WHS 2010

Getting Started ~ The First Week ~ Finding our Places

2010-08-21T07:26:00.000-04:00

How exciting! Student arriving the first day at our new Watauga High School.

August 11, 2010

Fashion and trends come and go over the years. Teens are always in style!

Mrs. Stamey is a smiling welcome to students and parents at the morning arrival.

The shadows of summer past advance across the threshold and into the school year.

The commons is a lively space in the mornings as students gather and socialize awaiting first bell.

Lunches have been well received and the dining area seems to satisfy most student needs.

At the far end of the commons students gather awaiting the lunch bell to ring.

Teachers step up and volunteer to observe the hustle and bustle below. Whit and Susan catch up on morning thoughts from the upper deck.

The first week was mostly rainy. Even in the dark there were moments of light around our campus. I enjoyed seeing this low lying cloud beneath Howards Knob and concealing the morning hustle and bustle of Boone below.

Finally on Friday the sun came out and our day began a bit brighter.

By the first Friday afternoon, even as the last letters were being posted on the press box, our first pep rally had begun.

Cheers

and Pacers

Student body president and our mascot MC'd the Pep Rally.

Teachers and staff participated and assisted.

Uplifting to students

exciting to the crowds a pep rally recovers the tradition of ~~~~

Friday Night High School Football!

Let the game begin.

The first game of the new season on a new field in a new stadium at a new school.

That is NEWS!

The crowd was lively and the scoring was plenty. Here is a look north at our concessions stand.

The Pacers performed a creative routine saluting the new school construction process

and kicking off a grand opening night half time.

A record crowd of over 5,000 attended this first home game!

The stands were full on both sides of the field and the Jack Groce Stadium is officially "PIONEER GROUND"!

On the Eve of our Opening~

2010-08-01T08:25:00.000-04:00

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Halls ~

Well, it's the wrong time of year, but it was the night before opening the doors to the public and all through our school volunteers and staff were working late to make it shine.

Don Critcher, on the right, was our WCS project manager. He over saw the completion of the project and with Dennis Ray (not shown) coordinated the clean-up efforts.

Many volunteers pitched in and helped with cleaning. This dynamic duo, Bobbie Short and Deborah Miller, spent many hours into the wee night putting a sparkle in the effort on the eve of our opening. Thanks for volunteering!

I even caught Mike Kesterson actually working! Mike has been the on the job, four year construction manager for the entire complex. Just another day on the links for him! Thanks Mike!

Once again, the man who keeps it going like the energizer bunny, Ted Drum after our building with his maintenance crew. Everyone who knows Ted knows we are so fortunate to have a man of his spirit and energy moving us forward in our new "digs". Thanks Ted and Peggy and Clay and all your crew who I saw hard at work on the eve of opening day.

It is the time for a Gathering ~

2010-08-01T08:20:00.001-04:00

It was a beautiful day,
a good time was had by all.

This was a gathering of dreamers, supporters, builders, students, parents, teachers, leaders, locals, dignataries, and good friends coming together to celebrate an accomplishment for the county and community.

And the band began to play. Thanks to Watauga Community Band for keeping our spirits high as we socialized and awaited the beginning of the ceremony. I'll share a few photos of friends, educators, and leaders in attendance this fine day.

This photo is a joy to me for it is the first time private cars have been streaming down our driveway and children, parents and guests arrive at our new school. BTW, our driveway and address are now
300 Go Pioneer Drive ~ Boone, NC 28607

In this photo a gathering of the technology movers and shakers for our new school. How nice to catch Lori, Laura, Patty, Lisa, Nancy, and Shannon, all smiles. Lori and Lisa use technology in digital imaging and music education. Laura and Nancy are our IT coordinators and support team. Patty has been a leader in technology in science education. Shannon was an originator and visionary in the design and planning of technology in our new school.

Old friends chatted it up and reflected on the leadership and progress made in our county that brought us to this point. Barbara and Mary, Jerry, Diane, and Susan have all been supportive of our efforts to build this new school.

Local leaders, Winston, Steve, Mary, Lee, and Cullie Tarleton await the opening.

Larry Jones and Winston catch up on the stories of the journey behind and ahead.

Billy Kennedy, US Senatorial candidate, was working the crowd this fine day. Billy and his family have been extremely supportive and active from the very beginning in the "New School Now, Children First" movement.

Tamera Stamey,WHS assistant principal and leader enjoys a moment of brevity with Dennis Ray.

Returning superintendent Bobbie Short was full of enthusiasm and excitement for this event. She has been a steady on cheerleader for the new school from the conception. Other former superintendents Dick Jones and David Greene were also present at the ceremony.

Current Principal, Michael Wyant stands on the right of Jeff Link, assistant principal.

Previous Principal and educational leader Angela Quick was spotted in the gathering. Angela served on the original Core team and played a huge roll in conceptualizing and planning for the new WHS.

Former principal Gary Childers was in attendance. Gary's service in Watauga county is well respected. His leadership early on got the ball rolling on this new school. In many ways it was his influence that called public attention to the need for a new school.

And spotted arriving in the crowd was Jack Groce, former assistant principal, athletic director, and leader in the Old WHS.

Cullie Tarleton strikes a forward looking pose!

The crowds swelled to the hundreds
and the Ceremony begins ~

WHS 2010 Dedication Ceremony

2010-08-01T08:10:00.009-04:00

It is difficult to express the excitement stirred by a simple ribbon attached to the entrance of our school. On one side, held at bay, is the labor and effort of hundreds of citizens over many years of hard work. On the other side of the ribbon, a new beginning, our future awaits this ceremony to begin.

Opening comments were delivered by our WCS Superintendent Mary Hemric.

You may read Mr. Hemrics' remarks here:

Lowell Younce, WCS Board of Education Chairman and new school advocate delivered a message of history and pride. Mr. Younce spoke to the journey and vision that has brought us to this point over the many years of effort that we have made for our new school.

Perhaps more than anyone Mr. Younce carries the story of this long journey we have made. It is with much appreciation this writer thanks Mr. Younce for his service and is humbled by his acknowledgement of this blogspot.

You may read Mr. Younce's comments here.

Mr. Jim Deal, Chairman of the Watauga County Commissioners was our next speaker. Mr. Deal inspired us with a philosophical delivery of quotes on service and community.

Always a motivator, Mr. Deal has been a guiding force in the process of creating our new school. He holds great insight to the method and time and challenges a community faces when trying to better the future. An inspiring orator, Mr. Deal provided us all with powerful notions of community, service, and perseverance.

You may read Mr. Deal's remarks here:

Making comments from the perspective of a student, teacher, and commissioner Mr. Billy Ralph Winkler reflected on being a freshman student at the old WHS. In fact the three previous speakers were all students in the first classes at the old WHS.

Governor Perdue takes delight in the humor of Mr. Winkler.

WHS Principal Michael Wyant spoke to the crowds about the Design for Change that has been built into the new school. Notions that were unimaginable prior to today are now expected to become the methods of the future as we move forward into a technologically and globally connected future in education.

Deborah Miller, School Board member, Core Team member, Education planning committee member, cheerleader, list maker, and detail specialist shared her insight and knowledge about the sustainability planning that went into the design of our new school.

You may read Ms. Millers' comments here:

Superintendent Hemric then took the stage and delivered comments on his vision for empowered instruction and learning.

You may read Mr. Hemrics comments here:

Mr. Hemric then recognized officials from the Golden LEAF foundation for their contribution to our technology development.

Welcoming our keynote speaker, Dr. Hemric hands off the podium to our

Honorable Governor Bev Perdue.

Bev Perdue has been a leader in education in the politics of the state throughout all of her political years.

She spoke of the courage and vision necessary to look to the future in our schools and communities.

Simply stated, Bev expressed her belief that our new school is evidence that

Watauga County "Gets it"!

