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Project Update 11/07

If you have ever built a house, you really appreciate the time when the inside of the structure starts taking shape. The walls going up help define the space and you can get a real feel for how you are going to "live" in your new home. Well that is where we are with our expansion project. The interior walls are up and the spaces are getting defined.

The Children's Expansion will provide 25,000 square feet of additional space adding seven new classrooms and a large group space on the first floor and six new classrooms on the second floor. It also provides additional offices for staff, storage and resource areas and was designed with future expansion in mind. The "Tree House" theme will make this a very interesting and exciting area for the preschool aged kids in our program.

The remodel of the ice rink has gone very smoothly. The conversion of the north end into a worship auditorium is very impressive. This space has a gathering area at the north end. It also includes a bank of restrooms on the west wall, a large video booth upstairs, a prayer room, backstage area and green room. The south end will provide program space for our student ministry with offices, a "coffee house" assembly area and game room on the first level and four large class rooms and a large assembly room on the second floor. We have also provided a prayer room, restrooms with shower facilities and a kitchen. The east entry opens into a café area for people to meet before worship or student ministry activities begin. Small group areas are scattered throughout the space.

The covered walkway to the Chapel and the south portico are really taking shape. The covered walkway will be a welcome addition for everyone who makes regular trips to the Chapel. The south portico will provide a covered drive and drop off that will protect people from the weather which is a much welcome addition. We hope to have the south portico completed by Christmas. Thanks to all of you that have sacrificed to make this wonderful project happen!

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Project Update 10/07

Construction Update October 3, 2007
You can certainly see progress everywhere now!  The steel at the children’s area is up and the second floor is in.  The framing for the exterior walls is going in and soon the building will really begin to take shape.  Flintco has done a great job of keeping the schedule moving in spite of rain.  They have had two crews working on the steel at the children’s area and inside the ice rink.

The steel beams have been erected for the second floor in the ice rink and the second floor decking and concrete is poured. They are framing the interior walls in the rink so the space is really getting defined.  We are happy with the remodel and have not had any significant surprises that can arise from a remodel of this magnitude.  All the plumbing on the first floor is in and they have started on the plumbing and electrical for the second floor. 

The work on the south entrance portico is going well.  The steel has been delivered and is going up.  We want to thank everyone for their patience as this entrance continues to be blocked off for safety reasons.  We will reopen as soon as possible.

The covered walkway to the chapel is progressing with the grade beams and foundation work complete and steel erection continuing.  We will really notice a difference in the campus once this is finished.  The schedule for the installation of the steeple on Mason Chapel has not been finalized but that will complete the look for the exterior.  The schedule still looks good and we are hoping to be complete with all projects by May, 2008.  Thanks to all of you who have sacrificed for this wonderful project.

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Project Update 09/07

Construction Update September 1, 2007
It is so exciting to see the steel going up in various areas and the parking and access area between the main campus and the rink almost to completion.  The expansion projects are moving along quite well and our schedule is on track so far.  You can see the steel at the children’s area and the covered walkway will start taking shape soon.  Things inside the rink are going great and that space is really starting to resemble something we have designed! 

We thought it would be fun to give you a “Sneak Peek” at the artist’s rendering for the tree house theme elements in the new children’s area to give you an idea of the feel of that space.  These are final drawings provided by Jonathan Martin.  Jonathan is a very gifted artist and has done work for other churches, theme parks and even movie sets.  This will give our children’s ministry space personality and interest for everyone!

Another exciting design feature that has been finalized is a steeple for the Mason Chapel.  The donors who provided the funding to build the chapel also provided the funding to add a steeple to complete the look.  By tying the chapel to the main facility with the covered walkway and the addition of the steeple, the architectural impact will be outstanding.  We hope you enjoy these pictures and illustrations.  Keep praying for this very important project.

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Project Update 08/07

If you aren’t excited yet about the progress on our expansion projects, prepare to get excited! The work that is happening now will make things start to take shape so you can really see the impact our expansion will make to our ministry. The piers have all been poured at the children’s area and the slab is going in and the steel is going up! Once the steel is in place, you will get a real visual for the additional 25,000 square feet we are adding. Please respect the safety fencing around this area as the steel erection can be dangerous.

The work in the parking area has moved along nicely. Hopefully you can begin to get a feel for opening the campus to the rink. This is designed to provide both a secure and safe path to the new building and provide a seamless feel to our campus. If you have been paying attention, you will notice that we are also putting in additional storm water drainage systems in the new access area as well as in the front of the building and by the chapel. Thanks to our vigilant Board of Trustees, the drainage issues we have at our site are being addressed to the extent possible. While we can’t make all the water issues go away, we believe this will be a huge help. The start date for the south portico isn’t finalized yet and is dependent on steel fabrication.

