Year 2, Day 64: 31 December 2013

Closing out 2013, the work went on at the substation today, but with the exception of this one hearty soul adding another level to the scaffolding, there was little to see. I could hear voices and machinery behind the tarps and concrete walls, but i guess we'll have to be patient and wait for those tarps to come down before we see what they've been doing. 

Happy New Year!

Year 2, Day 53: 20 December 2013

Add a few wreathes and red ribbons, 

and the construction site would be all wrapped up like a Christmas present!

Year 2, Day 52: 19 December 2013

The work today focused on preparations for bricklaying. Large stacks of bricks were brought from the ground up to the upper tier of the scaffolding (others were stacked on the lower tier yesterday). Then the whole scaffolding was covered with a clear tarp so the bricklayers will be able to get the job done regardless of the weather. 

Year 2, Day 51: 18 December 2013

Scaffolding now surrounds the southern part of the structure and piles of bricks are waiting to be added to the facade. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it will look when it's finished. 

Year 2, Day 50: 17 December 2013

It looks like the brick facade is going to be installed next. Finally, 

something to see on the outside of the substation!

Scraping snow from the roof.
I'm not sure yet what the purpose of the metal structure being constructed
on the roof of the southern section of the substation is,
but will keep you posted when i find out.

The scaffolding is up...

… and the bricks have arrived!

Year 2, Day 48: 15 December 2013

It's a quiet Sunday morning and the substation site is blanketed in snow.

Year 2, Day 46: 13 December 2013

The roofing kettle chugs away, with a bright little fire in its belly, sending a stinky flow of tar up to the top of the substation; in a few of these pictures you can see the steam rising from the hot tar on the roof. The weather today is in the upper 20s--downright balmy when compared to the past few days, but the crew is working hard to get the roof completed before the next round of snow begins tonight. 

Year 2, Day 45: 12 December 2013

On yet another bitterly cold morning, the crew was hard at work on the roof of the substation. Since it's a little above my vantage point, i can't provide any pictures of the actual process of applying the roofing material, but the steady hum of a roofing kettle provided the soundtrack for today's task. I hope that the finished product will include a green roof, something with some nice, environmentally friendly plants to remind us of the trees that were here originally. 

The temperature might have been in the single digits, but this hardworking woman
still had a smile on her face as she gave me a thumbs-up early this morning.

The roofing kettle (bottom center) was set up early this morning.

 

A pipeline was put in place to bring the hot tar up to the roof.

Close-up of the kettle

If the temperature had been just a little warmer, i might have been able
to convince myself to walk to the corner to get a better idea of what
the large blocks of building materials on the flatbed were.  But i confess
that i had a very hard time even forcing myself to step outside the door
for the few seconds needed to take these pictures.

Year 2, Day 44: 11 December 2013

The weather continues to be bitterly cold, and, as i am writing this post, a few advance flurries of the next round of snow are beginning to fall. But, although there is not a lot to see from my vantage point, the crew is still on the job. 

A blanket of snow covers everything, with more on the way.

Walking in a winter wonderland

Shoveling snow off the substation roof

Year 2, Day 42: 9 December 2013

The snow has been cleared away, but it's still a very cold day
on the roof of the substation.

Year 2, Day 40: 7 December 2013

The substation site has been relatively peaceful, now that the big crunch to complete all the necessary work on the outer structure before winter set in has been completed. A reduced crew has been on the job this past week, and -- at least for the present -- Saturday has gone back to being part of the weekend, rather than just another busy workday. Most of the work this week has taken place within the structure: i can hear hammering, drilling, and voices echoing off the concrete walls, but there is little to see or photograph. So here are a few shots of the worksite in repose, from a slightly different perspective than most of my pictures. 

Remaining section of the original retaining wall, most of which 
came tumbling down in May. Also visible here are the conduits 
that will run under the tracks, along with piles of insulated tarps 
that were used to cover the concrete during the curing process.  

The view from the south end of the worksite at Pratt Blvd.

Year 2, Day 35: 2 December 2013

Carting away more materials from inside the substation.

Year 2, Day 32: 29 November 2013

Today was all about tidying up, gathering building materials into neat bundles in preparation for the next stage in the construction process. The concrete facade is decidedly un-photogenic, so at this point i'm eagerly awaiting the beginning of the bricklaying although i'm not certain when that will be.

Year 2, Day 29: 26 November 2013

The clean-up continues as the site is made ready for the next stage in the building of the substation. This will probably mean a change in personnel as well, and i'll miss the current crew. I've gotten really used to seeing the same faces, hearing the same voices, over these last few months. I wish you all the happiest of holidays and warmer, more comfortable conditions when you move on to your next job!

Year 2, Day 28: 25 November 2013

The catwalk is coming down as this stage of the project comes to an end. This worker is tethered to the wall as she dismantles the safety fence. By the end of the day (bottom picture), only the last supports remained. It's been bitterly cold for the past several days, and at this point i'm sure the crew will be glad to kiss this job goodbye!

Year 2, Day 25: 22 November 2013

The substation is not terribly photogenic at this point in its construction, and it's harder to catch any of the exciting shots of the crew in action that i've been able to get at other stages in the job. But progress continues to be made and soon the ugly concrete walls will be covered with a brick facade. 

Here, a large hopper filled with gravel is raised to the embankment.

At the end of the day, the crew has gone home and the concrete substation looms over Glenwood Ave.