Archive for the ‘Construction Updates’ Category
Alter Hall Shines at Christmas
Thursday, December 13th, 2007Last week as I walked across Ritter Hall plaza between Montgomery and Cecil B. Moore Avenues, I was struck by work lights twinkling through the leafless trees framed against the silhouette of Alter Hall. I returned with my camera moments later to see if I could capture the moment, but alas, the camera couldn’t provide the proper degree of sparkle to reflect what I had seen. What do I when my view of life doesn’t square with reality? I change reality. So with the assistance of Jodi Weisberg and some Photoshop tools, we’ve re-created the vision I saw that my normally trusty camera wouldn’t allow. After all, appearance is everything. Right?
Meanwhile, on the outside …
Wednesday, December 12th, 2007Scaffolding has been rising on Liacouras Walk to the fourth level.
Expect to see sheathing going up soon, followed by brick work in the new year.
From 4 to 7
Tuesday, December 11th, 2007Do you know how difficult it must be to schedule concrete around the weather? Today it was overcast with no rain despite a forecast of 30%. Yesterday it was supposed to rain but it didn’t amount to much. When do you call in the big trucks and when do you tell them to stay home? They were here today, pouring the roof of the 7th floor and the floor of the 4th. The chance of rain tomorrow is 30% and 70% for Thursday. You didn’t know construction managers had to stay so close to AcccuWeather, did you?
Pouring 4 and 7 from John DeAngelo on Vimeo.
Alter from Inside Out
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007Last Wednesday, November 23, members of the Alter Hall Core Committee were given an opportunity to view Alter Hall from the inside. Up until now, stills and videos were captured from OUTSIDE Alter Hall, usually from one of the windows into construction in Speakman Hall.
This time we traveled the little red lift to the 1st, 3rd, and 7th floors. From the first floor we could view the auditorium below and the atrium to the 3rd floor. On the 3rd floor, we visited the Dean’s Suite and saw Speakman from the top of the atrium. The 7th floor, home of MBA full-time programs, afforded the most dramatic vistas, with views of the city skyline, the Walt Whitman Bridge and Temple’s campus.
Rather than label each shot, I prefer to give you a sense of the building in collage. Write me with any qustions about what you see and I will post answers to the blog.
Inside Out from
John DeAngelo on Vimeo.
Auditorium Steps Completed
Thursday, November 29th, 2007
A few days ago I showed you a shot of steps in the 270-seat auditorium on the lower level poured at every other aisle. Yesterday the “other” steps were poured revealing the number of rows, as well as the size and scope of the auditorium. This view shows the stage at left, facing the elevator core and Speakman Hall. The main entrance to the auditorium is at right, facing Montgomery Avenue.
Studs, Shafts, and Silhouettes
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007One of the most amazing things about the construction of Alter Hall is how many different things are happening simultaneously. Today, for example, while more concrete was being pumped to the 3rd floor, steps were being completed on the lower level, metal studs were being raised on the 1st floor, and the casing surrounding one of the elevator shafts was built.
The shot above left shows metal studs defining the interview room walls of the Center for Student Professional development (CSPD) on the 1st floor (Associate Dean Diana Breslin Knudsen at left and Jean Marie Radaszkiewicz at right). The shot above right shows the east side elevator bank that will be completed in the next couple weeks to carry workers between floors.
Knowing I am always seeking novel perspectives, David Kaiser and Chuck Allen encouraged me to take a shot of Alter Hall looking south on Liacouras Walk from Diamond Street.
Something You Haven’t Seen Before
Monday, November 19th, 2007Have you wondered what’s going on below grade? While things are moving very fast from the 1st to 7th floors, work on the lower level of Alter has been something of a mystery. For the first time we are offered a peek into the level that contains the auditorium and four lecture halls. Below you see alternating concrete steps that form the floor of the 270 seat auditorium. Concrete workers will return to fill in the spaces between these risers in the days ahead. Have a Happy Thanksgiving from your Alter Blogger.
Concrete Spreads
Wednesday, November 14th, 2007It’s been a while since we posted information on Alter Hall progress.  Since completing the steel frame, much of the work has moved inside, where it is harder to get photos while work is in progress. Plus, once construction passed the 3rd floor of Speakman Hall, we no longer had a vantage point for interior progress.
Soon I should be able to walk around the lower levels, and as time passes I may even be allowed to ride the construction elevator to the top!
 In the meantime, I can occasionally catch glimpses of what’s going on from the 3rd floor balcony and the rooftop. Today I captured crews pouring and finishing on the 3rd floor, and work has begun on duct work on the first floor.
3rd Floor Concrete from John DeAngelo on Vimeo.
The View from Ritter Annex
Tuesday, November 6th, 2007
Everyone’s getting into the act now. Here is a new view from Ritter Hall Annex taken when the sky was beginning to clear after a morning rain. Alter Hall looks imposing from this angle, doesn’t it? Credit for this photo goes to Zeke Moctezuma from Fox Computer Services.
Liacouras Side Completed
Friday, November 2nd, 2007
Nov 1 brought the completion of the entire west side of Alter Hall. All the structural steel is in place and workers continue to fill in the last of the steel beams on the 13th Street side of the building. This shot shows very clearly that the mansard roof is viewable at street level. The curved roof is one of the Michael Graves designed building’s most distinctive features.
John DeAngelo