- Commenting: If you can’t use your google credentials to login to comment, try creating an account for this site using the “login” link in the comment section. Doing so seems to be working reliably for everyone, whereas google, not so much.
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- Pictures from before we started working on it: See pictures here.
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- Church Building Design discussion here.
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Would anyone like to spread some mulch at the church hall today? or tomorrow?
From Anastasia:
Hi friends! We will be setting up a more serious schedule of volunteer days at the hall which will hopefully help Father to get a lot of stuff done before the hall is rented on Lazarus Saturday (April 8) and used for Paschal celebrations (April 16). I know that Spring Breaks are also coming up, and I’d love to encourage any teachers or students to consider spending a day working at the hall if remaining in town (contact Father to give him a heads-up).
We will have two major Saturday work days:
March 25: Holy Annunciation Liturgy at the church, followed by fish fry and work day at the hall. Marissa will have a sign-up sheet for potluck items.
April 1: One week before use; will involve a lot of clean-up.
Throughout Lent we will also be doing smaller scale work days on Fridays. Brigid has offered to head up some childcare and kid activities at the church, so that parents have the opportunity to drop off kids and do some work at the hall. Help in both places would probably be great! For now, Brigid will plan to be at the church between 9am-2pm starting this Friday, March 10.
Would anyone like this gas stove from the hall before I get rid of it? It seems to work just fine.
Stove claimed by Brooke Austin.
Many pipes! Lots of plumbing is happening at the hall, see pictures.
Also excavators are busy taking trees down, they will probably be doing so for a week or more. see picture.
Lots more to do though, more labor would be great if anyone has some hours to spare. 🙂
White or light grey. I’m not looking for a high contrast aesthetic experience in that particular space, just a super clean vibe. ?
I need to order some bathroom stall partitions. Here are the color choices:
https://cdn.partitionsandstalls.com/media/wysiwyg/metal_tp_color_chart/hadrianpcs-2.pdf
If anyone would like to weigh in on color, do so today. I plan to place the order tomorrow.
For reference to the color of the floor and new wall tiles, see the previous posts.
I’d say Colonial Blue.
The whole room’s very grey already, which for me rules out grey and beige; white and black are pretty stark. Blue would go well with what we have now.
I agree, Stasia.
I like the slate; keeps with the color scheme. We can add pictures on wall, etc…to add color once we are done.
I agree with Colonial Blue
I have to side with Loretta on this one- something like slate or light gray would fit better with the theme we have going. Also, a lighter color would make the area feel more spacious, while darker colors close in… (in case bathroom stalls don’t already produce claustrophobia 😀 ). Anyway, light gray would be my vote.
Tiling and grout festivities continue tomorrow morning at 9am. Pictures from today attached.
Any strong feelings on what would be the best bathroom sink configuration for the women’s bathroom?
a) two sinks in a countertop,
b) only one sink in same size the countertop, leaving it mostly counter space,
c) only one sink with a little counter space, leaving room/flexibility for another piece of furniture altogether. (a nursing chair? shelves of some kind?)
Option A.
The line to wash hands can build up with a large crowd even with enough toilets. I also am not a fan of nursing in restrooms but that might just be me.
Agreed. Extra counterspace just leaves room for junk to pile up. And should I ever have cause to nurse, I wouldn’t want to do it in a bathroom either. 🙂
Amanda, Loretta and Erin got three walls tiled today, pictures attached. More tiling to happen Friday after Liturgy.
We’re having a tiling party starting on Wednesday morning. Probably Thursday too.
We started framing the walls between the new rooms, one room and a closet are done. See picture.
I’ll be there off and on this week if anyone wants to join the fun.
Bathroom tiling starts Wednesday.
This Wednesday?
Around what time?
Turns out Lowes failed us on both the cement board and the tile. So that part is moved back again to next week.
Aww bummer.
The new floors are finished, pictures attached.