Now begun one of my most inspiring moments in the ceremony. Out going student body president Dylan Russell and current WHS student body president Jesse Nash excited the audience with their youthful charm and leadership. They brought the reason for the gathering into focus for us all with their smiles, spirit, and fresh enthusiasm.

Dylan spoke of our heritage and spirit and his dream of bringing the "spirit rock of old" to the new to keep us connected to our great past. Jesse and Dylan lead us in singing our school alma mater.

Watauga, Watauga,

Through our years we will earn

Our knowledge and abilities

Together we will learn.

Alma Mater of the Mountains

Thanks we sing to you

You have brought us many treasures

Useful learning, friendship true.

The ginormous scissors are handed over to the governor and students.

A proclamation is made.

and the gift to our future

is unwrapped and unveiled for evermore. Thus ends the ceremonial; now a new journey begins.

July 30, 2010

How did we get here?

2010-07-29T06:47:00.004-04:00

It is so exciting to finally be at the threshold of a new era for Watauga High School.

Has it only been thirty four months?

Here we are at ground breaking, September 19, 2007. Check this link out... Ground breaking 2007.

Tomorrow, Friday July 30 is the official dedication and grand opening of new school at 300 Go Pioneers Drive in Boone NC. This will mark the first step into turning an incredible building into our school.

Our school has gained the attention of educators, leaders, and school designers from far and wide. Governor Bev Purdue, Cullie Tarleton, Steve Goss, and many dignitaries from across the state will be on hand for the official ceremony.

As I look at the countdown timer marking the mere hours remaining before opening I recall the whirlwind, shall I say vortex of details, decisions, and challenges that were faced in the construction of this new school.

I am most amazed at the ability for this community to work together to make this new school happen and to support education in our county. Many minds, hearts, and hands have been involved in the creation of this school. Teachers, students, school board members, commissioners, county officials, friends, and families have all played a part in making the dream a reality. Indeed, it takes a village.

It is hard to leave the past behind. But, our future is bright and Watauga will soon become what it has always been. Home to the finest students and teachers and a source for pride in our community providing the conduit to the future of generations to come.

Below I have provided a few links to a few of my favorite posts that I hope give insight to some of the steps along the way.

You may also search by topic or date to go back to the pages that will reveal the process of building a new school.

The first posting January 2008

Location Location Location

Water Ways

Leeding the way

Going Vertical! ~ April of 2008

FLYING STEEL!!!

First floors and more

Setting a column

Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenters

Drilling Geothermal wells

The long winter

Framing in walls

Spaghetti

Lighting!

Being Artsy ;-)

Lessons in Light, Solar Tubes!

Stadium and Spirit Rock

From this point forward I will be posting from within the walls of our 1:1 laptop, LEED certified, GREEN, WiFi world of our new Watauga High School. I will continue to update and share a glimpse of the many wonderful discoveries that unfold within our school. Back at you soon! :-)

Here We Go!

2010-06-10T08:18:00.000-04:00

They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

I would amend that to read the journey of a few miles begins with a thousand BOXES!

Wrapping up 35 years of teaching materials and supplies.

This is what I teach and here it goes out the doors. (By the way, these are posters, 30 year old prints that pre-date google searches, videos, even slides as art instruction materials).

Making sure all our names are on all our stuff in hopes of finding it in the new school!

I'd say "It's anything but a Still Life" ~ for all of us it is life in transition.

We all stumbled across flashback blasts from the past, like this 1976 Powder Horn found behind a cabinet. Where'd that come from? Who are these students and where are they now?

It's hard to watch your accumulations of a life's work rolling out the door. (But it is harder work for those who are making our move happen). Many thanks to our custodial and maintenance crews who have the challenge of the work of the move.

Dennis Ray and his county office maintenance staff have the responsibility for being the "Movers" and equipment operators.

This is typical in the staging area as we await trucks to haul our things.

Oh my, on the truck and packaged to go.

And away we move a thousand steps and a thousand boxes!

Over seeing it all from within these hallowed halls is Ted Drum. Thanks for keeping an eye on our things Ted and thanks to your hard working crew too.

I hope to photo some of the other creative and difficult and definitely MOVING experiences over the summer. Soon I will walk around in the old school for some remembrances to share. Till then, its on our way to the New WHS.

Update on the Commons and Ceiling Finishing Work

2010-04-13T21:48:00.001-04:00

When I last posted photos of the Commons there was no ceiling installed and the stairway had not been painted. See Here Now

I love the blue stairs and trim railing!

Look at the various colors in this photo. What a nice combination of colors have been chosen. Considerations were made for the ceiling color, columns, walls, and stairs that would use school colors as well as allow harmonious and soothing earth tones.

This view allows you to see the arrangement as an abstract color composition. (BTW, all those boxes are our new theater seats! :-)

Looking North down the Commons the recycle bins have been put along the wall to the left.

I hope you will notice the play of natural light through the clerestory windows. These windows face West and flood the commons area with wonderful sunlight all day.

But, I also hope you notice the ceiling treatment that was selected for the commons. It originally called for a wood ceiling, but a decision was made to install a slat board metal ceiling.

With the recessed spots and pendant globes installed I find this solution to be a very pleasant, affordable, and contemporary looking ceiling treatment for an uncommon Commons!

Gym Floor being Striped and Painted

2010-04-13T21:34:00.001-04:00

On the day I took this photo the gym floor had just begun to be painted.

This is not the finished polished appearance. Just the beginning striping.

For more images of our Gym Floor click below....
Gym Floor Installed

Theater Acoustical Clouds

2010-04-13T21:28:00.005-04:00

The acoustical clouds have been installed in the Theater since the last posting.
See more Theater here

We hope these will help with sound modulation and enhance the performance quality for the house. An acoustics diagnostician will be consulted to fine tune these clouds in the near future.

We are supposed to have an acoustically tuned house that will allow for a spoken voice to be heard from the stage all of the way to the back of the balcony.

Here workers are installing the fascia for the proscenium.

This is a good indication of how high our ceiling is in the auditorium. The lift is about 30 feet off the floor.

It will be interesting to see how the form is resolved on this structure.

The Band Room now has Ceiling Treatment

2010-04-13T21:20:00.002-04:00

In an earlier post I shared the acoustical wall treatment for the Band room.
Link here to go to Band Room

At that time the ceiling acoustical clouds had not been installed.

I find this pattern to be visually dynamic!

This will be a grand instrumental music space for our young musicians.

Choral Arts Room

2010-04-13T21:14:00.000-04:00

The Choral Arts room has received acoustical treatments.

I like the forms as they are arranged to disperse and increase uniform sound.

These had to be affixed around and above the hanging light fixtures.

The forms are interesting visually and I hope they provide the quality of sound appear to be able to produce.

The choral room also has wall acoustics.

Studio Crafts Shop Taking Shape

2010-04-13T21:05:00.001-04:00

The Studio Crafts room is beginning to take shape. There are adequate drop down plugs installed in the ceiling for the various equipment needs.

These are the cabinets that have been installed to accommodate a stainless steel counter top and sinks.

These cabinets and the cabinets in the materials storage room have similar finishes. The firesafe cabinets are for storing flammables.

The kiln room is adjacent to the north wall and the new kiln has arrived.

This should be a more energy efficient kiln and capable of more consistent production.

The ventilation system has not been installed.

It will vent the heat and high temperature exhausts through an outside port in the exterior wall.

There is also a gas supply line that will allow for reduction firing and exterior raku work.

The Studio Crafts room is on the ground floor of area 3 in the north classroom wing.

The Front Entrance is Looking Sharp

2010-04-07T22:02:00.003-04:00

Glass is being installed in the main entrance at the front of the school.

This store front glass features light difusion as well as reflection.

Just through these doors the main office will be on the left side of the entrance.

From this office our school is managed! ;-) wink!

