Today, we continue with a report on the landscaping of Arcosanti's new Visitor's Entrance. The workshop participants helped with the project that teaches about use of local materials. Rocks from the surrounding desert were carefully selected and arranged, in order to form a protective drainage edge along the concrete paths.
[Photo: & text: dkt]
Here, you see the result of this effort and also the blend between man-made and nature.
[Photo: & text: dkt]
In this photo, our Landscaping Coordinator, Ron Cnahdler, has begun work on a retaining rock wall that will be used as a planter as well.
[Photo: & text:dkt]
Posted by sue on June 5, 2009 6:14:08 PM MST
Finish work for the new Visitor's Center Entrance of Arcosanti continues. Today's report shows the construction of handrails along the recently poured staircase (see reports from months of May and April, 2009).
Brent Scott, one of Arcosanti's metal-work crew-leaders , and Ron Chandler, Landscaping department coordinator, started the project by erecting the vertical posts for the handrail.
In the right-side photo, with a grinder in hand, Brent is cutting the post in order to adjust its height.
[Photo: dkt&sa & text: dkt]
Here, you see Brent welding the pieces of round tube that form the handrail.
[Photo: & text: dkt]
The work on Arcosanti's new Visitor's Entrance is nearly complete. We will continue with a report on the final touches of landscaping along the pathways.
[Photo: sa & text: dkt]
Posted by sue on June 3, 2009 2:20:01 PM MST
This continues the report on installation of lighting along the new Visitors' Center pathway. Construction crew-leader Dr. Sparks instructs workshop-participants on the installation of electrical lines and light fixtures. In the top images, workshop-participants are splicing wires, which are later connected with the help of heat treatment (bottom left photo). At last, the fixtures are anchored in the ground.
[Photo & text: Darina Trendafilova]
The light fixtures are then connected to a bank of solar panels. The solar panels were graciously donated by PTL [Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory], which is a part of Arizona State University.
[see prior reports about installation of the solar panels in February and March 2008].
[Photo & text: Darina Trendafilova]
The solar light fixtures were purchased from "Nightscaping", Los Angeles, CA. Thank you, Kevin Smith of Nightscaping, for your help.
Efforts continue to complete this new visitors center entrance. Steel railings for the new staircases are in the process of being cut and welded into place, and new sign are still to be installed.
[Photo: Alfonso Elia & text: Darina Trendafilova]
Posted by sue on May 22, 2009 9:08:42 AM MST
This is the first of two reports on the lighting installation along the new Visitors' Center pathway. Construction crew-leader Dr. Sparks and workshop-participant Maryah Smith-Overmann review the plans for the new light fixtures.
[Photo & text: Darina Trendafilova]
In a synergy with hands-on building experience, the workshop and construction crew worked together to clear the trenches for the electrical lines.
[Photo & text: Darina Trendafilova]
The 'crew'. This report continues on 5/22/09.
[Photo & text: Darina Trendafilova]
Posted by sue on May 20, 2009 3:21:11 PM MST
This continues our report on the ongoing construction of a new handicap-accessible pathway for the Visitors' Center at Arcosanti. Workshop-participants assisted the construction and landscaping crew during the concrete pour of a staircase and a slab.
The lower section of this staircase was cast earlier, see report from May 8. 2009.
This pour completes the staircase and the slab that connects it to the ramp.
In the top right photo, crew-leader Brent Scott, and a workshop-participant are fastening a guide for the formwork. To the right, concrete is poured and leveled into the formwork. In the bottom photos, you see some of the detail work for the pour. To the left, Marco Tilocca is using an edger to round up the corners of the slab, and to the right, Andrew Woodard is setting in spacers for the posts of the future railings.
[Photo & text: Darina Trendafilova]
Later, the slab is given a final smoothing with an aluminum bow-float. After some time, water under pressure is sprayed on the concrete, so that the top layer of cement washes away, and the staircase and slab will have a coarser surface for better traction.
[Photo & text: Darina Trendafilova]
Finally, a sealer is sprayed on concrete.This report continues on 5/20/09 with installation of lighting along the new ramp.
[Photo & text: Darina Trendafilova]
Posted by sue on May 18, 2009 11:31:21 AM MST