So with the roof on, there is just a little bit more to attend to…..weather tightness. As some of you will notice….this metal building doesn’t have your standard windows. It has windows with trim. This called for some special attention from Mike and Worm….the window and insulation finish team. So yes, custom trim was made not only for the sides to create what is like individual window gutters, but also flashing was also cut specifically to follow the profile of the metal on the top, then screwed into place and sealed. We are dry. R & M Steel, the building manufacturer’s actually told me that because of my windows they are now creating a window flashing package specifically for this type of window. (Wish I hadn’t been the first!)
Did I mention I had volunteers?
Worm ignoring camera...Mike trying to ignore camera.
This orange clad volunteer, actually right hand man is Daniel as many of you already know from his star roles earlier in the construction. In this shot he is preparing to whirl wind almost all the trash on the site into a huge rolling trailer ball that we then took to the dump. It was really amazing and I’m sorry I didn’t get more pictures. But at least I am proud to say we have managed to clean up the site, make it pretty, and never bring in one of those huge expensive dumpsters. Amazing really! We are bon-firing all the wood debris. My birthday was the first excuse.
Has anyone seen this woman?
So, its not easy to take pictures and be in them, but I’m not one for not trying. So here I am in my mom’s garage, gettin’ my grove on with my welder. Yes, I’m skipping around. Like I said, a lot has happened. So while the guys were busy roofing and sealing at the site, I was busy fabricating the glass blowing benches. There is a great deal of equipment to come, but I figured I’d start with something a little creative and fun. The table there I also made, and will get a 3/4″ slab of polished steel on it when complete. This will serve as the marvering table in the hot shop. You’ll have to come check it out to understand what I’m talking about.
Not quite complete, but on its way.
Let the framing begin!
I’m jumping forward again to try and catch up, so the next picture is the first few days of framing. Included in the interior framing is the gallery which is apx 800 sq feet with a 1/2 wall that allows viewing into the glass blowing area. There is an ADA restroom for the public.
Then there will be the coldworking area which is also framed in, a nice sized utility/bathroom and a mini-kitchen. Above all this is an office and storage area.
Fire wall?....what?
While framing has been going on for a while now, I became the designated welder for installing the garage door track bars. Here you can see me about 20ft up in the turtle lift, cutting into girts to weld in angle iron for the tracks to be mounted to.
There are 4 garage doors so this was a fun little challenge. Good thing we had a lift.
The Angel, just installed in front of the studio. Hey, is that Hood River News catchin' some shots?
We were fortunately also able to use the lift to install the Angel outside. In the front of the building there will be a sculpture garden. There are a total of 9 concrete pads with placed around the property made specifically to display large scale outdoor sculpture. Eventually we’ll have lighting and landscaped paths and areas to relax. Right now I’m happy to just have the first sculpture installed.
The Angel specifically was designed for my dad who passed away at the end of 2007 from Hodgkins Disease. He didn’t get to see this while here, but I’m sure he is watching and even more sure now that his angel is here guarding.