Kim and Anne, (our office assistants and receptionists) will have a well lighted and open office space

Pendant lights will hang above the yet to be installed Main Desk.

Soon to come ~~~

What's Happening Outside?

2010-04-07T21:52:00.000-04:00

A quick look around the stadium gains a glimpse of our artificial turf and end zone painting. We are the Pioneers, the Mighty Mighty Pioneers!

The visitor bleachers are being installed on the west side of the stadium. They are nice, but wait till you see the home side stands!

They are nice, but wait till you see the home side stands!

Home side WATAUGA!
These are not bleachers, these are FAN STANDS!

Anodized aluminum benches and hand rails were chosen for our stadium.

The home stands are on the east side and are elevated on piers.

What's this Rock?
THE ROCK!

Our new SPIRIT ROCK

ROCKS!

Hardwood Gym Floor Being Installed!

2010-03-17T09:04:00.011-04:00

Step by Step, Inch by Inch ~ One plank at a time~
our hardwood gym floor is being installed.

Follow this sequence of photos to see how these floors are built.
On the right side of this photo is the concrete slab for the gym floor. On the left is the vapor barrier that lays on top of the concrete.
On the right above is the vapor barrier. On the left side of the photo is a foam cushioning pad.
Here the foam is turned up so you can see it is about 1/4 inch thick.
On top of the foam layers of criss-crossing lattice boards are installed as the sub flooring.
After the third layer is installed it is ready for the hardwood finishing boards.
The wood has been stored in the space it will be installed and has cured to the room atmosphere and moisture levels for several weeks.
This photo above shows the depth of the floor. It will rise above the concrete nearly three inches deep and equal to the bottom of this entrance door sill.

Hand tools are a part of some of the detailing bu the majority of the installation is with powered tools.
Once an edge is set the hardwood is driven into place and then nailed to the sub floor.
This photo shows all five levels in one shot. From left to right concrete, vapor barrier, foam padding, lattice sub floor, and hardwood surface flooring.
Once installed our wood is a beautiful sight. It is unfinished and that will come soon.
This floor features expansion joints every 3 feet to allow for the seasonal swelling and changes in moisture content and thus preventing buckling.
I have color adjusted this image to approximate the finish that will be seen on the floors. You can compare that to the unfinished raw maple in the above lighter wood photos.
This crew of installers works along a single line progressing from one end of the gym to the other while nailing in about a 6 board section at a time.
The heavy rubber hammer is used to strike the power nail gun that drive the nails through the hardwood and into the sub floor. Moving to the right he swings down to the floor and strikes the wood plank first to set it in place and without missing a beat swings high to the nail gun and drives the nails in rhythm.
The boards are all culled and placed in advance of the hammer crew working across the row to be nailed into place.
In about one day they completed the section show below.
No, don't be alarmed, we do not have crooked flooring! This is a sorted but un attached section of planks.
It is a beautiful floor and it is very springy when you bounce your heel on it. I look forward to many years of Pioneer Sports play in this gym.

click on the arrow above for "hammer time"...

Basketball Backboard and Hoops Installed!

2010-03-17T08:15:00.003-04:00

Our main gym has reached its goals!
We have 6 backboards in the main gym.
The main goals are glass. We will play on an East / West oriented main court.
Sound absorption panels are being installed. We also have a sound absorbing ceiling in this gym!The practice and PE backboards are on the North and South sides of the gym. They lift sideways and backward depending on which beams support them.
I am sure Pioneer round ball will elevate to new heights our new gym.

Auxiliary Gym

2010-03-17T08:08:00.002-04:00

The auxiliary gym is awaiting floor installation. Base board and hardwood is being stored therein.
The goals have been installed.
There are six goals in the auxiliary gym.
This gym is a practice area and instructional area for all of our physical education classes.
Lockers have been installed in the locker rooms.

Stadium Bleachers Being Installed

2010-03-17T08:04:00.002-04:00

Our bleachers are in place on the home side of Pioneer Stadium.
It was raining the day I shot this so I could not go out and get good photos.
Watch for an upcoming post featuring our stadium.

Our Uncommon Commons

2010-03-16T22:03:00.002-04:00

As you step through our main entrance the first view you have of our commons area is this bank of clerestory windows flooding our commons with day lighting.
The photo above was taken on a cloudy and overcast day and yet there is ample light without additional interior lighting for this area.
Opposite of this bank of windows is the main stairway.
This photo shows the second floor mezzanine along the center of the commons.
This photo and the next one feature the lights that flood the commons with a direct down light.
The area beneath these lights is the dining area for the cafeteria and the lobby area for the gymnasium. We call it the "commons" since it shares function for all of the public spaces in our new school.
This image is looking south in the commons toward the serving area of the cafeteria.
Glancing up to the balcony of the second floor (the stacked boxes contain our theater seats!)
The cafeteria is beneath this walkway and behind those windows.
This view is from the north end stairway looking south. The cafeteria is at the far end, about the length of a football field from this point. In the center of the commons is the elevator column.
I am very pleased with some of the accent colors that are beginning to be painted. There is a warm, earthy, and pleasant harmony to the color schemes that have been chosen. Every attempt to avoid institutional color has been made. I think this will be a soothing and healthy environment to live and work in for students and staff.

It's Solar Tube Time ~ Lessons in Light!

2010-03-16T21:57:00.007-04:00

Due to the architectural design some of our rooms do not have external windows. In spite of that restriction, the lighting in this room does have some amount of natural solar lighting.
You will notice there are two sources of light in this ceiling shot. We have hanging fluorescent lights. These lights are different from traditional fluorescent which only provide down lighting. These new lights are designed to shine upwards and reflect off the ceiling tiles. (Notice the glowing on the ceiling). The square section of light in the center of the photo is the solar tube lighting.
This photo shows the solar tube lighting with all other lights turned off. This photo was taken on a cloudy, gray, raining, and fully overcast day. And yet a full glow of light is emitted. How is that? Reflection and refraction amplify the amount of light!
In the photo above one can learn an interesting detail about reflection. These silver tubes are solar tubes being assembled out in the commons area. When installed these stainless tubes are attached to a louvered panel on the roof and provide a continuous "tube" from the outer roof to the ceiling of the rooms where the lens are installed. It is through these tubes that sunlight is captured.
If you notice the two tubes that are not under one of the lobby lights you will see they appear to be normal stainless steel and there is little difference in the outside and the inside of the tube.
Take notice of the tube which is on the left in the first photo and sits under one of the lobby lights. You will notice there is a highly reflective surface that glows and bounces light down the length of the tube. I thought this shot provided an excellent demonstration of how reflected light intensifies in a tube.

The tubes are then connected to the room and a 2 X 2 foot lens is installed in the drop ceiling panels.
This is a close up of the square lens plate shown above in the first two photos in this post.
Each of the small cells in the in the glass of the panel contains a refracting lens that distributes and amplifies the sunlight much like the glass lens of a lighthouse amplifies and projects light.

The next few photos show the sequence of the process of the closing the louvered panels on the roof that feed the solar tube.
You are looking up into the tube in each of these lens "eyes".
Nearly fully closed you can actually see the louver in the convex of the lens.
The mechanics are controlled by a motor and the switch is in each classroom that has these solar tubes installed.
In this photo a lesson in the physics of light can be found and taught. Notice the refraction of the light as it passes through the lens. Sunlight contains all colors of the spectrum. You will recall from your science study that when light passes through a prism it is broken up into the colors of the spectrum.

By focusing my camera lens precisely on the surface of the lens one can see the distribution of the full color spectrum through the lens. (Remember ROYGBIV ?)

It is in this manner that we receive "full spectrum lighting" from sunlight.
Upon close examination one can see the Fresnel lens in the center as concentric rings. Thus, our building as a teaching tool as well as a learning center!

