WEEKLY CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
In an effort to keep the public updated on the progress of completion of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, a weekly summary of activities expected to occur in the weeks to come is presented.  As always, questions can be forwarded to either Executive Director Chuck Still at (860) 510-5000 or Town Hall Restoration Building Committee Chairman Roland Laine at (860) 395-3127.

Week of December 15th through December 19th, 2008
Well, we’re having to get a little more creative with our photo reporting due to the fact that we’re at the end of the exterior work and waiting to begin the interior finishing.  But, we’ve found some interesting tidbits for you nonetheless:

Septic System.   The septic system installation has been completed, and in an amazingly short period of time given its complexity and the heroic work of Public Works Director Larry Bonin, his crew, and local contractor Mike Evangelisti.
 
Electrical Work.    Although having been requested several weeks ago, we’re still waiting for Connecticut Light & Power to install and hook up the Center’s exterior electrical transformer.  Until that’s done, the new gas-fired furnace can’t be run to heat the interior to a temperature that will allow much of the finish work to move forward.  All involved were instructed to call anyone they may know to urge CL&P to come to the site sooner than later.  Completion of this electrical connection is now the major challenge to overcome.  We patiently await CL&P.
 
Columns.    We’ve focused a lot on these exterior columns as they are a prominent finishing feature of the Center.  Although we were told that the four lower columns couldn’t be installed until the site work and patio concrete were completed, Public Director Bonin worked out being able to pour concrete after the installation of the columns.  As Bonin commented, “we’re easy to work with”.  All involved in the project sincerely appreciate how easy and helpful it’s been to have the help of the Town crew and how willing Netsch Construction was to allow them to assist in construction in order to keep costs of the project down as much as possible!

Site Work.  Director Bonin has indicated that his priority for the week of December 15th is the excavation, filling and – depending upon temperature – pouring the concrete for the walks and patio at the Center.  Even if it’s a little chilly, a few electric blankets and tarps will likely provide enough insulating warmth to allow the work to proceed.

Interior Work.  As stated above, until the furnace is connected and operating, commencement of much of the interior finish work can’t proceed.  Without the heat, sheet rock can be installed throughout the downstairs but taping and plastering will have to wait for CL&P to install the transformer.  Final plumbing for the HVAC (heating and cooling) system is being completed as is the piping for the fire sprinkler system.  Executive Director Chuck Still has been working with our sound designer to finalize details for the Center’s sound system.  We’re getting closer and closer, folks! 

 

We know we’re getting close to completion when we receive delivery of these concrete patio and walkway embellishments.  These various concrete corner and edge pieces will dress the exterior “flatwork” of which we’ve been speaking.  The level of detail involved in the planning of the exterior concrete work includes the consideration of just what color the patio and walkway concrete will be.  In the case of the Center, the color of the poured concrete has been specified to match the gray concrete architectural embellishment pieces around the exterior of building.  It was noted, however, that the concrete will not be matched to the somewhat buff color of the lower level concrete walls so as to coordinate with original architectural features in the 1911 National Historic Register structure.

 

 

 

 

As noted above, we’ve been able to work out installing all six of the new columns on the south addition of the Center before pouring the concrete for the patio, and just in time for last week’s Saybrook Stroll and this weekend’s Torchlight Parade!  The photo at far left shows the level that the concrete patio will be brought to in order to have the columns sit atop the concrete.  At the core of these columns are steel supports that carry the weight of the balcony.  So, unlike the six original columns on the front portico, these new columns are architectural features and not weight-bearing support structures.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This view of the backstage area shows the structural steel that has just been installed to support rigging used for the suspension of lighting and sound equipment above the stage.   For the pupose of orientation, you’ll recall that the proscenium arch – the structural opening that “frames” the stage – is located at left with the “stage right” wing area shown at the far side of the stage by the blackened windows. Those north side windows, previously allowing natural light to flood into the old Room 5 meeting room area now occupied by the stage, have been blackened to allow for control of the lighting within the stage area.

Sixteen battenswill be hung from the maroon steel pieces seen criss-crossing immediately underneath the HVAC ductwork parallel to the proscenium arch.  Again, installation of these type of structural features means that we’re moving more and more toward completion of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center!

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the “house left” side of the balcony (the left side as the audience looks at the stage), this view shows the framing for the booth that will be the control center for lighting and sound operations at the Center.   The stairway access original to the 1911 building rises to the balcony level from the area behind the plywood sheets in the left foreground.  There will be a total of 40 permanent seats in the balcony, a number that was limited by both placement of the control booth and by the State Fire Code.  One thing to note is that, in order to provide sufficient “leg room” for seating in the balcony, the front wall of the booth (with the two windows facing the stage) was moved to the left by approximately 10 inches to provide extra clearance and leg room.  The KHCAC Board of Directors is intent on providing only the most optimum conditions for those that will be seeing programming at “The Kate”!  For orientation purposes, Main Street is located to the left in this photo with the “house” seating area and stage located to the right.

 

 

In roaming through the Center to find interesting photos to bring you as a part of the weekly Construction Update, this scene presented itself.  Due to the low-light conditions of late afternoon on a cloudy day and the rich illumination of the brick back wall of the stage area, this view struck the photographer as one of the first looks at what the stage may look like when the Center opens in coming months.  Just imagine this veiw absent all of the construction rigging and debris, with beautiful curtains in the pallisade windows, richly appointed woodwork, and a house full of excited patrons.  The luxurious stage curtain draws open, revealing a beautiful setting for a play, a concert, a lecture or any number of other forms of entertainment planned for the Center by Executive Director Chuck Still.  With a great and dramatic downbeat, the inaugural season of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center begins!

 

Back to the exterior, the Town crew places the rough base coat of the Center’s parking lot atop the area where the septic system was installed last week.  Step by step, the outside of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center is taking shape.  With the installation of the patios and walkways in the next week or two, the Center’s exterior will be just about “roughed in”.  Again, we can’t begin to tell you how exciting it is to all involved in the project to see these project tasks being completed!  We’re close!  We’re VERY close!!!

 

Photos and words by Torrance Downes

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at 5:30 pm and is filed under Construction Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.