The covered walkway to the chapel will also begin to take shape as the steel begins to go up. Again, please respect the safety fencing. We apologize that the East entrance and prayer room are not accessible at this time. We will keep you posted on the progress.

Work at the rink is still going very well. Once the excavation is completed, the slab is poured then the steel for the second floor in the student ministry area will be erected. This will give us a good visual idea of the space in that building. It is so exciting to see the months and years of planning begin to take shape. Flintco and Tri Arch are doing a great job as well as the sub contractors and consultants. Make sure you stay informed by going to the Asbury website. The pictures help to make it all real!

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Project Update 07/07

With all the rain we received in the month of June, we joked that maybe we should be building an Ark rather than a building. The earthwork in the children’s area was moving along quite nicely and then the rain came. The dirt has to have a few days of continuous sun to dry enough to continue so the schedule has been affected. Flintco is working hard to redirect the contractors’ efforts to make up for these weather delays.

The good news is the rain has had little or no affect on the work being done at the ice rink. All the demolition has been completed and everyone is very pleased with the results. The building is in good shape and so far, there have been no surprises. With a remodel, you never know what you might find. The footings for the steel have been dug and steel erection is next. The building is huge and it is easy to see the potential for this new area.

Work on the parking and southeast entrance has affected normal traffic patterns but everyone’s patience and planning is greatly appreciated. This work will continue for several months but will be worth all the effort. The South entrance is receiving a new portico which will also affect access to the building from that location. You can keep informed of any changes by checking the website.

The covered walkway to the chapel has begun as well. We could have used that in June! Every effort will be made to not limit access back and forth to the chapel and main building. Thanks again for your prayers and patience throughout the project.

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Project Update 06/07

We are so excited to see the progress on our Phase II expansion project. The earthwork on the children’s expansion and the demo on the ice rink are finished. The structural portions of these two areas are going up and things will really start to take shape.

This summer we will begin on the chapel walkway and the parking and access to the ice rink will begin. Part of our planning on this project is to remedy as much of our site drainage issues as possible. The intersection at the SE side of the campus where our new access will be will is part of this remediation plan. They will begin the first week of July. This will limit parking and access at that SE entrance of our campus and once the portico begins, the south entrance will be closed temporarily. We will be providing additional shuttles to transport people from the Union parking lot. This is a wonderful service as the shuttles pick you up and drop you off right at the front door!! We have gotten rave reviews from our guests and members who use this service now. There is plenty of parking at Union.

Once construction begins on the portico at the south entrance, that entrance will be closed for safety issues. We will work as quickly as possible so we can open it for Sunday. While it is closed, please use the main entrance. Our website will have current information on all areas of construction and how it affects programming. Please use this source of information to plan your visits to the church.

Again, we want to remind everyone about the safety concerns of construction. Our construction sites are only accessible to authorized personnel. Thanks for helping us to keep you and your family safe and thanks for your patience throughout this exciting project.

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Project Update 05/07

After months of planning and design work, the plans are ready and have gone public for the subcontractors to bid. We are anxious and excited to get the bids and to know the final costs of construction for our proposed components. Flintco will facilitate this process in mid April and we will be prepared to make final decisions regarding budget and funding by the first week of May. We will be meeting with the Building Committee and the Administrative Council immediately following receipt of bids. We will then hold a Church Conference (TBA) for the members to vote on final resolutions impacting the project. Construction activity is scheduled to begin in May.

The proposed components of the expansion project are the remodel of the Tulsa Ice Arena into a Student Ministry space and worship auditorium; expansion of the Children’s Area; addition of two porticos and a covered walkway to the chapel; new access and parking to the arena property and a remodel of the current Student space into Adult space. We have provided the plans and drawings for your review as well as making them available on the website. You can also visit Construction Corner in the main foyer of the church to see all components of the project and other informational materials.

The preliminary construction schedule reflects work to begin in May, 2007 and run through May, 2008. Work in the Children’s area, the ice rink and the chapel walkway is the first to begin followed by the parking access and adult renovation in June; the south portico is scheduled to begin in July and north portico in October. Flintco has developed the schedule to provide for the most economic and efficient overall project approach while working within our programming. We know that construction will impact programming and convenience but we will make every attempt to limit these while maintaining strict safety standards. There will be times when certain entrances are closed redirecting access to other points of entry. We will also be faced with portions of the SE parking lot inaccessible and traffic flow limited or redirected. We will be proactive in communicating to the congregation dates and times this work will affect certain areas so you can adjust. Please use the website as it will be updated real time to reflect these scheduling issues.