Year 2, Day 95: 31 January 2014

Word on the street (or, rather, on the worksite) is that the wraps will come off next week, and we'll finally get a good look at the brickwork.

At this point, the view sure ain't pretty!

Adding that top layer of bricks

The view from the L platform at Morse, showing the work being done
on the west wall. I would ordinarily try to get a picture from the train
as it goes past, but with all the bad weather we've had lately,
the Red Line trains are filthy and you can barely see out the windows.

Year 2, Day 94: 30 January 2014

It looks like the wraps should be coming off soon, revealing the completed brickwork.

The brickwork is visible through the plastic sheeting
and appears to be nearly finished on the east wall

Scaffolding along the west wall (facing the L tracks)

The plastic sheeting over the work area is definitely the worse for wear
after a month of ice, snow, and high winds

Year 2, Day 91: 27 January 2014

Another day of subzero temperatures, but the work goes on.

Year 2, Day 87: 23 January 2014

Continuing to add the equipment to the lower roof.

Year 2, Day 86: 22 January 2014

It's a funny thing: i've gotten so used to the noise and activity coming from the substation construction over the past year that i've kind of missed it lately as the work has moved indoors. At most, all i hear most days is some hammering, an occasional voice, and the steady hum of the generator. So it was almost a relief today to hear the cherry picker's engine and see actual human beings out on the roof. As i passed the site on the L this morning, i could see workers installing some kind of wall material on the west side of the building (facing the L tracks), but did not have the opportunity to get a picture.

Year 2, Day 84: 20 January 2014

I've been a bit remiss in posting here lately; in fact, the first anniversary of the actual work on the substation went by without my commenting on it. It has been quite a year, but at this point there isn't much for me to photograph since the work is taking place either inside the building or on the scaffolding, which is only partially visible within its cocoon of plastic coverings. 

I did manage to get these few pictures last Friday. I'm sorry that i haven't had the opportunity to watch the bricklayers at work (or to share it with you), but given the absolutely brutal weather we've been experiencing for the past month, it's a good thing that the workers have those plastic tarps to give them a little protection from the elements. As we experience another visit from the Polar Vortex, those plastic tarps are rattling in the wind and the snowdrifts are piling up yet again. 

At this point, i'm just waiting for the big reveal when those tarps come off and the substation is there in all it's brick-clad glory. In the meantime, i hope they don't forget the graffiti-proofing; this is Rogers Park after all. 

Here are a few shots of the southern end of the structure, taken through the chain-link fence. 

Year 2, Day 72: 8 January 2014

The temperature soared into the double digits today, making it all the way to a high of 15℉, and work resumed. After breaking through the layer of ice and snow, the coverings were removed, revealing the brick facade on the southern section of the substation. 

On the far right, you can see where a 2x4 is being used to hit the tarp 
in order to break through the thick crust of ice and snow.

First view of the brickwork.

Workers removing the tarps and revealing more of the brickwork.

Looks great, doesn't it?

Year 2, Day 69: 5 January 2014

So far, the protective covering is holding up well in this extreme weather.
The sound of the wind rattling the tarps makes it seem even colder than it is.

Year 2, Day 68: 4 January 2014

The temperature soared to the 20s today and the crew was busy enclosing the rest of the scaffolding before the arrival of the next round of snow and sub-zero conditions.  

This is as much of the work as i can see on a lot of days.
I assume that the brickwork is progressing behind the protective tarps.
I've noticed that this crew of workers' safety vests say "Garth"
rather than "FHP" across the back, so i guess that is the company
in charge of laying the bricks.

The south end of the worksite

Year 2, Day 67: 3 January 2014

The bricks are piled up and ready on this frigidly cold day. I took this picture about thirty seconds after i dropped my phone in a snow bank, which is why the color is a little washed out. 

Year 2, Day 66: 2 January 2014

Despite the snow and freezing temperatures, it was a busy day at the substation. Most of the work was going on behind the tarps and inside the structure, so there wasn't a lot to see or photograph, but i thought i heard a few familiar voices from the crew that was working on the previous stage of the project. Piles of bricks have now been set up on the upper level of the scaffolding, so i assume that this area will also go under wraps within the next day or two.