Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas Eve - it is ours! (Although builders have not yet finished!)

After 7 months and 2 days, we finally were able to welcome people in through the new entrance... and in the space of 24 hours over 500 people took the chance to walk through the automatic* doors. 220 for the Crib Service, 100 for the midnight celebration and 240 for Christmas Day.

So, here for the first time are pictures without any scaffold, cables, holes or builders!

First, one looking up at the ceiling lights and the new balcony... and the sun came out too!

The cedar ceiling is now almost complete... bit more to do above the doors and outside, but it certainly looks impressive... there is even a path outside!

The balcony and bridge now has its silver handrail... everyone who has come in said 'wow'

Now that its finished, the wait has been worthwhile... come and see for yourself. 10:30am on a Sunday!

The lights over the toilets are still to be completed, but we are back inside... toilets are accessible to all again!

This space will shortly start to be furnished with reception desk, tables and chairs and some great designs on the walls...

The doors on the extreme left go into the main church... many people coming in, spent a few seconds trying to find bearings...

This plaque has been outside and hidden away for the past 40 or so years. With this new build, it is now back inside and lays testament to the faithful witness of God's people here in Cosham for the past 139 years. We will be celebrating our 140th anniversary in May

 The view as you come in through the front door... (flooring still to be finished)


*automatic as long as someone was standing there to open them!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

December 22 - 1 day to go before partial handover!

 First up, we have the brilliant work Ian has done in transforming the old tatty weather beaten doors into attractive doors that will give all visitors to the Community Foyer a view into the main worship space... they were painted later on today, after this photo was taken...

 Outside the back doors will be a 'terrace' running the width of the building... the weather eventually has turned warm enough for the building of this to start...

All the cedar timber has now been fitted, along with an interesting fire exit sign... useful if you fall over!

The builders have also begun the paving slabs to the front door...

The Children's Centre office is almost finished now... lights, smoke alarm, ventilation, heating, carpet, window, door all fitted!


 We have taken this opportunity to have the hall floor redone... and I am sure many of you will not beleive this is the same floor we had previously...
In fact I'll find a photo now to be able to compare...

 it is certainly different... and guaranteed for next 25 years...

 The view through the foyer from the new kitchen end...

 The carpet on the stairs...

The Youth Pod keeps developing...

 The timber panels have been put on the balcony... a steel handrail is still to be added... but it looks smart doesn't it!

And finally another view from the bridge...

More updates tomorrow as we take partial completion...

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

10 December - 2 weeks to go...

 The foyer ceiling... with spaces for the soon to be arriving lights...makes it look so very different

 A view from one end of the new Church office... where Jill will be situated...

 The front doors... in at last

 Looking back from the front doors... now all the plasterboard is on, it looks very different... especially with the bridge there...

As you come up the stairs, this will be the view... well with the walls painted, carpet down and no tower...


 And a view from the Bridge... looking down at the front door... the square by the door is for the mat to wipe feet!

 The Youth pod.... keeps developing...


 A view from the Youth Pod entrance looking back at the stairs and the entrance to the Link Conference Rooms...

Another one... showing a slightly diff angle...

 A view down the stairs...

And the kitchen in the CC with the door into the Link kitchen. This will be open when required...

26 Nov 2010 - let's take a look inside

The work on the new kitchen has only just begun but it is certainly taking shape...

 You can see here the door leading to the Children's Centre. The observant of you will have noticed that there is now no window on the wall above where the radiator now is. The back wall of glass still looks great!
A similar picture, but this one includes the boiler room!

 A view from the back windows towards the front entrance...
 And this is the new kitchen that will be shared between Link and Children's Centre. The door you can see leads to the CC, whilst the picture is taken from the current small kitchen in The Link. (Bonus question #33 why are the hobs not above the oven?)
 We now go upstairs and here's the view you will get when coming out of the Conference Room upstairs...
 The Youth Pod continues to take shape...
And this is the view from the Youth Pod, across the bridge. Upon the bridge is Fred - the site manager... hats off to you Mr Fred!

Start of a lot of posts...

First of all one from the original view point... on Nov 24th... a month before partial handover of the whole site

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Most exciting post yet!

Looking down from the Bridge Link from the balcony to the Youth Pod this is the view you could enjoy looking at the front entrance... it gets better...!

Looking the other way from the bridge. The entrance to the disabled toilet and The Link are on the left, the Children's Centre office on the right.
Standing in the same place on the bridge. This is the view of the windows that will provide so much light for this new entrance foyer.
Coming in to the new Foyer, your eyes will immediately go up and take in the size of the new build.

For many years this has been the poky passageway between the pub and church, but from now on it will be the uplifting entrance to a central place in the Community!
Looking from the reception desk area this is the view looking back towards the front entrance.

In this picture you can clearly see the bridge extending from the balcony on the right, across to the youth pod entrance on the left.
With the bridge on the left this view gives us a glimpse of the doors into the Link and The Link conference rooms
In a previous post, I hinted at the size of this balcony. It will be an excellent place for many a meeting!
Our final picture is of the balcony, bridge and front entrance... hopefully this is all whetting your appetite and hopefully we will be 'in' within the next 3-4 weeks...