Last year we noticed a sagging support beam outside of the South side of the Sanctuary building. Closer inspection revealed a major section had rotted away over time due to water intrusion, leaving this critical supporting structure vulnerable to collapse. That would have significantly threatened the structural integrity our wonderful 1950s-era Sanctuary building, so we responded quickly with a plan for repair.
We used an engineering firm to assess load-bearing requirements to decide where to cut away the damaged parts and how to splice in the new beam section. They studied our blueprints and walked around and inside the entire building, marveling at the huge beams that run along the ceilings. Sometime when you are in the Sanctuary, take a moment to look up and see the beautiful wooden beams inside that are a wonder to behold for their powerful size and length! The engineers spent some time discussing just how the original builders managed to bring these huge beams on site and how in the world did they manage to install them! So now in 2024 we can reflect in a moment in gratitude for the engineering prowess that created this building way back in 1951-1955.
The construction firm went to work, removing metal sheathing and installing temporary support beams. I made sure the workers saved our metal spiky raccoon-deterrent strips that keep critters from climbing up on our roof and tearing the membrane up there, a feature we installed in 2014. The construction was halted a few times due to supply chain problems and weather, but the crew kept at it over several months. In stages they removed the three sections of rot (2 short rotten areas about 2 feet each, and one longer rotten area about 6 feet long). They brought in a huge beam section, about 18 feet long, and a couple of shorter pieces for the replacement process. I missed the actual day they hoisted it up to the right level, but it did take a number of strong persons working together to accomplish it and probably there was some salty language involved. Permanent vertical supports went in, and the whole thing has metal sheathing over waterproof sealants. The bolts to hold this whole thing together are huge. It was really interesting to watch the work happen in stages.
I am so pleased to say that our Sanctuary beam repair project is finally done! The total cost of the beam repair was $42,412, which was within the predicted cost of $40-$45K. A huge thank you to East Shore folks involved in this project:
- Celil Cakmak, East Shore’s maintenance lead extraordinaire, who noticed the sagging beam first and paid careful attention to project progress.
- Dianne Upton, East Shore’s Facilities Manager, who masterfully coordinated campus scheduling with me.
- The wonderful Facilities Team – Ralph Lutz, David Kappler, Leroy Smith, Bob Weiss, Ryam Hill – who helped install the initial temporary support and handled landscaping changes on the Grounds around the beam.
- Finance Team and Board of Trustees – and especially Geri Kennedy for her leadership as Board Treasurer for creating and approving the new Building Reserve Fund that will in the future handle these big unusual campus repair and renovation expenses.
What’s Next – Building Up the Building Reserve Fund
If you want to help ensure the structural integrity of East Shore’s wonderful campus for years to come, consider donating now to the newly-established Building Reserve Fund. We will need significant funds going forward to help keep our buildings and grounds in good shape. We have a beautiful wooded 4-acre site with four commercial buildings that always need costly ongoing maintenance, repairs, and renovations. Our long-range strategic planning includes the financial component of maintaining our built environment. Right now, we have $131,100 in this fund with a goal for $160,000 by end of 2024. Please reach out to me if you have any questions about donating, my email is [email protected]. Thank you!
by Rebecca Chatfield, Director of Finance & Operations