Construction continues on the new entrance to the Visitors Center.
[from upper left] Workshop participant Livio Stabile and volunteer Jenn Epstein distribute concrete into the prepared form for the first stage of the upper ramp.
Workshop participants Fernando Lomast, Sylva Tentori and Rebecca Manning smoothen [screed] the surface of the slab.

[from upper left] Here again the slab is impressed with lines of individual pavers. The concrete is a mixed with a very grainy combination of sand and gravel. Fernando uses a heavy brush and water to scrub the surface before the concrete hardens. This exposes the pebbly roughness to make the surface of the slab as slip-proof as possible. This method has been used on all of the path surfaces.

The small slanting retaining wall between the path and the first level of the ramp was poured in several stages.
Paolo Soleri joins the crew to teach a finishing technique that he used on many walls at Cosanti.
The mixture of concrete used for this is like a creamy soup, which he calls slip. Paolo distributes this onto the top of the wall in such a way that it slowly melts down the side. He then uses a can to give the upper surface a kind of half moon rigded appearance. Before the concrete dries, some silt is powdered over it. The wall then is covered with wet cloth to let it cure very slowly.
Report on construction in this area will continue on 5/16/07.

The April 1. 2007 workshop participants completed their four-week program.
Sylva Tentori was part of the construction crew and worked mostly in concrete casting at the new Craft III visitors entrance, expecially the ramp for handicapped visitors.
Sylva receives her certificate from interim workshop coordinator Matteo Di Michele.

Fernando Lomasto was also part of the crew at the Crafts III visitors entrance construction site.
Graduation usually takes place at morning meeting in the Vaults on the last Friday of each workshop.

Livio Stabile was part of the same crew. Livio will stay on as a construction and planning intern for a 12-week internship.

Rebecca Manning also graduated. Rebecca worked part-time with the construction team. She spent a large portion of her workshop apprenticing with site electrician Dr. Sparks, aka Michael Bittman, working on the installation of a new set of solar panels.
[report on solar installation will start on 5/9/07]
Congratulations to all participants upon their graduation.

[from upper left] The crew of workshop participants and volunteers continues work on the new ramp behind Crafts III. The ramp will provide easier access for handicapped visitors to Arcosanti.
Workshop participant Fernando Lomasto levels the sand on the first stage of the third level of the ramp.
Volunteer JiHye Son and workshop participant Sylva Tentori rake the upper part of the third ramp level.

While one part of the construction crew works on leveling the third stage of the ramp, another group pours and finishes the small retaining wall between the first and second ramp level.
[from upper left] Volunteer Jenn Epstein shovels concrete while David Tollas overseas the crew's packing of the thick mixture of concrete into forms for several stages of this sloped retaining wall.
Crew Darina Trendafilova and workshop participants Rebecca Manning and Fernando Lomast work on a second section of the retaining wall.
Report on this area of construction will continue on 4/27/07.

Construction continues at the new entrance for the Visitors Center.
A new railing has been installed on the path between Crafts III and the Ceramics Apse.
March 4. workshop participants JihYe Son and Jenn Epstein paint the new railing.
After completion of their workshop, both JihYe Son and Jenn Epstein stayed on as volunteers in construction.

Construction crew Darina Trendafilova and JiHye Son finish a freshly poured concrete slab that connects the path from the visitors parking lot to the passenger bridge entrance of Crafts III.
The slab is finished with indentations like individual pavers, to give a uniform appearance to the whole path.


A new Italian crew, April 1. 2007 workshop participants Livio Stabile, Fernando Lomast and Sylva Tentori, dig a trench behind the bakery right next to the walk-in refridgerator.
A utility line vent is in the way of a planned retaining wall and is moved closer to the backwall of the bakery.
Report on this construction area will continue on 4/25/07.

This week 147 students, teachers and parents from Copperwood School in Glendale, AZ., visited Arcosanti for a tour and lunch. The group was divided into five smaller groups with individual tour guides. [from upper left] Tour guide Julian Lauzzana [Arcosanti Development Office] with a group of students in the Ceramics Apse. Lisa Willot [manages Agriculture] talked to her group in the Colly Soleri Amphitheater. Stefan Grace [Public Relations] and Darina Trendafilova [Construction] with their groups along the East Crescent.

The Vaults came alive with the cheerful voices of many children. Cafe manager Carrie Krueger and Workshop participants Fernando Lomasto, Sylva Tentori and Livio Stabile served a delicious lunch.

The children had a good visit. Guest services manager Dinah Yessne received some wonderful 'Thank You' letters, like ..
.. from Talisa:
Dear Dinah, Thank you so much for the tour. It was really neat to see how every thing worked. I'm planning on moving there in about 6 or 7 years.

.. from Christopher:
Dear Mr. Soleri, I've really really liked the presentation, but I've had an idea about the food. I would put a bell on the door and if they liked the food they will ring it.
.. from Christina:
Thank you for the great day! I thought the food was the best!
.. from Anna:
Thank you Dinah for giving us a tour. We had a lot of fun at Arcosanti. It was the best building site I have ever seen. The food was very good. I also liked the bells. They were very nice looking. I liked how a guy put the penny in the propane. We had a very fun day. Thank you!!!

For information on group visits please contact Guest Services manager Dinah Yessne at (928) 632-6222.