The installer told me the surface will be as hard as Chinese arithmetic. 🙂
Supplies the the rest of the project will be delivered Saturday (12/17), so I’m hosting a carry-in-all-the-heavy-sheetrock party there at the hall at 11am, with lunch to follow.
Would anyone like to find some wall tile for the bathrooms?
We need about 400 square feet.
As far as matching the floor, the floor pattern will look like “flintstone” from here:
https://premiercoatingssturgis.com/flake-options/
(although a different pattern could be chosen up until 12/9).
I could go with anything, but I think bigger tile would be better, even as big as 12×24, it will go on faster and have a lot fewer grout lines.
It’s going to go up to about 5′ off the floor, so it would be nice if they sold matching end piece tiles with a rounded edge for the top row. But not a deal-breaker.
I’ve attached three pictures to this post, an industrial stove and hood. A friend of Judy’s is selling them. (stove=$1000, hood=$400).
Is this what we want for the hall kitchen?
The hood seems like what we want, and it’s priced reasonably.
The stove is also priced reasonably. What I’m not sure about is if we’d want one with this setup, 6 burners and 1 griddle.
Thoughts?
That looks great to me. I don’t know if there were discussions about what we wanted already but this seems like a great improvement. A griddle could be super fun and open up some possibilities for us.
Yes!
7 upvotes from the Porters! 🙂
I think that would be a great improvement!
We can brew so much beer!
7 more upvotes from the Heyman’s. I’ll even hook the gas up for free, lol.
I think It would be great. Hopefully we can get another one…or keep the two we already have as well.
pictures from concrete day.
Concrete is arriving tomorrow (Thu) at 3:30pm. I’d be glad for as many extra hands as possible.
Concrete truck is coming Thursday 1pm to fill the floor back in. Since the minimum amount they bring is twice as much as we need, we’re going to also pour a 10×10 slab outside of the kitchen door going out back.
Great idea!
Check out Luke’s cool pluming work for the new bathrooms.
We’re going to do a concrete coating on the floor for the hall, both for the back rooms and the bathrooms.
Here are our choices:
https://premiercoatingssturgis.com/flake-options/
I asked which of those options would be best at hiding dirt, and they said it was the one called “flintstone”. They also thought that one has the most universal ability to blend with typical walls/tile/furniture inside.
But it’s all the same to me. So if there is an outcry on this blog for some other choice that’s fine. We have 3-4 weeks before they come to decide.
Flintstone seems generic enough
I like it! Yabba dabba dooo!!
I think Roman Unswept Floor Mosaic is more in keeping with our aesthetic, but flintstone will do. 😉
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-in-profane-museum-vatican
Oh my! That one would be cool. Could we sprinkle in some kid’s toys too? You’d always be bending over to pick them up and realize they’re part of the floor.
Digging completed, see pictures attached.
Also, Erin would like to fix up the plants outside the hall on Friday morning at 10am. I can’t be there myself. Would anyone be willing to join her? We have plenty of shovels there at the moment. 🙂
Status of hall remodel: The floor has been cut and jackhammered in order to lay the new pipes for the bathrooms. Next step is to dig them deeper. Anyone who knows how to use a shovel is welcome to continue the project. 🙂 Pictures attached.
Dumpster day, pictures by Loretta:
https://app.box.com/s/258zl7d5q5elcu4kq39axqdws07wsp83
Day 2:
https://app.box.com/s/l0j4ugmy2y0hdaucldgvobt98uqbfx4w
Day 1 of hall renovations:
https://app.box.com/s/m5djfb9a5nrh17pzcr3fqr0ygt188tto
I hope no one cleaned the bathrooms after the party yesterday!
Getting back to work on the hall here….
The plan is to do whatever remodeling we’d like starting in October and hopefully finishing in January.
Here is the floor plan as it is right now:
https://uofi.box.com/s/ljb25jqq6gengxouyjipcx0i1w3tnoxx
Here is the proposed floor plan:
https://uofi.box.com/s/cz7bam1x63d5yeo02vfgohtmynxz68b5
Does anyone have any thoughts, corrections, comments or questions?
