While construction on the new Visitors Center entrance proceeds, access for physically challenged visitors has been temporarily moved to the parking area on the west-side of the North Vault.
[Photo & text: sa]
The maintenance department constructed a ramp to ease access.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 28, 2007 4:12:58 PM MST
This continues the report from 2/16/07. Now that the wall panels are in place, attention is focused on the path around the new wall. This years first workshop gets a good taste of hearty digging. The old path pavers are picked up. The earth at the east and north side of the wall is dug down to be even with the retaining wall. Dirt is re-distributed to bring other parts of the path up to the same level.
[Photo & text: sa]
A lot of digging happens at the north side, to establish easier access for handicapped visitors and general deliveries. Workshop participant Matt works on, and fixes!! the compactor.
[Photo & text: sa]
A form is completed for an addition to the existing retaining wall at the east side and the concrete mixer is fired up for the first concrete pour for this workshop. This story will continue on 2/28/07.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 26, 2007 6:12:47 PM MST
On Thursday, 2/22/07, Fox 10 News, KSAZ PHOENIX, visited Arcosanti and broadcast a good five minute segment about the project during their morning news.
[Photo & text: sa]
Part of this was a life sequence filmed in the Foundry during a bronze pour.
[Photo & text: sa]
Reporter and meterologist Jayme King gave a very positive introduction to Arcosanti, here with Arcosanti Public Relations Stefan Grace.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 23, 2007 3:49:12 PM MST
Tens of thousands of people from all over the world gathered on February 20, 2007 to participate in the Global Emergency Teach-in conducted by Architecture 2030. During this interactive webcast, 2030 issued The 2030 Challenge and The 2010 Imperative, specific achievable strategies to transform the built environment. These strategies are designed to immediately stabilize emissions in the Building Sector, and then reverse them to acceptable levels over the next ten years. Welcoming Remarks were made by Susan Szenasy, Editor, Metropolis Magazine.
[Photo: tt & text: sa]
The Speakers were: Dr. James Hansen, Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who talked about A THREAT TO THE PLANET.
Edward Mazria, AIA, Founder, Architecture 2030 delivered RESUSCITATING A DYING WORLD (2030 Challenge / 2010 Imperative).
And Chris Luebkeman, Director of Global Foresight and Innovation Initiative, ARUP spoke of DOING IS BELIEVING.
Paolo Soleri, staff and workshop participants watched the web-cast in the Soleri Office Unit.
[Photo: tt & text: sa]
As Architecture 2030 has shown, buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all energy consumption and GHG emissions annually; globally the percentage is even greater. Immediate action in the Building Sector, and a concerted global effort, are essential if we are to avoid hazardous climate change. A special SCHOOL OF THOUGHT meeting was arranged this afternoon, to discuss reactions and hear Paolos comments on the issues.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 21, 2007 5:34:06 PM MST
This continues the report from 2/7/07. The last panel is hoisted into place. The crane is diligently maneuvered by landscaping coordinator Ron Chandler.
[Photo & text: sa]
Now work begins on the path from the Ceramics Apse, around the new wall, to the Visitors Center entrance. Pavers and one of the railings are removed. The walkway will be aligned to the level of the retainingwall that supports the new panels.
[Photo & text: sa]
Directly north of the new wall is an area for Handicap Access Parking and for delivery trucks. Part of the plan is to make this area more level and accessible. More to come on 2/26.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 16, 2007 5:20:23 PM MST
Soleri ‘s weekly presence at Arcosanti generally occurs in the middle of the week when he has opportunities to go over the on-going projects.
[Photo & text: tt]
Soleri Archives houses a tremendous amount of Soleri’s original work and documentation. His occasional visits give the staff interesting insight into the circumstances that produced his prolific works.
[Photo & text: tt]
School of Thought, a weekly dialogue with students, staff and visitors, is a unique forum to “mine out” Soleri’s current thought.
[Photo & text: tt]
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Posted by sue on February 14, 2007 3:45:29 PM MST
For this years Valentine's Day celebration, musician Jonathan Best made his debut at Arcosanti in the Crafts III building. In a solo act, Jonathan delighted his audience with a very talented and lively performance. The Valentine package included a tour of the Arosanti site and a romantic pre-concert dinner in the Arcosanti Cafe.
