Roofwork + Brickwork + Formwork = Work

My quick trips to the site never turn out to be quick anymore.

Workmen hang out on the roof all the time.  You are seeing the water and ice protection barrier installation on the northeast portion of the roof.

These workmen are laying decking on top of the steel on the southeast side.  The weather barrier will follow.

The eaves of the four tower roofs have a little curl at their edges.  The four gable eaves will each receive a similar curl.  This will be in keeping with the original design of the building.

This photo taken near the turn of the 20th century shows the curl on the tower roofs.  Notice that the roof between the southeast tower and the south gable is flat.

This photo, directly opposite of the one above, was taken a little later, but before 1917 when the center spire was removed.  The flat roof between the northwest tower and north gable is evident here, also.  The curl on the west and north gable eaves is visible.

From the construction cam, we will be able to watch the men build the curl on the west gable eaves, seen here on the right, and the north gable, similar to the curl on the three visible towers in this photo.  The center spire will match the other tower roofs, and not too far in the future we'll see scaffolding go up on the roof so the workmen will have access to it.

I am enchanted with the work on the bricks.  This niche and the surrounding brick on the northeast tower have been cleaned.

This second-level niche has also been cleaned.  Notice the two springer stones from the arch have been removed for special care.

I don't know how these niches will be finished, but the opening to the right will have art glass.

I spent quite a bit of time watching through my zoom lens.

This work will take quite awhile.

Only the north and east sides have scaffolding right now.

Green rebar is growing on the south side.  A foyer will extend from the center opening, but part of a dressing room for the baptistry will also extend south, on the right.  The curved area will be for a stairwell from the ground level. 

Mr. Red Ladder was doing his share of the work building new concrete forms.  Notice the copses of rebar for pillars behind the ladder.

The concrete pump spends so much time at the site he could get his mail here.

Another red ladder assisted in the west lot.  Notice the assembly of a cable trench for the roof of the underground parking garage.

Another cable trench is being assembled not far from where a third ladder is working.  If you look closely, you can see a fourth ladder helping out under the concrete forms.

It's been interesting to watch the pillars sprout up on the site.  They are all in a perfect grid, but before we can make a big deal about how neat they are, the workmen cover them up.

Concrete blankets cover black frames which likely spent some time near the concrete pump this morning.  Notice the heat gun keeping everything warm inside.  The frames on the right seem to have ducked out of the way of the pump today.  Pouring the concrete against the south wall instead of using two sets of forms frees up about three feet of space which is necessary for the driveway entrance.

A third set of frames on the far west wall has also been covered with blankets to keep new concrete warm enough to cure.  The entrance to the underground parking garage can be seen on the left side of this picture.

Look carefully and you will see a yellow forklift in the center of the picture placing a concrete form behind the trench which runs along the center of the photo.  The forklift was quiet enough that the men on top could direct the driver.

The stairwell which will lead from the ground level to the garage now has forms where its roof will be.  Notice that the forms are spreading south across the west lot.

This west area is huge, but that isn't stopping these workmen from covering it with rebar.  Last week we saw the tension cables laid east and west.  New cables are being laid north and south.

After the concrete is poured, the cables will be pulled tight by hydraulic jacks.

At one point there was a sea of rebar in the basement.  Then the men built a sea of rebar above the annex.  And now there is this huge sea of rebar on the west side.

Special equipment is involved.

More cables are in the south lot, next to the only remaining snow on the site.  Trust me, it's frozen solid.  This snow pit will be the base for the elevator shaft in the pavilion.

The pavilion will be a beautiful place for families to wait for wedding parties.

Speaking of weddings, the skylight for the bride's room got some walls today.  Concrete blankets are keeping the new cement warm.  The annex area below has been emptied of the waffle plates and steel supports.  Electricians and plumbers are now at work there.

This window is directly behind the skylight, at ground level in the northwest tower.  What you are seeing is the stairwell column in that tower.  I've not observed any evidence that the newels are growing taller yet.

But the tabernacle is standing a little taller these days, quite proud of himself, I believe.