Read or Listen to Sermons
Worship
Outreach
Formation-Education
Ministries and Program
Children and Families
About All Saints-by-the-Sea
Directions to
All Saints



May 23, 2020
A Year of Construction: Where We've Been and Next Steps
We've made great progress since the start of construction just more than a year ago. It's hard to believe but check this list of what all has been accomplished or is being finalized now:
  • We remodeled the Parish Hall to accommodate worship
  • A major preservation effort was crafted to protect and store our treasures, from the reredos to the wood trim to our pews
  • Demolition and shoring were conducted in phases to ensure the entire structure did not collapse during the early days of the rebuilding
  • Massive steel beams weighing thousands of pounds were installed - very carefully - by lift and crane to add seismic strength
  • A proper foundation around virtually the entire structure was built
  • Framing of many exterior walls and all interior walls has been underway
  • Construction of a concrete "box" that will house our new Memorial Chapel with columbarium - see the article below 
  • Excavation of an expanded "crawl space" which was lined with concrete (aka the "rat slab")
  • Construction of a massive new floor structure with beams up to 6" x 14" - see article below
  • Installation of new mechanical systems, including ducts for heating and air conditioning
  • Addition of new plumbing for the bathrooms and guild rooms
  • Installation of the intricate wood trim and column casings - see article below
 
Our attention now turns to several aspects of rebuilding, among the more visible:
  • Production and installation of new window frames, sashes and security glass - see the article below
  • Adopting the final lighting plan, including all new fixtures, controls, wiring, etc.
  • Contracting for new wood floor material for the nave and chancel
  • Finalizing a plan to touch up our pews which have been in storage for more than a year


 

Click This Headline Or Any Photo To See The Online Photo Album
Concrete Memorial Chapel Roof Poured
You've seen the walls poured, and then the floor. The final piece: the roof! Check the videos and photos below for the final concrete work of our new Memorial Chapel with 
columbarium: the roof. 

Of special challenge to our
 construction team was the building of the "bump out" on the north wall of the new Chapel. This architectural feature will mirror exactly the baptistery at the front of the Sanctuary. Pouring the bump out roof, which also included an extensive rebar support structure, can be seen in the videos and stills below.

Looking Down on Memorial Chapel Pour
Looking down on Memorial Chapel pour

Pouring the Bump Out of New Memorial Chapel
Pouring the roof of the "bump out" of new Memorial Chapel

Numerous workers spread the concrete.

The rebar is tied together and supported by wood frames.

What's in A Window? Lots!
Behind-the-scenes work can be exciting, in a behind-the-scenes sort of way. We are now turning our attention to many pieces of this huge puzzle that are uplifting and genuinely exciting. One is the production and installation of all new window "systems," which include the wood window frame, wood sash and security glass that will surround, protect and hold in place our priceless stained-glass windows. It's complicated: when we think of our windows, we think of the stained glass. But to our contractor and subs, windows are what hold the stained glass in place.
 
We partnered with Architectural Millwork of Santa Barbara to build the 53 windows for the project. The security glass will also keep out sound and keep in the conditioned air we will enjoy by virtue of the new HVAC system being installed. Architectural Millwork has been in business since 1969, making custom cabinets, doors, windows and mouldings along the South Coast. What attracted All Saints to this particular contractor was the finished work capability of their skilled craftsmen to meet architect Bob Easton's detailed plans and specifications.  
 
A big part of our project budget and our careful attention is going into how best to protect the leaded glass windows of our beautiful Sanctuary. Of note: the new window systems will be vented to ensure the sun does not distort the lead in between each piece of stained glass.
 
You'll recall the stained-glass windows themselves were carefully removed before construction began and moved to the Pasadena-based workshop of Judson Studios, the leading designer of this type of functional art since 1897.


These three lancet windows will be installed into the street-side windows above the baptistery.





Hit "Reply" and Ask Away
Project Questions Welcome
Without our usual fellowship and Sunday coffee hour chats about the Project, it's hard for all of us to stay abreast of the details of our beloved Sanctuary renovation. We thought we might offer you a chance to ask members of the project team your burning questions! Any topic is fair game: just hit reply to this email and ask away. The more questions the better! See if you can stump us!

Original Column Casings Go Back - With Care
The trim inside the Sanctuary has mostly been reinstalled. Attention then turned to the casings which surround each of the steel columns inside the rebuilt Sanctuary. All Saints turned to museum-quality woodworking artisan Ken Frye, based in Nipomo, and his team to both remove and reinstall the delicate trim, casings, column capitals, etc. Hope you can tell how happy Ken and his band are in these photos.


 



Chancel Floor Structure Going In
You can see from these photos that work has begun on the chancel floor structure. The supports below consist of 4" x 14" joists that will support the chancel and altar area. These sit on the nave subfloor and also spread across the basement below the chancel. On that sits specially milled 2" x 5" joists for the chancel subfloor.