Luke, Colm: look good for plumbing and code issues? As far as I’ve researched I’ve got it all ADA compliant. And all the pipes ought to be able to run along that middle wall.
How big is the reception hall? It looks smaller? How many will it hold?
The main room part of the building isn’t changing at all, that’s why it’s not part of the pictures. It’s just off to the right. The plans are just the west most 40% of the building.
Awesome! Looks wonderful!
Looks great! Exciting that there will be 3 stalls in each bathroom.
I would be concerned about the entry area being only 5′ wide with so many doors, one of which is the women’s bathroom, being a pinch point. With coats on hooks, it’s likely going to make it only 4′ of space for moving about. Having just torn out a kitchen with a walk way of only 4′, it’s very tight for multiple people. I’m also thinking that the door for the closet being on the short side of a very long, thin closet makes for awkward storage. Unless you leave a walking path, which takes up space in the closet, you’re not likely going to be getting at things in the back often, if ever. (I think there’s a pattern on shelves that expressed a thought on the depth of cabinets that might apply here?) It might be better for the door to be on the reception area side, and maybe be double doors. Both the hallway in the entry area and that adjoining closet might benefit from being a bit wider, even if that means less reception area space. The sinks in the women’s bath could possibly go on the south wall if they no longer for in their current orientation and you’re set on having 2 sinks.
The minimum size non ADA stall is 30″x60″ for a floor mount toilet and 30″x56″ for a wall hung toilet. So you could definitely shrink those a bit to make more floor space, which we’ll need because the wall between the bathrooms will have to be much wider, ~2′ or so, depending on which fixtures and fittings we use, and because those fixtures and fittings vary based on manufacturer we’ll need to know that beforehand to save the most space. Attached is a picture of some of the types of fittings we’d be dealing with.
Ok, good feedback, here’s the next revision:
https://uofi.box.com/s/8a0i9rsb3jkjmm8barwwo02slgdj7hru
Brooke:
Good point on the narrow hallway, I added a foot to it. Is that enough you think?
As for that closet, I was thinking of it as a storage space for main room’s tables/chairs, so that’s why I’d want it open on the short side and give it a direct access to the main room via that hallway. Otherwise we’d have to weave tables/chairs/etc into the reception area and then back out of it again, whereas this way it’s a straight shot from the main room.
I’m not set on having two sinks. Would it be better to have only one and leave space for a nursing chair or something else?
But it would be easier for plumbing if we kept them on the center wall (right Luke?). But we could put them on a different wall if that’s better – but I don’t understand why that’s better?
Luke:
I didn’t stumble across the fact that the stalls could be narrower with on-wall toilets, that’s great, thanks. I had made them 1″ wider than was necessary, so in the revision I did the same with the new measurements, I’ve made them so that each stall is 1″ wider than the minimum.
I also made the center wall 2′ think. We can adjust that once we figure out the exact toilets/fittings that we’re ordering.
I don’t know that I have a solution or even a suggestion, but something that maybe is applicable to the storage room that will hold tables and chairs for the main hall area. A standard doorway may end up being frustrating. Often when I am helping set up, there is traffic going both directions getting tables or chairs, if there were a way to make that whole wall go away for moving things in and out, that would prevent ramming into other people with tables or chair racks.
Do the existing bathrooms have floor drains? If so, will they work in their current locations? They’ll be required by code, (though a floor length urinal like we have now counts as one.)
Luke: As I recall I don’t think either bathroom has a floor drain, so I’ll add that to our do-list.
Koren: Good point on that closet. It would be best if we could roll carts of tables/chairs in and out of there without dealing with a door frame. But then we’ll probably want something else to cover its unsightliness. A curtain or some sort? Or maybe those foldable room partition things that run floor to ceiling along tracks? I’m up for ideas.
Hall work day after Liturgy on Wednesday.