This continues the report from 3/28 about re-construction of the visitors entrance and delivery area behind Crafts III.
The large ARCOSANTI entrance sign was demolished by a mini-tornado last July [see report from 7/24/06] and the re-design encompasses a new silt-cast wall around the cafe and bakery recycling area, and easier access for handicapped visitors. The path around the new wall had to be excavated in some parts and built up in others for smoother transition [see reports from 3/21, 3/23 and 3/26].
Part of the entrance is a passenger bridge that leads to the bakery and Crafts III tower entrance. The bridge has to be lifted close to 12 inches to be level with the new path.

This heavy wooden bridge is supported by hefty tree trunks. After the crew removed some of the decking, some cut-to-size pieces are pulled through the hole in the bridge decking to be used for new support. A solid piece of steel is put in place under the bridge and looped on both sides with a heavy chain. The chain is then connected to the crane hook and Dave Tollas signals the crane to carefully lift the bridge into place.
The original installation crew secured the bridge very well and it took some digging to finally get the heavy bridge to move.

Once in place, construction crew members re-secured the bracing under the bridge and poured concrete at the entrance of the bridge to keep it firmly in place. The decking was replaced and another step in the re-construction is complete. To be continued.

On March 22nd, Paolo Soleri gave a visual presentation and discussion at Design within Reach. The invitation flyer read:
Architect, Urban Planner, Sculptor, Ceramicist, Author, Conservationist ... DWR says WOW!
Soleri splits his time between Cosanti, in Scottsdale, and Arcosanti, as he continues his commitment to research and experimentation in urban planning.

Paolo gave a very well received visual presentation and discussion about LEAN ALTERNATIVE.

Following the presentation refreshments were served, Cosanti Foundation staff Mary Hoadley sold bells and books, and Paolo was available to sign books.
DWR is a furniture studio with a beautiful selection of items with mid-century classic designs. The Scottsdale Studio of Design within Reach is located at 4821 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scotsdale, AZ.

Artist Teresa Widmer worked with the Madison Park Schools Art Club to create a collection of extraordinary works to be displayed and sold at 56 East Bar and Kitchen in Chandler. All the funds raised will go to help fund the Art Clubs end of the year overnight trip to ARCOSANTI.

Madison Park School is located at 1431 East Campbell Ave in Phoenix, AZ 85014
Phone (602) 664-7505
56 East Bar and Kitchen is located at 7131 W. Ray Road in Chandler, AZ 85226. For reservations call (480) 705-5602
The reception at 56 East Bar and Kitchen is from 6 pm to 7:30 pm this coming Monday 4/16/07.

Fun and games for the afternoon of Easter Sunday were planned by resident Philip Bonham. Philip prepared an elaborate combination of Easter-egg hunt and Capture the Flag event in and along the Agua Fria riverbed, close to Camp and the gardens.
Roman soldiers Dr. Sparks, aka Michael Bittman, and Philip explain the rules of the game to workshop participants, residents and the Arcosanti children.

Two territories were established and people were divided into two teams, the Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family, with colorful team bandanas and a team flag each. Philip made a collection of weapons with foam rubber and duck tape.

Found Easter eggs could be traded in for weapons and a lively game ensued. Lots of fun was had by all.
[from upper left] Jenn Epstein, JiHye Son and Jose Masaoy.
Roman soldiers Darina Trendafilova and Dr. Sparks.

The second floor of Unit 6 in the East Crescent complex has two apartments, a lightscoop studio and a south facing, wedge-shaped, one-room apartment that is currently used as a dorm for workshop participants and visiting groups.
The floor contains a hydronic heating system protected by a layer of gypcrete.
Construction crew uses a pause in bookings to tile. [from upper left] Crew leader Melissa Poluski teaches workshop participant JiHye Son. Workshop participants Jenn Epstein and Midori Shibutani measure tiles to be cut for the slanted wall. Melissa at the tile saw.

[from upper left] Jenn and Midori apply grout.


The floor of the small bathroom was tiled earlier. Melissa cut and installed a darker tile for a smooth transition between the two rooms.

The last detail was installation of floorboards.

Beds and closets are back in place ready for the next group. Up to 6 people can comfortably stay in this apartment, while the East Crescent is under construction.
End-use of this apartment is resident housing.

Welcome to the April 1. 2007 workshop participants:
Sylva Tentori, Rebecca Manning, Livio Stabile, Jayme Croley [seminar week], Ferdinand Lomasto, Paulina Westerlind [seminar week] and Love Enquist [seminar week].

[from upper left] Lisa Willet is the current manager of agriculture at Arcosanti.
The crew of three, and a few part-time volunteers from other departments, are in the process of pruning trees in the peach orchard.
Anthropologist Sarah Pulici volunteered and was a great help in agriculture for the last 5 month.

The experimental greenhouse provides a sheltered environment during the cold season for a variety of lettuce, spinach and herbs.
Lettuce are picked daily to be available at the salad bar at the Arcosanti Cafe throughout the year.

In spring a large part of the effort in the greenhouse is devoted to the raising of seedlings. Varieties of tomatos, peppers, eggplant, squash, are waiting to be transplanted into the garden, as soon as the danger of frost has passed.

Lisa Willet and agriculture intern Nilakantha Veylan.

The agriculture crew provides organic produce and fresh eggs once a week to Arcosanti residents. Produce selection depends on the season. Arcosanti organic produce are also sold at the weekly Prescott Farmers Marketduring the summer month.

Congratulations to the March 4. 2007 workshop participants upon their completion of the program.
Graduate Jenn Epstein receives her certificate.

Graduate Matt Holthausen completed a 12-week Arcosanti Scholarship Program.
Also graduated: JiHye Son, Midori Shibutani and Melanie Husband.