Cold Day Views From Above

It was bitter cold at the site, and I thought this was going to be my last picture this morning.

To my surprise, a Nu Skin employee suggested a better vantage point.  Both the black and white cranes were working today, but otherwise the site was pretty quiet.

The construction cam doesn't show the entire roof of the annex.  The steel forms in the center of this photo have been lifted out of the annex via the opening for the skylight.  Also visible in this photo is the north lift station.

This view shows the area between the annex and Center Street, on the far left.  The three remaining tower caps can be seen in the corner of the lot.  The base of the white crane is visible at the top right.

I turned around so you could see our beautiful downtown.

Forms for the roof of the mechanical shop are being placed.  You can see the trenches which will hold the tension cables for this roof.  Notice the openings to the shop in the upper portion of this photo.

This is a view of those same openings from the post office lot.

The new south entrance to the construction site can be seen in the upper center of this photo, behind the post office.

The dirt ramp where trucks used to enter has been removed.  The south lift station is behind Mr. Track Hoe.

The dirt was moved to the east side between the tabernacle and University Avenue.  The east lift station is behind the wooden fence, but not visible in this picture.  The three lift stations are part of a series of pumps and drains which will keep the temple dry.

I took this picture so you could see the Nu Skin campus.  In the upper center is their new above-ground parking garage.  To the right is their new building, but also a new conference center is under construction.  The snow is over their vast underground parking garage.  Entrance to that garage is behind the circle of snow just to the left of the center of this photo.  Temple patrons will also use that entrance but will turn right instead of going straight.  Also notice the black rectangular forms in the west lot of the construction site.

I have learned that these forms are the beginnings of a stairwell.

This is a ground view of those forms.  Behind, you can see supports for the forms for the garage roof.

All four gables of the temple now have rakes.  Notice the white steel beam across the top of the southeast tower.  

In addition, an octagonal white steel frame has been placed around the top of this tower in preparation for receiving the tower cap.

The site was so quiet this morning that I could hear the welder working on the south gable.

However, these two men were drilling into the steel decking on the northwest side of the roof, occasionally making a furious noise which could be heard for quite a distance.

I see lots of progress when I look at this picture.

It won't be long before I'll be looking for signs of spring.

Christmas Eve At The Temple

The setting sun lit the tabernacle this evening.

It was very quiet.

I have never seen the building look so beautiful.

Samantha Carter caught the southeast tower cap being placed for a measurement yesterday.

Mr. Ladder is showing us which cap was temporarily lifted up.

It will be put back soon, and will stay there.

The three damaged gables are being rebuilt.  This is the south gable.

The east gable is getting rakes.

The west gable received rakes last week.  Notice the beehive opening in the gable which was filled with rebar and shotcrete earlier this year.

I suspect all four gables will look like the original east gable.

Perhaps you have noticed from the cam that the south entrance to the site turned into a drop off.

The gates are blocked, and Mr. Track Hoe has cut away the dirt.

The current entrance is now to the right, where it was until August so micropiles could be drilled.

The dirt was moved to the east side and is now level with the lift station.

All the scaffolding is off the foundation walls.

The dirt ramp gives machines access to the east side.

The new walls of the mechanical shop are now visible on the west side of the tabernacle.

Tension cables will be placed in the trenches.  After the concrete is poured, they will be pulled tight with hydraulic jacks.

I hurried to get one last picture before the sun went to bed for the night.

The rest of downtown Provo was decorated for Christmas.

I have a few decorations at home, too.

'Twas The Week Before Christmas

'Twas the week before Christmas,

And all through the ice,

Many creatures were working,

To make everything nice.

The decking was hung by the gables with care,

In hopes that a new roof soon would be there.

Some ladders were nestled all snug in their beds,

In hopes that tower caps would soon cover their heads.

Out on the east side there arose such a clatter,

Front end loaders were what was the matter.

The sun cast no light on the new fallen snow,

But the pump shot concrete in the shop walls below.

Now what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But trenches in forms for cables and rebar.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Up in the crane did two men abound!

One man was secured with cables, from his head to his foot,

And another had clothes tarnished with ashes and soot. 

The pump spoke not a word, but with just a small smirk,

Filled in all the spaces that needed his work.

The waffle plates exclaimed, as they drove out of sight,

Happy Christmas to all!  And to all a good night!