Shul Construction Update

Jacking up the lobby floor to install a steel support beam and steel columns

As spring gives way to summer, I am grateful to Hashem that after nearly two and a half years of pandemic, things are returning to normal. Just before the pandemic began, we realized that the floor supporting the staircase to the second floor was gradually sinking. Probes by our conservator and an engineer revealed that at one point during construction, the original contractor planned to build a staircase on the southern wall to the basement, parallel to the staircase on the northern wall. As construction proceeded, the contractor changed his mind and decided that one staircase was enough. As was common from buildings of that era, the hole where the southern staircase was to go was covered but not adequately reinforced. When this was brought to our attention, we resolved to have this deficiency repaired. The pandemic and the the fact that the engineer was sick delayed progress on this project. The condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, reminded us of the importance of our project and enabled us to get things moving.

Under the guidance of our project manager, Ed Kamper, and a new engineer (hired after our first engineer passed away), we hired a contracted and began to make progress. First, the floor was lifted several inches.  Then, a diagonal steel beam, pocketed in the masonry at the ends and supposed by steel posts, was installed. Finally the beam, and the exposed area of the basement and the electrical room was covered in sheetrock. There are still a few things to do (fixing up the ladies room and installing missing light fixtures, addressing a leaky skylight and leaky windows, and other small issues), but the project is almost done. 

What will we do next? Good question! Next year will be hundredth anniversary of the construction of our building, and truth be told, there is still lots of work to be done.  Down the road, we hope to restore the walls along with all the decorative painting, upgrade the electrical system and replace (with new tin) our tin ceiling. Fortunately, the pattern of the original tin is still available. 

We have come as far as we have thanks to the help of the many people who have contributed to the shul. May God bless all of our donors and may they continue to support this holy house of God.