Science Education Rooms

2010-03-16T21:36:00.005-04:00

We were able to group all of our science rooms along a single corridor. These rooms are adjacent, but different in design and layout.
In some rooms the cabinetry and counters may be designed for a specific purpose.
They may be featured along the perimeter wall with a fume hood as in these two rooms.
Or they may have gas and water laboratory stations at a right angle along the outer walls.
As seen in these two photos. (The impermeable counter tops have a protective covering on them to prevent spills and stains which will be removed.)
These stations include lockable drawers, sinks, water, and gas connections.
Adequate technology and electrical feeds can be seen along the walls.
This room featured glassed cabinets presumably for specimen and model display and storage.
A few of the rooms have a clearly defined book work area separated from the lab area by a low partition.
As shown in these two photos.
Some of the offices and prep areas have begun to be outfitted. These prep areas are at the back of the room and can be secured for storage of supplies and equipment.
Cabinets and shelves are being installed.
This will be a much safer and functional prep area for our science educators.

The Theater is Being Rigged

2010-03-16T21:08:00.005-04:00

Oh my, if only I could call these different features by name.
Hoists and Joists
and Battens and Beams
with Booms and Blocks
and Rails and Racks!

Oh My!
I will simply say "Stage Rigging". I truly hope someone, Sarah, Greg, will help me learn the terminology and give me some detail updates after seeing these photos.
I can see that they are clearly labeled and professionally rigged!
This view is from the back of the stage looking out across the house.
The facade on the balcony is being installed.
Here a welder is cutting steel for the decking in the balcony.
The first acoustical clouds have been hung in the upper balcony area.
This view is from the back of the house. I could not help by think of how this photo of these men look like a staged production.

I CANT WAIT TO SEE OUR PIONEER PLAYMAKERS ROCK THE HOUSE!

The Media Center

2010-03-16T20:56:00.002-04:00

This view is from the main entrance hallway. As you enter our new school the Media Center (Library) will be on the right side (north side) and this bank of windows opens into the lobby area.
The canopy over the main circulation desk has taken form. The desk and shelves and racks will not be installed until the ceiling, drywall, and flooring is completed.
Our library is spacious and open in design.
This half is nearly completed.
These are the fixtures for the pendant lighting.
Nice lighting is consistent throughout our new building. From high strength big space lights to intimate reading lights or recessed floods, there is a variety of pleasing lighting for those who will study, work, and live in this space for many years to come.
I like this pendant light design. Very Classy!

Administration and Office Areas

2010-03-16T05:48:00.007-04:00

As you enter the front doors into our main hallway the main desk reception area and the administration offices are on the left. Currently this foyer area in our main entrance is being used for storage.
The reception desk will be the first office area you encounter and our wonderful office assistants will greet you from this room.
Some of the furnishings have been installed and the space is beginning to look functional. The counters and cabinets will be topped and pendant lights will hang where the caution tape has been placed. The main reception desk has not been put in place yet as it fully occupies the space and there is still a lot of work to be done in these areas.
This is the teacher work room and mailbox area.
Copiers and other school supplies and productivity equipment will be located in this area.
Adjacent to and connected to the administrative area is the guidance or Student Services area. There are many rooms in this section and they were being painted the day I visited so I do not have photos to share. But one of the features is a large area that can be divided by this folding wall.
I called it a wall because it is much nicer than a "screen" room divider. These panels separate and are easily moved back against the wall for large group work or pulled out to divide the room for small groups or testing needs.
They will fully lock into place to create a movable wall.
These are teacher offices and there are several clusters of them through out the second and third floors. Each features a red oak door with a window.
They are nearing completion with the flooring and moulding in place. Most of these offices will be two person spaces.

Beauty in Form and Function = Better Sound?

2010-03-16T05:27:00.004-04:00

What are these forms?

The white rigid surface and curving line create an undulation of form
in contrast to the geometric fibrous texture of these squares.
What is this? Is it Art? Is it decoration? Is it functional?
Yes, Yes, Yes, and Yes are the correct answers to all of these questions.
In addition, it contributes to music! How?
These blocks are being installed in the band room. They have two functions; to absorb and to diffuse sound.
Mid and high frequency sounds in a band room need diffusion with their curved convex faces. Low frequency sounds are absorbed to by the texture and density of the gray panels.
There are small wall mounted squares as well as larger flat panels.
These panels are about 2 foot square and 4 inches deep.
There will be acoustical "clouds" hung in the ceiling as well as these wall mounted acoustical features. Art, science, design, and form create better sounding music!

Step Inside a Model Classroom

2010-03-15T22:46:00.004-04:00

There is one classroom that has been set up as a prototype, a model classroom that is staging area for the various components that will accompany each classroom.
Each room has an alcove or foyer outside the door way. The doors are an attractive and warm red oak with a window in each classroom door.
Follow the entrance into this class room to see the student desks we have chosen for the new school.
Along one wall is a white board, there are no chalkboards in the new school. Chalk boards are not healthy in our environmental air because of the particulate distribution (dust ;-).
This classroom has 28 desks arranged as single stations with ample walking space between the rows. Most room are 750 square feet or larger.
Windows and tack boards are features in nearly all rooms.
The new student desks are triangular shaped, three legs, ambidextrous accommodating right handed and left handed students. They are ergonomically designed to fit all body types.
A single desk can be paired with another to create a work station for two students.
Or combined with a third desk for small team work and grouping.
And finally, they fit together to create a single workspace for a small group of four students sitting at a table setting.
Clever and clean design for the modern classroom.
The chairs are a molded resin type plastic .
All of our furniture was chosen to meet many expectations, versatility, comfort, equity, and most important, "green furniture" standards.
This is a view from the back of the classroom to the front.
Classrooms will have two vertical lockable storage cabinets. No technology has been installed, though all rooms are adequately supplied with distribution feeds and remote access points for wireless connectivity.

Classroom Wings ~ 3 wings, 3 floors, 3 colors

2010-03-15T22:32:00.004-04:00

The classroom wings are receiving the final touches. I found the flooring choice for the halls to be very interesting. The design consists of geometric shapes and parallel sections.
The colors vary and are interestingly soothing combinations of earth tones, greys, and low intensity blue.
When looking down the halls the patterning is inviting and the brilliance of the blue lockers is an interesting contrast.
At the end of the halls is an open clerestory type window. Floor to ceiling this provides a refreshing sense of bringing the outside in.
The lockers are mounted in the walls and do not intrude into the line of vision or walking.
This shot shows a good sense of scale to the elements of the hallway. the rooms, doors, flooring, lockers, and windows are all an integrated design.
The low profile of the lockers can bee seen in this and the next shot.
Flush mounted, they extend only the depth of the locker door into the hallway. this should help with sound absorption and durability of the lockers.
Our new lockers are classic in style, heritage, and familiarity to our students in the old high school. Instead of being banked together in large groupings, in the new school the lockers are distributed throughout the classroom wings in all three sections on all three floors.

Visual Art Rooms taking shape

2010-03-15T22:24:00.003-04:00

There are four rooms dedicated to the Visual arts, Studio Crafts, and 3D Art. The sinks and cabinets are in place in a couple of the rooms.
Each room is different in orientation and design so the configurations are varied.
A support area between two of the rooms has begun to have cabinetry installed.
The flat paper storage shelves and cabinets will hold art supplies and equipment.
One of the second floor art rooms has three north windows, perfect lighting for natural color work.
One of the ground floor art rooms will have an access door out to a sculpture area.
The 3D Art and Studio Crafts room has ceiling mounted drop cables for powering equipment.

Cosmetology Studio

2010-03-15T22:18:00.003-04:00

A glimpse into the Cosmetology room reveals a few of the features developing therein.
These dividers will be work stations for students working the chairs. Mirrors, counters, and chairs have yet to be installed.
Sinks will be added to this bank of cabinets to provide wash and rinse stations.
The cosmetology students will keep uniforms and their gear in these lockers.

