This photo is from the upstairs classrooms in the auditorium and it shows the new ductwork being put in:

And here is a view of the entry to the foyer from the hall – check out the framed arch:

The “festival stairs” in the back have been replaced with a new set.  Instead of the nasty old fake turf stuff they have composite flooring that never needs to be painted or anything.  They were also designed so we can slide under them with the forklift to move them. 

The program was a great success.  We may do one-day ones during school vacation – we will see.  We will definitely do another camp next August so stay tuned.  Here is a picture of Raphaela’s souvenir.  If she follows in Daddy’s footsteps and collects baseball cards and memorabilia then this will be the first item in her collection:

This view is outside of the foyer area, looking down along the Russell St. front of the auditorium.  I saw the backhoe and thought – finally!  The city is fixing the sidewalks.  But it was actually our construction crew digging to put in new pipes:

And some actual construction!  This is the church basement – half of it is being turned into classroom space.  Note especially the ceiling, which has been concealed by a drop ceiling for many years:

Here is a picture of the rooms with the walls in between torn down.  Eventually this will be an open view of the park from the auditorium, with dividers so that meetings or small functions can be held in the rooms:

And the view from the foyer area:

This view of the auditorium from where the stage used to be gives you an idea of the disruption – you can see stuff piled up on the ground as well as on the balcony, as well as the plastic draping where the work is being done:

This is the view from the Tonna Room into the foyer and auditorium.  The curtains are almost always closed (except at festival time) so most people don’t even remember that the walls are glass:

We demolished the pre-school classrooms and are converting part of the church basement into new classrooms.  Part of this is the replacement of the basement windows with new windows that actually close.  They slide open to the sides and seal nicely.  This picture is not what the final product will look like – there will be screens and a protective lattice that will feature Grecian Keys along the top:

And the stage demolition in…well, stages:

The stage in particular was a real bear to take apart.  All of this is, of course, quite disruptive – I am out of an office for a couple of months, among other things -but well worth it.  More pictures to follow.