Construction Updates!
It is exciting times at Hillcrest! We are currently in phase one of our building renovation project. Please keep checking this page for updated progress.
March 26th, 2025
SO much progress has happened this week! The plumber replaced the original (yes, original) water shut off valves for the building. You won't be surprised to find out that they were very difficult to turn and could have broken at any point. He's also almost done roughing in the plumbing. Blessings from this week include the framers bringing a drivable lift that they wound up not needing for 3 days, so they loaned it to our team. It made everything so much easier and safer as they worked on completing the extensive drywall repair, cleaned all of the trim, caulked, repainted, and cut-in the wall color. It's now ready for the final coat of paint to be rolled on. Also, the restrooms in the education building have never had hot water, but the plumber feels like he can make this happen.
SO much progress has happened this week! The plumber replaced the original (yes, original) water shut off valves for the building. You won't be surprised to find out that they were very difficult to turn and could have broken at any point. He's also almost done roughing in the plumbing. Blessings from this week include the framers bringing a drivable lift that they wound up not needing for 3 days, so they loaned it to our team. It made everything so much easier and safer as they worked on completing the extensive drywall repair, cleaned all of the trim, caulked, repainted, and cut-in the wall color. It's now ready for the final coat of paint to be rolled on. Also, the restrooms in the education building have never had hot water, but the plumber feels like he can make this happen.
March 19th, 2025
Lots of progress in the last week and even more next week because TCCS is on Spring Break. The entire side of the building has been removed to be ready for the concrete slab to the gym and new walls to be framed. The inside wood framing of the Children's ministry area floor (kitchen ceiling) is complete and kitchen/hallway walls are well underway. Blocks for the completion of the elevator shaft have arrived. Doors, windows, and bricks have been ordered.
Lots of progress in the last week and even more next week because TCCS is on Spring Break. The entire side of the building has been removed to be ready for the concrete slab to the gym and new walls to be framed. The inside wood framing of the Children's ministry area floor (kitchen ceiling) is complete and kitchen/hallway walls are well underway. Blocks for the completion of the elevator shaft have arrived. Doors, windows, and bricks have been ordered.
March 13th, 2025
The concrete footers have been poured for the Connection Corridor, and the slab will be poured as soon as it's cured and ready. The framing has started for the new Fellowship Hall kitchen and the floor for the new Children's Ministry room. Renovations in the rest of the Fellowship Hall are moving along.
The trustees will have a work day on April 12th from 8 AM-1 PM. Some of the items on their list are jobs that need to be done for the building project (ex. assembling and installing the sliding doors for the kitchen). The list of jobs will be posted soon, but save the date!
The concrete footers have been poured for the Connection Corridor, and the slab will be poured as soon as it's cured and ready. The framing has started for the new Fellowship Hall kitchen and the floor for the new Children's Ministry room. Renovations in the rest of the Fellowship Hall are moving along.
The trustees will have a work day on April 12th from 8 AM-1 PM. Some of the items on their list are jobs that need to be done for the building project (ex. assembling and installing the sliding doors for the kitchen). The list of jobs will be posted soon, but save the date!
March 7th, 2025
Don't you love seeing the project progress? The team has started working on the trenches and rebar between the buildings. These will be the footers for the slab for the connecting corridor, and the concrete should be poured on Monday. The slab will also be poured soon. There is a bit of a mess and some blocked parking spaces to deal with this weekend as a result, but we're planning on being able to use those gym doors by Easter!
Steel beams and wood for reframing in the Fellowship Hall come on Monday, too, and the final choices on lighting and flooring were made this week. Those choices have been ordered. The trustees have almost finished the balcony wall project with just some trim and crown molding work left to do. A chimes cabinet that was in the balcony will become an electronics cabinet in the Fellowship Hall once a makeover vision becomes reality.
Thank you to our fantastic volunteers. If you can volunteer to help out with something, there's an ongoing list. There are even "shopping" items on the list in the form of picking up sample
Don't you love seeing the project progress? The team has started working on the trenches and rebar between the buildings. These will be the footers for the slab for the connecting corridor, and the concrete should be poured on Monday. The slab will also be poured soon. There is a bit of a mess and some blocked parking spaces to deal with this weekend as a result, but we're planning on being able to use those gym doors by Easter!
Steel beams and wood for reframing in the Fellowship Hall come on Monday, too, and the final choices on lighting and flooring were made this week. Those choices have been ordered. The trustees have almost finished the balcony wall project with just some trim and crown molding work left to do. A chimes cabinet that was in the balcony will become an electronics cabinet in the Fellowship Hall once a makeover vision becomes reality.
Thank you to our fantastic volunteers. If you can volunteer to help out with something, there's an ongoing list. There are even "shopping" items on the list in the form of picking up sample
March 1st, 2025
There was an impromptu city inspection this week and everything was good. The concrete for the new stairs to the basement (next to the elevator), the elevator shaft, and the footers in the kitchen area have been poured. We're ready for the framers to start working soon.
