I'M GLAD YOU ASKED

I'm glad you asked that and I would be happy to explain.

The corrugated metal on the very top is the 'pan' or bottom of the roof. It will be what is called a 'built up roof' and will actually involve a layer of what is referred to as 'lightweight concrete', which is concrete that uses Styrofoam beads, like the Styrofoam beads you see in Pearlite planting mix. It helps to provide an agent for the cement to bond to and provide a degree of strength, much like the pea gravel or larger gravel that is normally mixed in concrete. This provides a lighter weight but waterproof layer that can be molded into segments that have large storm drains in the middle, so that any rainwater that accumulates on the roof can run down the drains.

This concrete layer is then covered with felt paper and tar and pea gravel and this forms the flat roof of the building. This is the same type roof system we have on the Church Life Center over Celebration Hall.

Both of these roof systems have storm drains that go directly into the drainage system, so rainwater will not run off onto the ground.

The slope sides of the roof will also have corrugated metal, then 3/4" or 1" plywood screwed to it, then felt paper and asphalt shingles that look exactly like the sanctuary roof and the visible part of the CLC roof.

The second floor also has corrugated metal as a pan, for the standard mix of concrete that will be poured on Friday the 29th. This will become the second floor, and the concrete here is much denser and much heavier, so the gray V shaped beams called Bar Joists are much closer together under the second floor than under the roof. They will have to hold a lot more weight in the walls, the concrete floor, the furniture and the people, as well as one end being full of file cabinets and such.

Isn't construction interesting to watch?

I'M GLAD YOU ASKED

What are all of those strap looking things hanging down under the second floor?

Thanks for asking. That is a great question.

Those straps are part of what is hidden in the ceiling to use to hang all kinds of things up there. What you are seeing is actually for the purpose of hanging ductwork for the heating and air conditioning, which is referred to as HVAC. The ducts are sheet metal and carry large volumes of air, and have smaller ducts that branch off to feed different rooms. There will be several different sets of air conditioning units. That is referred to as creating zones and involves small spaces having their own unit such that the spaces used at a given time will be the only ones operating. An example is the unit that heats and cools 208 and 209. Another unit cools only the Shalom chapel. That saves us money.

Thanks for asking and I hope this helps.

November 3, 2004