Dear Friends,
This week, ISHA volunteers are engaged in the first actual ground work for the development of the Meeting Hall.
Building projects are commonly divided into six general phases:
- Pre-project decisions. Early in the process, ISHA had to make many decisions, such as what methods and procedures to employ in order to get the work done.
- Planning and design. This was a lengthy process for us, and the building and landscaping designs have gone through many changes.
- The contractor is selected. At this time, ISHA is using a sevadar “general superintendent” in place of a general contractor.
- Resources are mobilized in order to carry out the field operations. This includes the procurement of various permits, licenses, and insurances, as well as a detailed program for the construction activities. The worksite must be organized, and provisions made for workers, material storage, local purchasing, etc.
- Field construction. This is where the building actually gets built. The first step in this phase of work is called “earthworks,” and it involves moving and shaping large quantities of soil to achieve the surface that we need for our buildings, roads, landscaping, and parking lot. This is what is happening in Bruce this week. Next, survey equipment will be used to stake out the extent of the foundation of the dome. This should start happening soon. Then, workers will excavate the foundation, dig the footers, and dig trenches for the utility lines. At that point we will be set up to pour the concrete foundation and footers.
- And lastly, the project is brought to a close. We don’t know when the building will be ready for Ishwar to deliver the first discourse, but each day brings us a day closer to that time.
Below is a photo from yesterday, showing two sevadars installing “silt fence” along the edge of the cleared area on ISHA Hill. This fence is a temporary sediment control device used to protect water quality in nearby streams from sediment in stormwater runoff. Such erosion-control measures (along with many others) are required by ISHA’s “erosion control and storm water management plan” with the State of Wisconsin.
With warmest regards,
Paul Bauer
Chair of ISHA Building & Fund-Raising Committee