The balcony drywall project is ready for some light sanding before priming, painting, and trim. That's planned for this week.
Final selections for flooring and the new lights in the Fellowship Hall will be made this week.
There was an impromptu city inspection this week and everything was good. The concrete for the new stairs to the basement (next to the elevator), the elevator shaft, and the footers in the kitchen area have been poured. We're ready for the framers to start working soon.
The balcony drywall project is ready for some light sanding before priming, painting, and trim. That's planned for this week.
Final selections for flooring and the new lights in the Fellowship Hall will be made this week.
February 15th, 2025
The steel has been a little slow to arrive, but some of it was installed this week. These beams, that came in through a second floor window, go above where the elevator doors will go. Where you see plywood, imagine a door to an elevator!
The steel has been a little slow to arrive, but some of it was installed this week. These beams, that came in through a second floor window, go above where the elevator doors will go. Where you see plywood, imagine a door to an elevator!
February 7th, 2025
Plumbing is being roughed in and, as mentioned in an earlier post, concrete work has started. The Architect and Engineer groups met with our team this week and are happy with the progress.
Plumbing is being roughed in and, as mentioned in an earlier post, concrete work has started. The Architect and Engineer groups met with our team this week and are happy with the progress.
February 3rd, 2025
The first concrete pour of the project should happen this Wednesday! The elevator shaft and some footings for the columns being installed are first, and then there will be a pour for the new set of stairs next to the elevator that will lead to the basement.
It's interesting what is unearthed (literally) as the project progresses. More than one set of old footers were uncovered and jackhammered out, and it's obvious that the ground level has been changed over the course of various stages of construction through the years.
The first concrete pour of the project should happen this Wednesday! The elevator shaft and some footings for the columns being installed are first, and then there will be a pour for the new set of stairs next to the elevator that will lead to the basement.
It's interesting what is unearthed (literally) as the project progresses. More than one set of old footers were uncovered and jackhammered out, and it's obvious that the ground level has been changed over the course of various stages of construction through the years.
January 31st, 2025
There's been a lot of progress this week, and this update mostly focuses on the connection corridor. You can see that brick has been removed in preparation for building the corridor. It will be so nice when we no longer have to walk between the buildings in all kinds of weather but can have an enclosed, climate controlled connection! Check out the construction bulletin board at the church to see more pictures and facts.
There's been a lot of progress this week, and this update mostly focuses on the connection corridor. You can see that brick has been removed in preparation for building the corridor. It will be so nice when we no longer have to walk between the buildings in all kinds of weather but can have an enclosed, climate controlled connection! Check out the construction bulletin board at the church to see more pictures and facts.
January 25th, 2025
Good progress was made this week, and better weather is a blessing. The builders opened up part of the building to get a machine in to dig out concrete for the future elevator shaft. Concrete was also cut in the old kitchen to put in the new footers and columns to hold up the floor of the future Children's Ministry area.
Good progress was made this week, and better weather is a blessing. The builders opened up part of the building to get a machine in to dig out concrete for the future elevator shaft. Concrete was also cut in the old kitchen to put in the new footers and columns to hold up the floor of the future Children's Ministry area.
January 22nd, 2025
Decisions, decisions! It's time to start looking at flooring, lights, etc. for parts of the building project, so several people were asked to attend one of two sessions to look at some choices in our budget and give their preferences. Final decisions will be made at a later date. The current light fixtures in the Fellowship Hall don't give off enough light and will be replaced. Fortunately, this style of light was VERY popular, so there's a strong resale market.
Decisions, decisions! It's time to start looking at flooring, lights, etc. for parts of the building project, so several people were asked to attend one of two sessions to look at some choices in our budget and give their preferences. Final decisions will be made at a later date. The current light fixtures in the Fellowship Hall don't give off enough light and will be replaced. Fortunately, this style of light was VERY popular, so there's a strong resale market.
January 17th, 2025
Concrete cutting for the elevator started today and good progress was made. The work didn't get finished because some of the walls were a double layer of blocks. Those early volunteers intended for those walls to stay up!
Concrete cutting for the elevator started today and good progress was made. The work didn't get finished because some of the walls were a double layer of blocks. Those early volunteers intended for those walls to stay up!
January 14, 2025
The snow and ice put a damper on progress last week and is still keeping us from digging footers for the new concrete between the FLC and main building, but, we are working elsewhere! Remember that surprise window on the basement level that was found behind the drywall? Well, John Angst and Jason Stewart are fixing that right up! Their donated labor keeps our budget right on track - Thanks guys!