Welding and Construction Trades

2010-03-15T20:46:00.005-04:00

A feature in some of the CTE shops is a power supply grid that hangs from the ceiling. There are many power sources along these tracks for the variety of equipment they use in these shops.
Secure storage areas for tools and equipment may be monitored through window.
The welding booths are well placed and adequately powered and ventilated.
This quality of equipment will insure success for our welding and machining classes.
In this shop you can see the roll up door, windows, and equipment power grid.
Ventilation of indoor air to the outside is provided.
and a fully powered dust collection system is in place.

Health Occupations Laboratory and Classroom

2010-03-15T20:38:00.003-04:00

Some of the features of the Health Occupations classroom and laboratory are beginning to be installed.
This room is one with three windows on the south side!
Cabinetry with sinks have been installed on the north wall.
One of these sinks will be handicapped accessible for students and for learning to care for and assist the mobility impaired or wheel chair patients.
There is also a private toilet area for learning rehab and nursing assistant skills.

Restrooms on each Wing

2010-03-15T20:27:00.003-04:00

Each of the floors of the classroom wings have male and female restrooms.
Adjacent to each student restroom is a faculty and staff toilet. I find the design created in the floor tiles to be an attractive graphic element in the foyer.
Full length wall mount mirrors and ample lavatories are on this wall.
As seen in this restroom there are more stalls than the norm for the women.That is one request the core team advocated for on behalf of our female population to address the age old problem of not enough stalls!
The floor tile graphics are repeated within the stall and sink areas.

2010 Aerials ~ the Last Snow????

2010-03-07T20:02:00.007-05:00

These aerials are fun!

Click on them to enlarge

and see wonderful details!

Then back arrow to return to blog.... The photo above is an approach from the East, our main parking lot and tennis courts are at the bottom of the photo.
From the North the approach we will use by vehicles. Our main driveway is at the bottom right in this photo. The proposed Recreation Center will go where the trailers are at the bottom right corner.

This is the opposite view, from the south. A zoom in on this will show the stadium detail.
Again from the South looking North, the lower practice field is seen at the bottom.
This photo shows the classroom wings on the West side of the main building.
This is a great birds eye view of the main building featuring the entrance, and clearly showing the gyms, commons, and classroom wings.

Notice the brick and block design work on the wings and the auxiliary gym.

A close up view of the classroom wings.

Upper left following a diagonal to lower right you will see the south most classroom wing adjacent to the kitchen and cafeteria/commons area, which is just above the auxiliary gym, wrestling room and Main gym at center right.

That little pebble in the bottom right corner is our Spirit Rock!

This view is our main entrance. The vertical columns mark the entrance at the end of the covered walk. The main parking lot is in front of that and the drop off pick up rotation will be counter clockwise in front of the school and around the parking lot to exit. Enlarge this picture and enjoy the details.

All aerial photos are taken by SKYSITE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Skysite Aerial Link

Thanks!

Symphony #2010 ~ Movement 2009 in Grays

2009-11-23T22:50:00.011-05:00

There is an unplugged symphony to be heard in this post.

A four part movement in Grays.

Simply adjust your vision away from color.

Turn up the volume and hear the quiet harmony of light and shadow.

All of these images can be found in the posts that follow.

We will begin in the band room.

Listen here now...

Intro
Overture
follow the curving movement into a geometric stanzawitness an Escher interlude

in poly-rhythmic form
sense quiet darkness;

with high light
relax as tetris drops
into negative space
falling up or drifting down
descending powerful counterpoint patterns

Into a balanced present.

I hope you enjoyed this musical moment,

now read on below

for more new school to enjoy

in WHS 2010

**************************

disclaimer: these images are all from the new school,

however, a little artistic interpretation has been applied to a few of the images :-)

The Commons ~ the Peoples Space

2009-11-23T21:36:00.006-05:00

It is a long hallway, the run from the far end under the second floor seen here is more than the length of a foot ball field!
In the photo above, the narrow hall is the passageway that parallels the commons.

The photo above shows the commons area on the south end. The serving area of the cafeteria is beneath the upper traverse. The photo was taken standing in what will be the main portion of the dining area.

To orient to the location from this corner, the main gym is on the left and the cafeteria is on the right.

This is the top level of our main stairway.

The "Grande' Stairs" are located on the right and opposite of this bank of windows.This is an open public space that will serve as the dining area during lunches and the lobby area for ball games and other activities.

I am sure this years juniors are already looking forward to having their junior senior prom here next year!

The dry wall has begun to be put in place. It is unfinished, and its raw stage at this point, not even painted. The blue is a color coding that identifies the type of board it is. This is not your typical home wall board, it is super thick and dense and very durable compared to the walls in your home.

It is exciting to see the forms being boxed in and taking shape in their space.

These are the windows along the commons and dining area opposite of the stairway.

The storefront (framing) is a brushed steel finish on aluminum.

It provides a very contemporary and clean line to play off the organic nature of the stone work.

There is a second stairway at the north end of the commons as well.

It is smaller and is also banked by a wall of windows. This commons space will be a show place, a reception area, a celebratory space for our students and our community attending games, concerts, or theatrical performances.

Media Center ~ Some call it the Library

2009-11-23T21:17:00.005-05:00

A Media Center by any other name might be called the Library. But on our plans it is called the LRV ~ an acronym for "Listening Reading Viewing" space. Took me a long time to get to that from the old Library ;-)
As you walk into our main entrance, the front door you pass by the theater and foyer first. Then just as you approach the commons you will see a long bank of windows on the right. This is our Media Center South window wall.

From out in the commons looking back as you round that corner the media center is on the left. BTW, the tall monolith is the elevator shaft in the center of our main entrance.

In this photo you have stepped inside the front door of the media center. Looking left toward the north wall and the exit.

This view is just inside the entrance looking right to the south window wall in the first photo.

This is the area that will become the circulation desk. Notice the curved soffitt above the area where the main desk will be.

Step up a little closer to the main desk and you can see the contour. This radial form will be echoed in the curved shape of the main desk!

There are several break out rooms on both sides of the main desk along the back wall.

These will be equipment rooms and storage rooms and conference areas and a professional library space.

There is a dedicated technology space in the library as well.

This is the exit back into the commons area. The view out these windows is quite nice.

As can bee seen in this photo taken across from the exit door. The north stairway begins at this point on the right of the photo. I am looking forward to seeing our new media center fully equipped.

Auto Shop ~ Roll Up Doors Installed

2009-11-23T20:45:00.004-05:00

These heavy steel roll up doors are a new addition to the Auto Shop area.
They are far superior to the old doors at our old WHS.

They are a marvel of machinery in their own right.

This is the class room area. With so much technology involved in new cars now, a new auto shop had to have an instructional area for computer studies. It is designed so it can be observed from out in the shop or in reverse.

In addition to the classroom, there will be lifts, equipment and tool storage, and clean up areas in the Auto Shop.

Instrumental Music ~ Band Room

2009-11-23T20:35:00.004-05:00

Stepping into the band room is an uplifting experience. Step through the two double doors and immediately look to the left ~
There is a 24 foot high wall of white with white ceiling decking, white hvac, and white utility lines.

And then immediately to the oposite wall is a bank of windows.

A very satisfying arrangement of three large north facing windows that allow great light and are creatively visually designed. This wall is a delight to see.

The ceiling will eventually have acoustical clouds hung below the systems and providing sound modulation within the room. Our instrumental music students will be inspired in this space for many years to come.

Cafeteria and Kitchen

2009-11-22T22:02:00.005-05:00

The cafeteria serving area and the kitchen area equipment is being installed.
This is a view from the top of the main stairs of the serving area at the end of the commons.

This is from inside the serving area looking out through the windows into the commons. Seating for dining will be in the commons area and extends past the bank on windows on the left side of the commons.

