Children’s Ministry Wing/Administration Floor:
Stoneridge Fellowship Church is now meeting in the Bedford Place Mall until the Children’s/Administration wing is completed. This facility will accommodate the entire church ministries until the major sanctuary phase 2 is ready. The temporary upstairs sanctuary will allow us to leave the Mall and be able to meet in our new facility scheduled to be ready by August 31st.2009.

Dome:
The dome was erected over the construction site. This system worked well and all outside wall panels were poured and are ready to be lifted into position. On March 8th the Dome will be dismantled and removed from the construction site by March 15th.

Kitchen:
The donated kitchen was removed and is now stored at the Hubbards church site.

Panels:
The panels are scheduled to be lifted into position on April 6th. The crane should be on site the last week of March.

Winter Construction:
The contractor’s preference is to work through the winter if possible. Right now it is important to continue towards pouring the slabs (after the underslab conduits are installed). If the weather prevents this, BD Stevens will erect their inflatable dome over the work area. Once the dome is up the interior will have to be heated. Note: On Tuesday, Dec 9th the dome was transported to the building site. It will be erected over the children’s ministry wing so work can continue. The decision is to work on the children’s wing at the same time as the sanctuary to make both sections ready for tilt up. Work will proceed under the dome but weather permitting work will also be focused on the sanctuary. All walls will be raised at the same time if possible.

Casting beds:
Dexter employees are preparing the land for casting beds. BD Stevens team is choosing locations for cranes to operate from in order to lift the panels. What are casting beds? Tilt up construction is a technique of precasting large, slender reinforced concrete wall panels on site (on temporary casting beds), which when cured, are tilted by a crane into position forming the wall (s).

Elevator:
The specifications for the elevator will be a standard design and size. The cost for the elevator equipment, installation and the block wall construction is within budget for this work.

Parking Lot lights:
The parking lot will have 8 40′ light standards mounted on 30” high concrete bases. In the centre walkway we will have 11 architectural lights with 2 lights installed on the sidewalk at the entrance of the driveway leading onto the property.

Sanitation:
The domestic water and sewer lines are installed and have been tested.

Signage:
Two areas are being considered for church signage. One location is the hill to the right of the church driveway. This site will give a good visual of the sign (electronic display) along Glendale in both directions and beyond. The other location in at the church property entrance on Temple Terrace. No supplier has been selected to date however design ideas are being considered.

Church Kitchen:
The kitchen located in the hospitality lounge will be fully equipped with beautiful cupboards, sink, corian countertop and appliances, all of which have been donated.

Doors and Hardware:
The schedule for doors and master key systems has been selected with the contractor and suppliers. The main front doors will be equipped with an accessible automated door system.

Electrical Update:
Nova Scotia Power will bring in underground electrical service from Glendale Ave along the back (east side) of the church to a transformer located outside the electrical room (#109). Design and planning for the electrical wiring and light control for theatrical lights and house lights are completed. Cost estimates have been received for supply and installation. The underground conduit for the parking lot lighting systems will be installed in November.

Finances:
The finance committee has submitted three bank proposals to three regional banks who should reply in early November.

Heating System:
The geothermal heating system proved to be too expensive to install. The mechanical contractor has designed a new roof mounted heating and air conditioning system for the sanctuary. This system will use propane fuel for the short term with a plan to switch to natural gas within two years. Heritage gas engineers plan to install their gas line along Glendale Ave with a gas line running onto our property to replace propane. Boilers located in the children’s ministry building will provide in- floor heating in this area.

Platform Curtains:
The decorating committee members are making material selections for stage curtains and reviewing cost estimates to ensure we have a functional stage operation both for church services and video productions. Colors and seat covering selections are under review by the committee.

Sanctuary Chairs:
The theater chairs are now in Brian Miller’s warehouse for storage. These chairs may still be of value if they can be rebuilt. The disadvantage of installing movie theater chairs in a church sanctuary is because they are not totally suitable for this purpose. Some complaints with a lift operating chair… people do not have any place to put their Bible or other belongings when they stand up… so these items often end up on the floor. Other comfortable styles of sanctuary chairs are being pursued at a considerable financial savings.

Sanctuary Main Floor Design:
The main sanctuary floor design starts with the flat floor level (28′ 2″) in the front of the stage to accommodate seven rows for 336 seats. The next 30′ is a sloped floor (4.76 degrees) in a curved bowl design and will accommodate 10 rows for 644 seats. This information impacts the seating selection and layout design for the maximum number of seats.

Security System:
Our facility will be protected with a high tech alarm system. Security for the parking lot and the exterior of the building security will be provided by surveillance cameras and security lighting.

Site Construction:
This month the footings and frost walls were completed around the perimeter of the church. The sanctuary wall footings are now in place. The plumbing lines are installed in the sanctuary and the children’s ministry wing. The main water supply for domestic water and sprinkler system has been brought into the building. The contractor will erect a dome over the sanctuary work site to allow winter work to continue, when necessary.

Sound and Audio Systems:
A proposal has been selected to supply and install a sound system for the sanctuary. This contract will include acoustical engineering and video projection screens. Mount Saint Vincent Motherhouse has given us a 20′ video projection screen for the platform centre display.

Today, construction started on our church building. The construction trailers are set up. The forms are completed for phase one and this morning the cement trucks are on site to pour the first footings. Dexter construction has equipment working to build up and level the parking area.

Would you like to see a sampling of the new StoneRidge facilities?

Take a virtual guided tour – online – available here.

Are you ready for this?

The official start date for building construction of the new StoneRidge facilities: September 8th, in the year of our Lord, two thousand and eight.