobby, classrooms, and windows give a reality to the lower level space. Standing outside the building, from our middle level parking lot, one can see where our new main entrance will be. One can imagine entering and going up a few stairs to the large new gathering place and meeting hall, or going down a few stairs to the lower level where classrooms and offices are located. The new parking lot is partially excavated waiting for spring to complete the work.
Probably the most exciting activity this past month was the erection of the trusses over the new meeting hall. We had seen the parts and pieces of trusses lying off to the side of the parking lot. The framing crew worked to bolt together the left and right sides of the trusses, and a crane very carefully lifted each truss from the ground up to its rightful place over the sanctuary. The truss bent just a bit as it was lifted, and then it straightened out as it was lifted high above to swing into place. The day the work was done, a few soft clouds hung in the clear blue sky, and it was truly a beautiful sight. At the time of writing, workers were putting plywood sheathing down over the trusses and covering it with black roofing felt. Here are photos from February. Construction During March
	In March, a lot of indoor work was done. The indoor work included wiring, plumbing, ductwork, and installation of air handling units. When he mentioned “ductwork,” he went on to explain with excitement that we have been able to take advantage of the opportunity of economy of scale to find responsible environmental ways to have heating and cooling throughout the new construction. In addition, we will have heating and cooling in the present meeting hall, the new “Administration Area” including the present Clara Barton room, the nursery, and the kitchen. Outdoor work in March included brickwork. Here are photos from March.
In April and May, we will see the placement of a plastic dust partition on three sides of the present Meeting Hall. The partitions will be placed four feet from the existing three walls, so it will affect the space that we meet in on Sunday mornings. The partitions will allow work to be done without dust coming into the Meeting Hall. The coming indoor work will be phased, with work being done in one area at a time. Building Colors Bonnie Moreno has posted in the Meeting House the color swatches with drawings of the construction so that you can imagine a little of the ambiance to be experienced in the future building. Here are (PDF) images for the upper-level colors and for the lower-level colors. (Phase I refers to the existing building, and Phase II to the extension being built.) For those interest in knowing how the colors were chosen, Here is the background. Construction During April
	The area of the building on the first floor that will be offices for the minister, the religious education director, the staff workroom, and the library are being remodeled. Remodeling, which includes framing, putting up dry wall in some places, painting, and floor finishes, should be completed sometime in May. On the lower level, workers are installing drywall on the framed walls. Soon we will see the placement of a plastic dust partition on three sides of the present Meeting Hall. The partitions will be placed four feet from the existing three walls, so it will affect the space in which we meet on Sunday mornings. The partitions will allow work to be done without dust coming into the Meeting Hall.
The race is on to see whether the parking lot or the building will be completed first! The parking lot is starting to look a little different, but the weather really affects the ability to drive heavy equipment in the parking areas in order to complete the work. A stone base for the parking lot should be installed by mid-May. The re-roofing of the existing roof and the new roof are now complete (see figure above). Here are photos from April. (UUC Home)