Within the kitchen area are the storage and office and prep areas. Notice the floors have been tiled for sanitary wash down.

There are hood fans and ventilation and lighting units in the cooking area.

New and efficient, clean and massive are these units.

There are two walk in coolers.

In this corner view you can get a good feel for how large they are in comparison to the ladder.

Looking inside you can notice they are all stainless walls and floor.

Ample ventilation is provided to help keep food fresh while circulating air.

The walls are seamed stainless for wash down and for sanitation and durability.

Even the floor is stainless for cleanliness and storage strength.

And a wonderful feature is this loading dock, directly off the back of the kitchen. Large enough for tractor trailers to pull up and unload directly to the level of the back door of the kitchen. Good planning by all the designers pays off on this feature.

Academic Wings Finish Work Beginning

2009-11-22T21:30:00.005-05:00

Step into the academic wings and notice that many finishing details are beginning to take place.

The finish on the class room doors is an cherry oak color, very warm and inviting.

In some of the rooms the vertical cabinets are being installed.

Each room will have two cabinets, double doors, and lockable.
They have a combination of shelves and storage space within.

Drop ceiling tiles have been installed and the pendant light banks are in place.

The finish colors are different in different areas, but they all feature earth tones and warm classroom color. The floors will have a vinyl floor covering which will go down after all other work is completed so they will remain undamaged.

Technology runs are in place in the rooms that will need multiple direct feeds.

Each outlet and port is coded and identified back to the control hubs.

Many of the academic hallways will feature large open windows at the end of the hallway. The open section on the left will be filled with lockers.

The banks of lockers are spread through out the wings, each floor and each wing has multiple lockers, none are out in the public space or commons.

They banks are 24 each with half locker sizes.

Some of the rooms feature as many as three windows.

The drafting room is shaping up with the cabinetry in place.

Even the inside of the cabinets is light and fresh looking.

Theater ~ A Peek Inside

2009-11-22T21:18:00.004-05:00

We will have a foyer and entrance to the theater. A ticket booth will be on the outside in the lobby area.
This is a view of the balcony from the stage.

There will be two levels in the balcony. In this photo they are installing the tracks for the dividers. Folding doors will slide out and close off the balcony for diverse activities including small seminars, group activities, and testing.

This is the view of the stage from the balcony!

This is the stage from the house level

Looking up from where the previous shot was taken you can see the curved front edge of the balcony.

The projection and control room is at the back of the house. There is additional supply cable pulled to the center of house for remote control.

The ceiling and duct work have been blacked out now.

Concrete poured for the floor has set and now steps lead up the corners of the stage.

Mechanical Rooms

2009-11-22T21:04:00.003-05:00

One nice thing that the new building will provide is adequate access to all mechanical fixtures and equipment.
Open and well lighted rooms with sufficient clearance and space for maintenance are provided in each wing and main areas. Our maintenance crew will be able to keep our systems running at top efficiency, keep them clean, and access them for repair if necessary.

None of them are on the roof or in the dungeon or cramped in as add ons. They are all a design component in the master plan.

This HVAC system looks like it will sufficiently do the job of providing clean and conditioned air for our school.

Science Rooms ~ Early Stages of Contruction

2009-11-22T20:52:00.004-05:00

The science rooms are beginning to take shape. This is one of the last areas we are completing in the phases of construction. All of the water lines, gas lines, and ventilation systems are in place.
Many of the science rooms will have Solar Tubes to provide daylight and natural lighting to these rooms.

In this photo you can see the opening for the skylight entry in the ceiling.

This is just the roof dome for collecting light. To this will be added a tube (hence solartube) from the roof down to the drop ceiling. Within that tube will be mirrors and prisms that will amplify the light and boost the output within the room.

I do not have a picture of the completed installation to share here at home, but I did find this photo from a 2007 site visit to North Guilford high school while it was under construction. We went there to see the solar tubes and how they would function in our new WHS. The amount of light is not altered, it truly glows in the dark with this much amplification. I will try to find the close up I took of the lens at school soon and post that shot here too.

So I found them at school. These are the photos from the Guilford school we visited.

This shot shows the magnifying lens that sits in the ceiling tile grids.

closer up you can see how the daylight hits the curved lens and is amplified
I found them to be very interesting optical effects.

The intensity of this light is not exaggerated, it is as it was photographed.

Cabinetry and Casework

2009-11-22T20:35:00.003-05:00

The auxiliary gym is the holding place now for a hodgepodge of cabinetry
Every piece has been delivered and is awaiting installation.

All this looks random and disorganized, but each piece has come in with coding and room number designations

The majority of this gym full of cabinetry will be installed in the science area

Very specific sizes and types of drawers, cases, glass door cabinets, firesafe cabinets, vertical cabinets, and ADA scaled cabinets were all designed specifically for the areas they will be installed.

These rows of metal forms are the fume hoods for the science and chemistry areas.

Our fume hoods are manufactured by Thermo Scientific suppliers.

Morning Has Broken ~ and Updates Too

2009-11-15T21:08:00.007-05:00

I have waited over a month for this photo. One of the few reasons I am thankful for the time change!

I waited for a morning when the low light at sunrise would light the building from the east while there was a dark or over cast sky. I have seen this before and hoped to catch it again.

The last time was back in January.
click here to go there!

Photographed from the parking lot, the landscaping adds a nice improvement to the perspective.

There were very specific regulations on what types of trees and shrubbery we could use. Most of the regs came from Town of Boone guidelines. For that, we benefit and so does the future.

Here we are looking from above the tennis courts.

It is almost as if the courts are swimming pools. I spotted them from the tower on top of Flat Top Mountain in Cone Manor this afternoon.

(Nearly 10 miles away!)

The Softball feel has sod down. If you scroll over and click to enlarge you will see the pattern of placement of the sod.

In this photo and the next you will see that the irrigation system for the baseball field is being put underground.

We will use some collected rainwater, gray water, from out cisterns to water our fields. And, remember, under all of the baseball field is our Geo thermal wells (250 wells at 400 feet deep each) that we will circulate back into our building.

to go there click here

The foundation and footers and now the rises for our stadium seating has been completed. The artificial turf is installed and painted. It was nice to see a regulation soccer field painted on the field as well as football striping.

This view straight down the bleacher is the south end of our building, the gym, wrestling room, weight rooms, and PE rooms are all on this end adjacent to the field.

The concession stand and bathrooms are shelled in, under roof, and behind doors now.

The Watauga end zone is sweet!

This view is from above the fields and looking south at the east face of our school. Beautiful to me. Hope you like the photos.

New Aerial photos of our New Campus

2009-10-21T21:33:00.005-04:00

This is the most recent aerial photograph of our main building. Your point of view is from the south end of the building. You can see the three classroom wings, the commons, and the front areas.

The kitchen and cafeteria is in the center bottom of the photo. The dining area extends out the nearly half of the length of the white roofed "wedge" in the center. On the right side of the cafeteria is the auxiliary gym. North from that is the main gym, the main entrance (@ 3:00), the Media center and the theater (@2:00) and the Band room (@ 1:00).

This is the same South view of campus as the photo above. It is a great shot to see the full length of the developing campus. The New River is on the bottom right side of the photo. You will notice how the Second practice field sits below the main stadium,

Here we are flying in from the East approaching campus.

Turning around and approaching from the West in this photo. The newest section of the Boone Greenway trail can be seen in the bottom right and center. It parallels our campus along the slope of the stadium. What a nice addition to the town and community this section became. It was worked out to be created with funding from the Obesity Grant and used our local Town of Boone maintenance and construction crews. Another excellent example of community cooperation between agencies to create our future together!

This fly in is from the North and looks at campus from above our main driveway. Highway 421 would be at the bottom of this photo. I think it is important to look at the size and scope of this project. We have not just built a new high school. We have created an entire CAMPUS. And that is HUGE.

