Phase 3 Update
We would like to update you on the activity taking place at the theater in what is now Phase 3. Let’s pray for a mild-mannered fall so that exterior masonry work may continue toward an estimated completion by Turkey Day. (Well, we all know how that is going!) You will read, we have much to be thankful for this November. If you come into contact with any of the following individuals or companies, please express your many thanks for showing their love of this remarkable landmark.
Bruce Spangle and his son Corey have had their hands full with demo and rebuild with each new block weighing in at 60 pounds. The east wall is now complete and work will continue on the exposed north wall above NaRie near the alley.
Making this rebuild possible was Camden Structural for stabilizing the two outer walls with two sets of large tension cables and a temporary roof support beam engineered through a team effort of Brent Martin, Keller Engineering, Al Eisenhour and installation by Eisenhour Home Improvements so work could continue.
We hope to return the alley to normal traffic soon to avoid any further inconvenience to our neighbors before the holidays. If you run into any of the Bowman's, Jim & Judy at Opie's, Linda & Darrel at the barber shop or Rocky with the Floor Store & More, please thank them for their patience and the Plymouth Street Department for barricade assistance. Also, be sure to give our appreciation to the Feece Family at Burt's Body Shop for the protective color coat given our new alley door. They will also be refinishing the vertical fins on the front facade during the Phase 4 window replacement that will require their removal at that time. These are in-kind gifts.
Soon, the James Stone Family of Stone Excavating will be providing the new water and sewer entrance to the building near the alley. Supt. Donny Davidson has been very cooperative in working with us as well as Keith Hammonds - Building Commissioner.
When the masonry is complete, NIPSCO will be installing the new gas and electric service with the assistance of Banner Electric.
During our October volunteer workdays, 30 individuals from ages 17 to 83 selflessly toiled without complaint. T&R Concrete owner Oscar De La Torre provided workers to assist in the daunting task of removing two brick walls and schlepping it out in 5 gallon buckets. We recovered over 600 of the original 1865 building bricks to be used for a perfect match in restoration work to be done on the south side of the building. Mike and Kurt Kelly along with Dave Whittaker of Contemporary Construction, poured foundations and installed two new support columns in the basement that were provided by Tim at Carter Lumber. Dick Day, Charlie Hissong, Mike Kelly and Al Eisenhour provided tools for the basement demo and in the 3rd floor apartment where walls have been removed to create an open space lounge/meeting area and executive director’s office. Again, all in-kind.
Mike Grigsby has been reclaiming all metals from the building for recycling materials.
Concrete work under the direction of T&R Concrete will include flowable fill in open cavities under the existing sloped floor system allowing for the over build of the tiered floor system in Phase 4. Excavation and forming of the concrete foundation walls that will create the under stage storage/orchestra pit area will also be completed in this phase of work. To greatly reduce the cost of concrete materials, a grant has been awarded The REES by the Ozinga Family Foundation due to the efforts of local manager Ed Houin and Kent Bowman.
Perimeter basement drain systems were installed this past week as a safeguard to protect the east and west basements from ground water by Nova Basement Systems. Two ejector pits for waste water were also installed this week. Our thanks to John Sabo and AK Industries in Plymouth for the design and provision of this equipment.
Phase 3 will also include some structural steel installation for the balcony and new performance stage. Plymouth's IT Equipment offered to be the provider of that. Committee member Don Wendel is overseeing the contractor’s performance.
When the new parapet masonry walls are complete, work will ensue on the new roof under contract with Dudeck Roofing of South Bend. This will result in a complete removal of existing asphalt built up roofing, repair of any decking material and installation of 5" of insulating foam core material encapsulated with a heavy gauge TPO roofing membrane. This membrane has been provided by the Johns Manville plant in Bremen. This gift was made possible by the efforts of REES Committee member Stan Palmer and Louis T. Ollesheimer & Son, Ft. Wayne.
During this time, curbing will be installed for three rooftop HVAC units by Freedom Heating and Plumbing who acquired Peregrine Heating and Cooling of Plymouth. Lucretia Myers of Functions Engineering Services heads the mechanical design team. These three high efficiency and sound attenuating units for the auditorium are in partnership with the generosity of the Carrier Corporation - Commercial Sales Division in Indianapolis. This connection was made possible through the diligent efforts of Ray Strong a '58 Plymouth High School grad who attended Purdue University and attained a business degree from Chicago Loyola. He enjoyed a career in heating and air-conditioning and now retirement with his wife Patricia in Asheville, NC. Interestingly, Willis Carrier invented modern air-conditioning and the Carrier Corporation became the number one supplier of cooling equipment to theaters across the United States.
To further our desire for sources of sustainability, committee members Bill Langdon and Jim Hartung are leading an investigative effort for solar energy as Plymouth has now been named a SolSmart Community at the Gold designation. There is city administration support for The REES becoming the first downtown commercial installation. This is projected to provide nearly 60-70 percent of the needed energy to operate The REES sourced from the sun. Our new roof access stairwell built by Eisenhour Home Improvements will allow for easy installation and serviceability of all equipment.
Confirmed this week, a Marshall County family has offered to underwrite the entire cost of this solar installation and equipment. This community truly does love The REES.
We continue to benefit from the theater design experts of Chicago based Schuler-Shook who personally toured The REES. This consultation and site visit was made possible and underwritten by committee member Ellen Skinner-Bowen. Ellen's life skills in theater and her desire that the performance stage design and all supportive spaces be the best possible has not gone unnoticed. They have also directed us to All-Pro Systems a division of Sweetwater in Ft. Wayne for acoustics, lighting and sound. Committee member Jim Hartung has extensive experience in this realm and is working to create a future synergy with the Sweetwater music empire.
Lastly, the time, detail and responsiveness given to this REES renewal by Brent Martin and his partner, Jeff Kumfer of SRKM Architecture is greatly appreciated.
The continued administration of donor dollars remains in the hands of the Marshall County Community Foundation team with a special thanks to Jayne Roahrig.
As you can see, there is ample activity that continues to move us closer to our goal of an opening night. This is ACT II. Let's finish the Show!