[Photo: Matteo Di Michele & text: sa]
Chef Carri Krueger and crew put together a delicious meal of:
Artichoke Heart Soup, Chaparral Steak with Portabella Mushrooms, Orzo with Sun-dried Tomatos and Capers, Quinoa stuffed Eggplant with Pine Nuts and fresh Basil, Asparagus with Lemon and Rosemary, Baby Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts and for dessert, Vanilla Ice Cream with Randall Schultz's Prickly Pear Syrup.
[Photo: Matteo Di Michele & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 12, 2007 6:04:20 PM MST
Welcome to the first group of workshop participants in 2007: [back row from left]:
Rees Milikin, Andrew Shinn [two weeks], Maggie Lamb [two weeks], Bill McCartin [two weeks], Eva Gomez [two weeks], Jean-Luc Unger, Lauren Wessler and Max Ritts.
[insert]: Judith Bloom Criden.
[front row from left]:
Yosuke Kitazawa, Ashok, Nansy DeSilva [seminar week] and Andy Chao.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 9, 2007 9:12:13 AM MST
Report from 2/5/07 continues. [from upper left] The panel was lifted into its space connecting to the north wall of Crafts III. Dave Tollas drills into the wall to provide an anchor for a brace that will support the panel. Construction volunteer Brendon Maloney slowly turns the brace to fine-tune the panels position.
[Photo & text: sa]
[from upper left] The brace has an internal mechanism like an extendable rod for a shower curtain, just much more solid. With very slow revolution, to extend the brace, the panel is lined up perfectly and then stabalized. Now the crane cables are disconnected and lifted away.
[Photo & text: sa]
[from upper left] David checks the welding connections between the panel and retaining wall. Wedges were put in place to let the panel settle into perfect alignment before it is welded into place.
This report will continue on 2/19/07.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 7, 2007 2:58:47 PM MST
This continues the report from 1/24/07 about the new wall behind Crafts III. [from upper left] Enough time has passed to make sure that the last two concrete wall panels have cured sufficiently. The first panel will be lifted into place right next to the back wall of Crafts III .
Crew leader Dave Tollas explains that a very thin layer of silt is all that is needed to ensure good separation from the slab.
[Photo & text: sa]
[from upper left] Landscaping coordinator Ron Chandler is an expert at manipulating the crane boom minute distances. With David's hand signals and Ron's response with the crane, the panel is moved, turned around and guided into place in graceful motion.
[Photo & text: sa]
[from upper left] The panel connects with the north wall of Crafts III next to the back entrance to the bakery. Construction volunteer Brendon Maloney guides the panel from one side and volunteer crew member Darina Trendafilova from the other side. Crew chief David Tollas signals to get the panel lined up exactly. Again, steel weld plates on the bottom of the panel will be welded to weld-plates imbedded in the retaining-wall on which the panel rests.
This report will continue on 2/7/07.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 5, 2007 6:06:54 PM MST
The first workshop arrives this Sunday and Habitat meets to discuss work activities for the coming season.
Habitat encompasses the construction crews, utilities, agriculture, landscaping and maintenance, and metalshop. [from left] Construction and utilities manager Scott Reily, agriculture coordinators Sarah Beth Kurzhals and Ben Powell, facilities and maintenance manager Randall Schultz.
[Photo & text: sa]
Throughout the workshop season, a habitat meeting is usually scheduled every two weeks. The purpose of this meeting is to make everyone aware of activities in each department and to set priorities for each work crew. Workshop participants attend these meetings to get a better understanding of overall activities.
[Photo & text: sa]
Scott Reily heads all parts of the construction of Phase 5 of the East Crescent complex. He is also responsible for utilities site-wide.
Scott leads the discussion of upcoming action items.
For construction this means a panel lift, this coming Monday, of the remaining two wall panels for the new wall behind the Crafts III building. We will report on this on 2/5/07.
[Photo & text: sa]
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Posted by sue on February 2, 2007 6:04:58 PM MST