All aerial photographs are provided courtesy of SkySite:

SkySite Aerial Photography ~~~ click here
North Carolina's most consistent and reliable source for aerial photographs! Thanks for allowing me to post your photos for our community!

Pioneer Stadium ~ 2010 ~ Where we are and how we got here!

2009-10-14T21:31:00.007-04:00

WOO HOO!They have painted the end zones :-) WATAUGAON WATAUGA!

GO PIONEERS

This is the most recent aerial photograph of our new stadium with artificial turf installed!

Mighty Mighty Pioneers

This was the stadium when we acquired the property in 2007.

This is one of the earliest aerial photos. The stadium will be just about in the center of the lower half of the image.

My first attempt of a panoramic stitch to show the excavation of the stadium site grading and rock removal.

We were excited then, and we are still excited to see the development of a first class stadium on this site. Notice all of the rock that had to be removed to grade out the field.

This is what lies beneath the surface ~

and this too, our storm water retention system is buried under our stadium

It is a massive system of connected pipes that will hold run off storm water and gradually disperse it

Once the system was put in place it was refilled with sand and clay and graded to just about 12 inches below playing surface

Upon the graded surface, specified gravel mix was added to raise the next twelve inches

In this photo you can see the precision of the gravel grade as it is being prepared for artificial turf

The runs are in place for track long and broad jump

The rolls of turf are turned out and temporarily placed and what happens???

A mighty wind rolls through out of the west and wastes the days work overnight!

But quickly the next day all pieces are put back in place and readied for gluing

and stitching and anchoring it in place

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas ~ well, bright green anyway!~

In these aerials you can see the scale and placement of our stadium. It is off the main parking lot on the south side of campus.

This is a field we can play on for many many years to come. The artificial turf will save us money, be environmentally green, and be more sustainable over the years than natural turf which has to be fertilized, watered, groomed, and sodded regularly at the cost of nearly $30,000 annually.

It was a wise decision to go with artificial turf on a field that will host football, soccer, lacrosse, and many other competitors for many years to come.

Now it is Done ... (all but the finish lines ;-)

A Favorite Building View

2009-10-01T23:05:00.003-04:00

Scroll over and click to enlarge!

I like this view of our school. I think it is one of the best angles to see the front side of the entire building. It is seen from above the tennis courts on the east side looking west.
You will see Howard's Knob in the background behind our school. I like seeing the roof line and the changes from here. You can also view the main entrance in the middle of the school, and get a sense for the length of the building. It is one and a half football fields long!

FYI ~ I did PS out one light pole and several construction vehicles to show this clean overview. You should click on it and look around, it is scaled for large viewing. See if you can see where I photoshopped it! Enjoy!

WHS Tennis ~ Pioneer Blue

2009-09-30T20:30:00.006-04:00

In recognition of our WHS Women's Tennis accomplishments I'll post pics tonight of our new Pioneer Blue Tennis Courts.

The courts are in, the fencing pulled, the lighting posted, landscaping beginning, and we are ready to dominate on blue.
As you see we have ample fencing on all court sides and a sloped bank on the east and south side. This is the view from the south end of the courts. Our lighting can be studied here, there are six posts

This is my favorite angle. I suspect many a match will be watched from this grassy knoll to the east of the courts. The view across the parking lot to the school is excellent from this point too.

We have six courts, they are all blue, since as we know, Blue Rules!

And I say that proudly.

Congratulations to our Watauga Women's Tennis who placed first in our conference and yesterday received the #1 seed in the state tournament. Next season on these courts ladies, you will dominate!

Go Pioneers!

Stone Element Central to Commons

2009-09-29T21:51:00.003-04:00

This is the front, main entrance to the school. these columns are covered with a fabricated stone. I think the color choice looks nice with our masonry colors. You will enter the front door between these columns.
Here is a close up view of the colors of stone accent we chose. Even though these are manufactured stone, they are not cheap facade decoration. Each stone must be set and the mortar recessed through out the work. It is very well done and looks quite impressive up close.

If you walk straight through the main entrance and into the commons the same stone elements are echoed there in.

The middle of the commons is the location of these feature windows.
As you can see, the same stone work is used in the columns of these windows. (windows are not installed at this time)

This view is from the third floor looking down at the commons from the catwalk along the east side.

Below outside of these windows is one of the interior courtyards. They are between the classroom winds.

This view is of those windows and the columns structurally supporting them from the courtyard level at the back of the school.

These columns carry the stone element and lead the eye to the center of the school, the commons.

If you sequence the photos walking in through the front door into the commons and out to the courtyard you will have a sense of the unity of the stone element in the design features. Very nice work.

Looking up Light in the Classrooms

2009-09-28T21:10:00.005-04:00

On a recent visit I was pleased to see the new and contemporary light fixtures that we will have in the classrooms.

While most rooms will have ample "day lighting" (and some will be quite comfortable with just that) all rooms will have excellent overhead deflected fluorescent lighting.

When you walk into a classroom the daylight is first noticed. Even with the overheads off, there is enough light for mobility.

But it is that mobility that brightens the space! As you enter a room before you can even adjust or reach for a light switch, instantly the lights come on!

And why is that? All because of this motion sensor that detects movement in the classroom! As one of our energy savers, this motion sensor turns lights on or off depending on motion. After a designated setting if there is no motion, it dims the lights. Never again will lights be left on in an empty room!

Here is the light fixture as it looks when fully lit. It is a warm fluorescent and lights by reflected light and ambient light. You will notice the soft distribution and warm indoor light.

I say warm because that is so for indoor lighting. I was surprised to see the difference between the cool light (bluish on the lower left side) from outdoor day lighting in comparison the the warm light (rose on the upper right) of electrical light in this photo.

The lights are hung as linear pendants. They are not embedded in the ceiling like old school fluorescent. Hence they can reflect off the drop ceiling when added to give a more even and less glaring light.

This is a closer view of the fixture against the ceiling tile grid.

If you click on this image to enlarge it you will notice the grid and screen of perforated holes that make the light diffuse.

Most rooms have two or three day lighting windows and at least three rows of lights.

One thing new in these ceilings in addition to the lighting is the presence of sprinklers. We will have a sprinkler system that is school wide in our new school. Something safety we have never had at the old WHS. May we never need them!

Follow Me Down the Commons!

2009-03-30T20:50:00.006-04:00

The commons is the open area that stretches from the cafeteria to the north end of the school.

To give you an idea of the length of the commons and hallway out to the bus pick up I have taken this photo. The view is from the serving line of the cafeteria. The light at the far end is the exit to the bus pick up. It is more than the length of a football field!

There are two main stairs and this is the North stair well down.

The next photo looks up to Level 3 in the same stair way.

(The connecting level of stairs have not been built in yet! :)

Following is the first video I have uploaded to the blog!

It is a walk down the length of the commons starting from the serving line in the cafeteria and ending at the exit at the north end of the hall.

I was walking at an adult pace, non stop, and it took one and a half minutes.

On the right you will see the Main Gymnasium pass by, followed by the main entrance, then the media center, and finally the chorus room and exit.

Click on the arrow to view the video, sorry about the audio, I had hoped to be able to dub in better commentary. I'll improve the script the next time we take this walk!

I hope you enjoy the stroll ~~~

Auditorium or Theater???

2009-03-30T20:38:00.008-04:00

THEATER!!!!

This view is from the middle of the house. The stage is elevated and the floor of the stage is at the level the bucket lift is sitting. With a good "rake" or incline to the seating, this stage should be very visible to the audience.
A glance to the left of house shows the height of the interior wall and arched ceiling. Acoustic clouds will be hung to create good acoustics within the theater. To the left of this photo is the front of the school, the east side.
This image is taken from the stage floor looking out over the house toward the balcony. We have a two tiered balcony which will seat about 150 people.
This photo was taken straight forward from center stage looking at the balcony. The white construction hats at the bottom of frame are on people standing in the center of the theater.

