This page is dedicated to chronicling the "A2 Project". The A2 Project was our initiative to raise funds in order to purchase and establish a permanent campus ministry center in walking distance from the campus of the University of Michigan. If you've got the time, please continue ... it's quite a story!
NEW! - You can now donate online to the A2 Project. Choose the "A2 Project (Building Fund)" account.
Construction News & Photos
Kick-Off Concert Video
A2 Project Dedication Concert from New Life Church on Vimeo.
Monday, February 12th, 2007
We're in the new Building!
On Saturday the 10th we kicked off with our first event at 1541 Washtenaw - a three hour worship concert. On Sunday the 12th we had our first church services. Thank you for praying and making this possible.
Sunday, January 21st, 2007
Things are really coming together! The staff spent a few hours clearing away debris from the front of the building on Saturday. Inside, most of the work is sanding drywall, painting and carpeting. The new first floor bathrooms have been started and should be finished this coming week. We've also scheduled our final inspections and if everything goes to plan, we should have our certificate of occupancy by 1/31/2007! If that does indeed happen, here is the tentative schedule:
3 building dedication services
1. Sat Feb. 3 – Concert 6-9 p.m.
2. Sun Feb. 11 – Celebrate the story 3:30-5:30 p.m.
3. Sat Feb. 17 – Dedication of ourselves 6-8 p.m.
Kickoff Sunday February 4th
10:00 a.m.
12:00 noon
Wednesday, January 12th, 2007
Welcome to 2007. It looks like we should be in the building by next month. I know what you are saying, wasn't it supposed to be done in September? Yes, but trust me - it's really close. Carpet has been installed in most of the spaces including the balcony, basement, and some on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the existing structure. There still needs to be a fair bit of work done in the new and existing bathrooms. Some drywall repair of the existing structure also needs to be completed. Other than that it is mostly minor things. God willing I'll see you in the auditorium in February. There are some new pictures which I will try to put online this weekend.
Wednesday, November 29th, 2006
There is still a lot of work to be done to the existing structure. Meanwhile, many exciting finishing touches are taking place in the new auditorium. The new doors are all installed and look terrific. The sound company has been out soldering connections on the stage. There is still a fair bit of drywall to hang in the back of the auditorium and the crews have been working at that. Hopefully the pace will pick up soon. One thing that has been on my mind for months is the gigantic cast iron gas range that has been sitting in the basement ever since we demolished the old kitchen earlier in the summer. I was not quite sure how we were going to physically lift it out of there. Luckily the elevator has been repaired and several men from the staff team managed to haul it and various other bits out of the basement today.
Thursday, November 16th, 2006
Just a quick update - the city has approved the firewall plan. This means that we can move ahead with finishing construction.
Thursday, November 16th, 2006
I just uploaded a new batch of pictures from the last three weeks. Work has slowed due to a problem in coming up with a solution for how to build the firewall. The new auditorium has been built onto the back of an existing three story structure. Apparently the city inspector, architects and builders have been unable to come to an agreement on what needs to happen. We're working diligently to get the issue resolved as quickly as possible. On a more positive note, the exterior is mostly finished. 60 trees and shrubs were planted this week. Inside the stage has been finished and painted. There is still some work to be done in the existing structure and the new basement but since the mechanicals and electric seem to be mostly complete, it shouldn't take long once they get going.
Friday, October 24th, 2006
Two months from today is Christmas Eve, I can hardly believe it. Two weeks from now is when we hope to have our first service in the building. The schedule has been pushed back from the last estimate and the first service should be on 11/5/2006. They can't keep pushing the date back forever as things are actually being done and at some point, there will simply be no more work to do. The seats are now set to be installed this week. The floor was sealed by an intrepid team of church folk over the weekend. Outside, the rest of the new sidewalks have been poured and restoration of the historical facade is underway. The stage and baptismal are also supposed to be finished this week. There is a lot of debris inside at the moment as a few remaining walls slated for demolition were taken down. The hard working staff of NLC will be on site for a few hours to haul the garbage out to the dumpster, hopefully speeding up the skilled workers by cleaning up their mess. Keep praying and God willing, we'll be meeting there in just a week or two.
Friday, October 16th, 2006
This week more drywall was installed. Along with that is the requisite mudding and sanding. The painters came for the first time and started their work by painting the ceiling flat black. As soon as some of the walls are done they will move on to painting those. The HVAC people are working on getting the heat turned on which will help the drywall mud dry faster. Outside the curbs were poured and stone was put down to prepare for paving. The latest schedule is that the new auditorium will be done on 10/23. It is going to take longer to finish renovating the existing building. I have not heard an expected date for that.