The snow and ice put a damper on progress last week and is still keeping us from digging footers for the new concrete between the FLC and main building, but, we are working elsewhere! Remember that surprise window on the basement level that was found behind the drywall? Well, John Angst and Jason Stewart are fixing that right up! Their donated labor keeps our budget right on track - Thanks guys!
January 3rd, 2025
Work this week included more digging (by hand) on the area where the new stairs to the basement and elevator pit will go. And, while we hoped to be cutting through walls for the elevator, an unexpected underground window was found that has to be blocked up before we can cut for the elevator hole. That's really the first surprise of the build. Oh, and the old awning outside the school entrance is gone. That area will all be "inside" the new corridor.
Another $58 in recycling today - all aluminum (soffit, columns, guttering).
Work this week included more digging (by hand) on the area where the new stairs to the basement and elevator pit will go. And, while we hoped to be cutting through walls for the elevator, an unexpected underground window was found that has to be blocked up before we can cut for the elevator hole. That's really the first surprise of the build. Oh, and the old awning outside the school entrance is gone. That area will all be "inside" the new corridor.
Another $58 in recycling today - all aluminum (soffit, columns, guttering).
December 23rd, 2024
Demo has started on the concrete between the Family Life Center and the main building to prepare for a new concrete pad for the connection that will be built. Just think about the rainy, snowy, bitterly cold, and blazing hot days in the future when we'll be able to use this connection to stay out of the elements. Also, think of how wonderful it will be for parents, teachers, and guardians to be able to keep children safer as they move between the buildings.
As we move Forward In Faith, there will be times during the construction that are inconvenient. This is one of those times. This entrance will not be usable, but classes, etc. can still be held in the building. For the next 3-4 weeks, access to the Family Life Center will be through the ramp door on the opposite side of the building. If you need a key for that door, please see Linda in the office. The key will come with instructions on unlocking, locking, and testing the door before you leave the building. Yes, we know you've used keys plenty of times, but this one is a little different.
Demo has started on the concrete between the Family Life Center and the main building to prepare for a new concrete pad for the connection that will be built. Just think about the rainy, snowy, bitterly cold, and blazing hot days in the future when we'll be able to use this connection to stay out of the elements. Also, think of how wonderful it will be for parents, teachers, and guardians to be able to keep children safer as they move between the buildings.
As we move Forward In Faith, there will be times during the construction that are inconvenient. This is one of those times. This entrance will not be usable, but classes, etc. can still be held in the building. For the next 3-4 weeks, access to the Family Life Center will be through the ramp door on the opposite side of the building. If you need a key for that door, please see Linda in the office. The key will come with instructions on unlocking, locking, and testing the door before you leave the building. Yes, we know you've used keys plenty of times, but this one is a little different.
December 19th, 2024
The old "secret room" is gone! And yes, the door to nowhere is locked and boarded up.
Over the Christmas break will be the perfect time to jackhammer and cut concrete for the elevator shaft and doors.
And, yes, we are using local contractors! That's Shawn Light (volunteering) to deliver Willard Quarry gravel (donated) in one pic. - Thanks Shawn Light and David Willard.
The demo workers stopped working for a few moments when they realized our students were praying before lunch:)
The old "secret room" is gone! And yes, the door to nowhere is locked and boarded up.
Over the Christmas break will be the perfect time to jackhammer and cut concrete for the elevator shaft and doors.
And, yes, we are using local contractors! That's Shawn Light (volunteering) to deliver Willard Quarry gravel (donated) in one pic. - Thanks Shawn Light and David Willard.
The demo workers stopped working for a few moments when they realized our students were praying before lunch:)
December 16th, 2024
Digging starts tomorrow between the Gym and the FH just to get some drainage pipes.
The Temporary wall is NOT where any future wall will be. That is simply to keep kids away from the temporary heater and to give the construction guys a place to stage tools and supplies.
The Fellowship Hall is going to have the same footprint as always.
$560 so far from metal recycling. We are hoping to get $850 when all is said and done. Keith pulled and separated every bit of copper & aluminum from the old air handlers and recycled them separately for full value.
(Those HVAC units were very rusted inside and fell apart. Estimated age 25-30 years - they wouldn't have lasted long.)
Contractors are scheduling subs to take advantage of an empty building over Christmas.
Digging starts tomorrow between the Gym and the FH just to get some drainage pipes.
The Temporary wall is NOT where any future wall will be. That is simply to keep kids away from the temporary heater and to give the construction guys a place to stage tools and supplies.
The Fellowship Hall is going to have the same footprint as always.
$560 so far from metal recycling. We are hoping to get $850 when all is said and done. Keith pulled and separated every bit of copper & aluminum from the old air handlers and recycled them separately for full value.
(Those HVAC units were very rusted inside and fell apart. Estimated age 25-30 years - they wouldn't have lasted long.)
Contractors are scheduling subs to take advantage of an empty building over Christmas.