Koren is running a wall painting party at the hall, Friday at 7:30pm.
Also work will be done at the hall this Saturday from noon’ish to Vespers.
I’m planning a work day at the hall this week, Thursday the 17th.
I’d like to try a work day at the hall this Friday, December 17th. 10am until whenever.
It would be nice if we could get the ceiling replaced in the back room.
If there are more workers than we need for that, there is plenty of out door work to do too.
If you could let me know if you’re coming, that will help me plan the project better.
thanks!
Landscaping work at the hall this Saturday, 10am-1pm’ish.
Next landscaping work day is Saturday Oct 16th, 10am.
Meanwhile, plenty of misc work to do there if you want to go some other time, like painting chairs, dealing with brush/trees, etc. Let me know if you have time to do any.
Pictures from landscaping day.
Tree house subfloor installed today.
Next we need:
1 2x6x8 treated
1 2x6x10 treated
15 10’ deck boards
This is amazing.
Jason and Evan are getting the chairs painted. Lots more to do If anyone would like to paint.
The Farmers started working on the kitchen today, starting with the ceiling. See pic.
Some recent photos.
Christ is risen!
Tomorrow, Saturday the 15th, there will be a couple projects going on at the hall.
Jason and Ryan are heading up floor stripping and re-waxing.
Evan, Matthew and I are going to cut down a bunch of vines/etc from the trees using a boom lift we rented.
If you’d like to help with either project, or any of the other work there, we’ll start around 9am. Not sure when we’ll finish, but there will at least be lunch. 🙂
Does anyone need to get at anything very high on their own property? I have this 35′ boom lift rented until Monday and I only had to pay the daily price for it. It’s free after our work tomorrow if you want to take it.
Is there a designated place for a playground at the building? Is there a plan?
*I have a lead.
Just about ready…
Updates: See pictures. Bathrooms looking great. Brush pile burned. All 10 windows installed and trimmed, floor got its trim too. It needs a few minor things yet, then a good cleaning, and then it will be ready for Pascha.
Look’n good!
What little things are left?
Any major cleaning tasks in particular?
I will have some time on Holy Wednesday and/or Holy Thursday afternoon to help.
For cleaning, Koren posted this on facebook:
So we’ll see where we are after Monday as far as cleaning goes.
The other little things are bonus things, like getting the paper towel dispensers hung up, or the baby changing table on the wall, or wall light sconces, etc.
Got it–thank you!
Settled on our new sconce lighting, picture attached.
Perfect! Ha!
Just what I was hoping for.
Ha! That’s great!
I plan on being there a bit today (Monday) and hopefully most of tomorrow (Tuesday).
I like the paint first and then the lighter wood. But I think the paint would make the room feel bigger.
I mocked up three windows with each of the trim options (using the real wood this time instead of cardboard). Pictures attached.
Option 1) white paint,
option 2) dark stain,
option 3) no stain.
If you have a preference, shout it out quickly, we’ve got to get this one moving forward.
Meanwhile, I helped a few people who have not been able to post, but in each case I found that they hadn’t reloaded the page after logging in.
So if you’re having trouble, login again, come back to this page, and then hit the RELOAD button thingy at the top of your browser. 🙂
I like the no stain! It brightens up the room.
Two votes for the natural wood from us!
Ryan and I also are in favor of the natural wood.
I like the natural wood.
Agreed–though, what are we doing for baseboard? That could affect how we want the window trim to look.
Phoebe wanted to see the unstained window with poly on it, so here it is.
I think I like the unstained best.
To Katie: the idea is that all the baseboards and windows would have the same style trim.
I can post now, hooray! One thought. You can always go from natural wood to paint, but you can’t go from paint back to natural wood (well, without a lot of trouble). So, one idea is to start with natural wood. If you don’t like it, you can paint.
natural.
