Waiting for electricity

Update from Rick High on January 23:


Finish work continued in the building this week. Plumbing fixtures are being installed, light fixtures mounted, ceiling tiles installed.

The building will be essentially complete next week, with just a few exceptions--one of them major.

We have no power.

Due to delays and a mix up at National Grid (they mistakenly thought we had cancelled our project!) permanent power has not been installed to the building. This despite the fact we began our paperwork process with National Grid back in July as one of the first things we did.

National Grid has now informed us they believe they can be at the site the second week of February, barring bad weather or emergencies that might delay the crews.

After we get permanent power, we can gear up, test, and balance the heating and ventilating system, break down the temporary heating system, and complete the remainder of the work. There will be a two or three week lag time after we have permanent power until we can occupy and use the building.

The other two exceptions to completing the building are 1) finishing the kitchen and 2) finishing the site work. The site work, although 85% complete, was delayed by a subcontractor default, and will now need to be completed in the spring. This will not delay our occupancy and use of the building, but it will be later this year until we have our permanent occupancy permit.

We purposefully delayed the kitchen fit up until the end because we weren't sure how much money we would have to spend on the kitchen and stay within our total budget. As the rest of the project wraps up, that is becoming clearer and the kitchen fit up is now proceeding.

Given the delay caused by National Grid, the kitchen may well be ready at the same time the rest of the building is, or just shortly afterward.

Next week, finish work with continue: base will be installed, floors polished, final paint completed, the last of the doors installed, etc. Then we will await the arrival of electricity.

Paint on the walls but waiting for electric company

Finish work continues apace in the Fellowship Building.

The first coat of paint is complete. Tile has been installed in the restrooms. Fire alarms and strobe lights are in and lighting fixtures are being installed. Wood trim is underway in the community room. The grid for the dropped ceiling is being installed and nearing completion. Cabinetry and shelving is in place in the classrooms. Mechanical equipment for heating, ventilating and hot water is in place.

Plumbing fixtures will be installed later this week. The acoustic coating for the ceiling in the main hall will be applied this week. Interior doors will arrive shortly and be installed.

Our biggest current challenge is getting permanent power to the building and we are working on a daily basis to get National Grid to complete this work as we can’t start up the mechanical equipment until this happens.