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Monday, February 17, 2014

Bricks, Cranes and Rebar

There was so much going on at the site this morning that I almost don't know where to start.
Are you as interested in the brickwork as I am?  The mortar has been removed from between the bricks on the north side, but the new and improved mortar hasn't been filled in yet.  The plastic cover is for warmth when the workmen start repointing.
With the scaffolding open on the east side, my camera and I could watch the brick restoration.
Part of this process puts dust in the air, so keeping the scaffolding open is best while that work goes on.
Each stone is being examined and all are numbered.  Some have been removed for further work.
You can see that the bricks are not identical in color.  When it is necessary to replace a brick, the men choose a brick of the same color.  This way the finished appearance will look like the original tabernacle.
This unrestored brick is on the south side.  Notice the variations in color.
I'm trying to decide what to show you next.
Scaffolding is being constructed around the base of the steeple.
This will not only enable the base to be finished, but it will provide workmen access to the steeple.
The next milestone for the temple will be the placing of Moroni on the steeple.
Mr. Crane is essential to lifting up Moroni, but I have learned that his days at the site are numbered.
In the meantime, he's staying very busy.
The pigeons are considering a Save The Crane campaign.
Once Mr. Crane leaves, the south entrance will be used to bring in construction materials.  Framing has begun on the two lowest levels of the temple, only one of which is visible in this photo, and is progressing up.
The workmen are working hard to prepare this rebar for a concrete pour.  The forms on each side of the entrance are for stairwells to the surface.
We are all atwitter about that.
Concrete has been poured along the east side of the south lot.  A drainage sump is in the lower portion of this photo.  The black crane is too heavy to move on top of the concrete, so pours on the on the west half of the south side have to happen north of him.  Eventually he'll work himself out of a job, too.
The south lift station lies quietly next to the south entrance.  The concrete is moving west and will fill in around it.  When the drainage system is complete, water from the site will exit via the three lift stations and move into the city's storm system.
Let's move to the west lot.
Half of the roof for the underground parking garage was poured two weeks ago.
The workmen are preparing the rest of the lot with rebar and cables for another pour.
The emergency stairwell from the garage is on the left.
The entire length of the south side of this lot has a concrete wall which will be part of the support system for the garage roof.  A similar wall will continue around the corner and down the length of the west side of the south lot and will support the roof of the south garage.
Within a few weeks, three sides of the temple will be at ground level.  Then, scaffolding for the brickwork can go up on the west side.
I'm ok with the scaffolding blocking our view of the temple, as long as it doesn't block our view of the mountains!

11 comments:

dSquared said...

I am truly amazed at the pictures you get from the west side. My site visits are very obscured by NuSkin banners ! Thanks

Unknown said...

As always, thank you for the great blog photos and the explanations. I found the photos of the draining water particularly interesting. I assume the pump system will be running constantly to keep the underground areas dry .... and Utah is a desert.

Julie Markham said...

Believe it or not, once the work is done, the pumps will no longer be necessary. Over the last year we have watched all the surfaces receive waterproofing. One of the contractors described the site to me as a ship sailing on the ancient Lake Bonneville. The underground water will run around the temple and the underground garages and will not permeate the system.

Irene Tukuafu said...

This day was especially rewarding to look at. LOVE THE DOVES...and what you have them saying...and marvelous the water commentos. love the brickwork. again, thanks so much. We had a ICE STORM here today and more snow. Lovely Nauvoo

David said...

Great update, Julie!

Next time you go, I'd love to catch deeper glimpses of what is happening on the south side. That area is so intriguing, and I'd love to see some of the finer details.

I love the analogy of a boat with water around it. That waterproofing material must be thick stuff...

Julie Markham said...

Several readers have asked me for more photos of the south side, including the cinder block wall. Later this week -- let's hope the sun cooperates!

David said...

Yes! What is the purpose of that cinder block wall? Seems to stick out to me...

Julie Markham said...

Sometimes I don't pay attention to special areas until blog readers point them out, and that's the case with this wall. I'll make sure to zoom in the camera on that area when I go next and see if we can figure this out.

Unknown said...

Thank you for explaining that pumping will not need to be a permanent practice. It amazes me that they will be able to seal and waterproof the entire underground. That certainly makes for a firm foundation.

woolspinner said...

I love all your details. Any word on when Moroni will be placed?

Julie Markham said...

I'm hearing from many sources that Moroni is scheduled to go up on March 28th. The date is subject to change, but it will be a public event and I'll be there to take pictures whenever it is.