Thanks to everyone who helped today! Here are some pictures:
https://uofi.box.com/s/efx3bbrxqqzth0jclwqxzmg53o85lmnp
Following up on the discussion to make the hall available for rentals starting this summer…
I think we have to get it “out there”, even if the hall itself isn’t ready yet. For anyone out there to be able to make any kind of plans ahead of time, they’re probably already looking for space now. It would be nice for this to slowly start to be a source of income for us rather than just a drain.
I think that means we should get a temporary sign out front with contact info for locals, and for everyone else, we need to get a website going. That way we can put it into google and whatever other online directories, and make it generally findable.
I started a temporary page, and Evan help built it up, and we parked it at a sub-domain of our current site here: https://eventcenter.orthodoxchurchalbion.org
It’s just a skeleton site for now, there isn’t much we can put there yet except for basic information. We don’t even have any decent pictures yet. But we can continue to add/update it as we go, we just need a contact point for it for now.
But the thing we need from the onset is a catchy and easy-to-remember name for it, and a matching domain name, separate from the church domain name. I started with “Ascension Event Center” but I’m not married to it, it was the first name that occurred to me.
I’ve checked a handful that have occurred to me that are still available:
http://www.ascensionevents.org (.com is not available)
http://www.ascensioneventcenter.com
http://www.ascensioneventhall.com
Or we could go in a more generic direction: http://www.albioneventcenter.com is available. Or http://www.albion-event-center.com. And so on.
If you want to check other possibilities, you can check if they’re available at http://www.whois.com.
Jump in if you have any thoughts about this. We should probably spin it up pretty soon.
If anyone would like to work more on the site, let me know. Besides design stuff, work needs to be done to figure out the rates and forms and procedures and such things for doing rentals.
I like Ascension Event Center. It makes it sound more unique and not just some random event hall associated with the city. I don’t think it needs to be anything fancier than that.
Brooke is having trouble logging, so I’m pasting in her reply below.
(I don’t know why some of you are having trouble logging into this blog, I’ve tried to fix it but it’s still giving people trouble. I can’t get it to fail when I try so I don’t know what else to check… Peter or Evan, if you have any ideas? … )
Brooke:
My thoughts on naming the hall Ascension Event Center is it could be confused with Ascension Ministries (usually just called Ascension), which owns Borgess and several other hospitals in Michigan. Their name is getting stuck all over the place with the heavy rebranding they do when they buy a hospital. If we are going to do advertising, it’s possible it could get confused since Ascension does have locations as close as battle creek. Also, not sure if there are ownership issues on a brand the way they’re is with business names? Don’t know if that works be an issue. Perhaps Holy Ascension Event Center? Or maybe it won’t matter.
Tractor day is shaping up for Tuesday (3/30). The weather looks promising so I arranged for the rental to happen.
If you can come, let me know. Besides Bobcat drivers, anyone who can come would be great. If you can bring/operate a chainsaw, great, but anyone at all to help move brush around and so on would be a help. Or anyone who could bring some lunch/dinner.
The equipment is expensive, so we want to get as much out of it in one day as we can. In particular, if you can drive the bobcat, it would be good for me to know which hours you can be there. The machine is supposed to arrive around 9am, and it gets picked up the next morning, so we’ll run it as long as we have people to drive it, or unless we finish everything.
This is what the machine looks like:
https://carletonequipment.com/products/ftx150-fecon-rental
Need a refresher on how to drive a skid steer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6crRApG1RAo
Tips on forestry mulching with this machine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZZEN67P-V8
There are several other such videos, go to youtube and search for “driving bobcat forestry mulcher”.
These are the two sconce light fixtures we are considering. You’ll have to zoom in to see them.
I vote for B), seems less fragile to me, and also the glass is closed at the top so no bugs can get in there. 🙂
I also like option B
Agreed!
All the votes I’ve heard (on this blog and off) have been for the second one (B). So we’ll order those.
Kitchen tile nearing completion.
6 windows installed in main hall.
Ceiling done and walls have been painted.
Yay, look at that light!
Also, the kitchen is looking great!