Friday, October 6th, 2006
From what I've been told we're still on track for being finished late October / early November. Looking around the building it is still hard to see that sometimes. However, the inspections are scheduled next week and I imagine once the electric passes the rest of the drywall will start to go up. The transformation from a work site to an almost finished building could happen pretty rapidly. Last week the new sidewalk, steps and ramp were poured. I can't wait until the asphalt is done so that I can get a car wash. It's pointless now as every visit to the site ends up getting dust and mud everywhere. Stay tuned, in a few more weeks, the updates may no longer be necessary..
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Progress has been pretty rapid. Every time I go to the site it's jammed full of contractors. This past week a bunch of staffers pitched in and built a retaining wall for the ramp and stairs to the new entrance. The old carpet from the 2nd and 3rd floors, which was wet and moldy, has been ripped out and thrown away. The different subs are busily completing their tasks. Fire suppression piping is going up in all the new spaces. The ceiling in the basement has been torn down in preparation for more work. Work on the roof continues with the last bits of shingles and mechanicals being put into place. Check out the new photos on our Flickr album. I apologize that they are kind of dark. Now that the building is enclosed it's hard to get good shots.
Sunday, September 11, 2006
Some very cool things have happened already this week. The railing have been attached to the steel staircase. Framing has been started on the storage room next to the future stage and the sound booth. The interior brick surfaces have been washed and sealed - they look really nice. The electricians continue to run wiring and install the new outlets in both the existing and new structure. The roof is underway and should be done sometime next week. Check out the new photos on our flickr album.
Sunday, September 3, 2006
Check out the new pictures. The opening in the back wall, which was left open to allow entry for a crane, has now been closed. The roof framing is almost complete and the auditorium should be enclosed soon. The HVAC and electrical contracters have been hard at work installing the heating / cooling and electric.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
The rest of the auditorium floor was poured on Monday. The only dirt floors are a small section remaining where the sound booth will go and the new bathroom in the basement. I was able to get some shots from the balcony as well as some of our intrepid staff pitching in to move debris out of the basement. The brick masons have returned to finish the tops of the walls now that the roofing steel is in place. Also, the steel guys should be back to finish the staircase and install the rest of the roof. Meanwhile the electricians have been working hard to wire the new addition and renovate the wiring on the existing structure.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Today they poured concrete for the floor of the balcony. It's great to see it start to come together. The steel for the staircase is now on site. We haven't had access to the third floor since demolition several months ago. That is, unless you wanted to climb a ladder to the roof and duck in through a window. I can't wait until the staircase is installed and we can walk on the balcony and third floor. Once that happens, I'll add some pictures from that new perspective.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Last week the steel for the balcony was installed. Check out the latest photos including a cool panorama of the balcony from the perspective of the stage.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Check out the latest pictures in our Flickr photo album. The brick crew finished the walls last week. Starting today, the steel crew will be back putting in the steel for the balcony. After they finish, the brick crew will return to complete the bricking and the steel crew will return to put on the roof. It's an exciting couple of weeks coming up as the building gets closer to being enclosed.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Uploaded new pictures. Happy Independence Day
Thursday, June 29, 2006
To get a feel for what it's like to stand in the back of the new auditorium, check out the quicktime panorama taken on 6/27 View Panorama It's 6.6mb, so it may take a few seconds to load depending on your connection.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
The building walls are going up at a quick pace. Check out the latest photos on the flickr photo album. Also, the roof has been repaired and the inside of the building has been cleaned up and secured better against the elements. Last Saturday marked the first in a series of weekly building work days. Several staff and church goers came out to lend a hand by hauling debris out of the building, boxing up our library books for temporary storage and cleaning off bricks to be reused for the entryway. Some pictures of these volunteers are also on the flickr site.
June 14th 2006
A2 Project timeline
The first floor decking has been laid over the top of the new basement. The concrete has also been poured over the decking to finish the first floor. The basement floor has been leveled but is not yet poured. Also, the roofers have started repairing the roof that was removed during the demolition which should help reduce the amount of water entering the old building during inclement weather.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
A major milestone has taken place this week. The steel framing has begun to be erected on top of the foundation. From this point on, progress should be pretty rapid. Soon the bricklayers will build in the walls from the foundation to the grade. Then, when the colored brick units are manufactured, they will begin building the walls from the grade up. Be sure to check out the exciting pictures on page 2 of the flickr album.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
A2 Project Newsletter
Monday, February 06, 2006
A2 Project Newsletter
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
A2 Project End of Year Update
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Construction begins.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
A2 Project Newsletter
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
A2 Project Newsletter
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
A2 Project Newsletter
Sunday, November 07, 2004
A2 Project Newsletter
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
A2 Project Newsletter
Monday, August 30, 2004
A2 Project Newsletter
Sunday, March 28, 2004
A2 Project Newsletter
Monday, October 27, 2003
A2 Project Newsletter
Monday, July 28, 2003
A2 Project Newsletter
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
A2 Project Newsletter
Friday, February 14, 2003
A2 Project Newsletter