The corners of the balcony are curved to echo the curve in the roof. This will be a showcase feature in our new school and we look forward to sharing it with our community. Wonder what Ms. Miller and Mr. Pope will offer for our first Spring show in 2011? What ever they choose to perform, it will be spectacular!

Just Beginning to be Developed

2009-03-30T20:26:00.003-04:00

The science area is just beginning to be developed. This is the first time it has been clear in Area 5, 6 so that we can grasp the expanse of the science area.
Designed to be in a central location for all students it spans the length of the classroom wings. While the walls are not up, one can sense the scale and size of the Science department at our new WHS.

These steel braces beneath the deck of the roof are the framing supports for the Solar Tubes. Natural lighting will be collected through these features and channel light into the classrooms with mirrors and prisms. We saw these in a school visit to North Guilford and were impressed with the light they provided. I will try to locate pictures I took there in 2007 and share them soon.

All plumbing lines are supported by hangers of various sizes throughout our building.

Hangers allow for flex and kick in the water supply as pressure varies and air is forced through the lines when the pumps kick on pushing water through the miles of capillary lines. water pump post

New Areas Shaping Up~

2009-03-30T20:13:00.003-04:00

Each floor of each wing has its own breaker room with dedicated breaker boxes. These rooms look quite complex, but nothing compared to the main electrical room shown in this post: electrical infrastructure link
In our old school we couldn't run a projector and computers and fans and even lights at the same time without flipping breakers.

It is exciting to see how well we have planned ahead to "power" our needs in the new school.

These three roll up doors will be in the Auto shop. It is on level 1 in area 1. Designed there to allow drive up for maintenance and equipment.

The classroom sections within the Auto Shop are taking form. They are designed with windows since they are small rooms within the shop. So much about automobiles can be learned and diagnosed by computers these days. But, you already know that!

The CTE area is shaping up with these large garage doors that will allow them to work inside and move out construction projects as necessary.

Drywall Finishing ~ Beginning!

2009-03-29T21:33:00.002-04:00

In Area 3 and 2 some of the drywall is finishing is beginning. As you look down this hall (which just a few weeks ago was only roughed in) you can see the nice finished surface on the drywall. The insets are either door entry or locker bays. Notice the sprinkler system is in place (a feature we do not have in our old school :(....
Some of the rooms have finished with drywall work and are beginning to have accent colors added. This is a three window room.

Most rooms have at least two windows and this is the typical window. Note the color on the accent wall to the left.

Here is another room that has color added. Each wing will have different color harmonies. There were three basic color schemes to be used throughout the academic wings.

Though I must admit I do not recall if it was to be colored by level or by wing. Level meaning "floor" (1st, 2nd, 3rd) or by "wing" (area 1,2,3). I'll ask about that and clarify later.

This would be the warm orange color scheme. This view shows the teaching wall on the left and the outside wall on the right. The color on the floor is "dustdown", a material which is used to absorb dust in the finished areas. The actual floor will have an harmonious colored vinyl type floor covering.

What's Between the Wings?

2009-03-29T21:20:00.004-04:00

Lots of deep mud on this day! As you can see, it is a soggy bottom in this area. Once Spring begins to dry out, this 90ft wide area between the wings will be a courtyard/green space.
But, clean up and drainage can't be worked on just yet since our rain water capture tanks are beneath the ground out there.

The wing on the left is area 1. Since we are on ground level, this is level 1 area 1. CTE class rooms and shops are mainly on this floor.

It is hard to imagine now, but this area is going to be beautiful. It is the area of the structure facing out toward the green space in the previous photos. The rusted steel finish on these exterior columns will be covered with manufactured stone. This will be repeated on the columns on the inside of the window too. Bringing outside in is an architectural design concept.

The red arrow indicates the columns to be rock. The blue arrow indicates the wall of windows, called "clerestory" (pronounced clear story) that will open up facing west and over looking the green space. The commons area will be day lighted through these huge windows.

R L V??? and Band Room

2009-03-29T09:39:00.003-04:00

This area is know as the RLV. What is that?
It also has another name that has changed since most of us adults have used this part of the school. Now known as the "Media Center" formally know as the Library! RLV stands for "Reading, Listening, and Viewing" area, which is what this space has been designed to accommodate.

Some of the breakout rooms, work spaces, and equipment rooms are beginning to be framed in within our Media Center. The shape is a long rectangle and along the columns in the first photo, there will be a wall of glass with open views into the commons area.

Just down the hall from the library is the Band room. Our band room will have high arched ceiling, nearly 24 feet high at the apex. Mr. Walker will enjoy filling this space with the joyful music of his young instrumentalists.

This is the band room from the outside of the building. A few windows on the east side will bring pleasant lighting in the mornings.

This is a curious component in the structural design of this section of the building. It is a wind brace, or torque angle beam. Designed into the structure, these systems insure no twist or lateral torque can happen in our structure. There are several in all areas, hidden for posterity as they become covered by the walls only architects, builders, and readers of this blog will know they are there! ;-)

Hydro Mains Where Does Water Flow?

2009-03-22T21:53:00.003-04:00

This room houses the hydro systems, the pumps and valves that control the flow of water throughout our building. These are large pipes and pumps, 10-12 feet tall and occupying the most of the room they are installed in.

I found the forms to be quite sculptural, though I know they exist for function only.

Massive and amazing, I can imagine the force that will drive water from these pumps!

All our water passes through these pipes and valves, from the Town of Boone, to our plumbing, including the geothermal well systems. This is the heart beat that circulates water through out our campus.

Remarkable forms indeed.... Both of these rooms are secure on the maintenance level. It will be a rare opportunity to be able to see this part of our building.

Electrical Infrastructure

2009-03-22T10:22:00.005-04:00

This photo is from within the main electrical supply point for the entire school! It looks all neat and contained and ready to flow in this photo below. Actually the grace of line and form in this photo are picture perfect!

However, in the next few photos, you will see what a major job the electrical crew has to complete! This is how you earn the title, "Master Electrician"!

If you have ever tried to figure out electrical pulls this photo will make you pull your hair out!

Imagine that every single light switch, every outlet or plug, each sensor, fan, and all electrical connections in our entire school some how flow to this point.

And then try to imagine sorting them all out and stripping all this wire to eventually connect to the breakers that will feed to the sub breaker rooms on each floor.

From where ever you look at it the fishing line entanglement will boggle your mind....

Eventually all this spaghetti will be sorted and connected in these boxes.

This area is the main electrical room and will be the operational command center for the entire campus. (And it does not include the technology pulls, they enter the building directly elsewhere!)

I'll try to get a photo when all the lines are shoved back and installed in these little boxes (though they are quite large, about 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide). For now I'll leave that mind boggle to the professionals!

Solving Problems

2009-03-22T10:09:00.002-04:00

This huge piece of machinery is part of the HVAC system. It is the Heat and Cooling Recovery system. It is HUGE! Weighing around 8,000 pounds and standing 10 feet tall and nearly 18 feet long it awaits to be installed.

In fact, it sits down the hall on level 1
Around the corner and 18 feet below where it will be installed!

So how do you get something that big from there to here? Oh yeah, and mount it on the wall up there so it can still be accessed from all sides?

And a further question, how do you even get something that big in through the doors?

(answer to that question will be found in the post below :)

Auxialiary Gym Shaping Up

2009-03-22T09:55:00.002-04:00

In the photo below you will see the south end wall in the auxiliary gym. I think these vertical windows will be a sweet feature of this space.

The light coming through the roof is the sound trap decking. Once covered with the metal roof, it will not be translucent. The millions of holes that you view now will trap sound thus damping the echo and reverberation in the gyms.
I was curious about this opening in the west wall of the gym (I knew there would not be a window or door there). This is a construction access point.

Some things that are delivered for installation later need a larger entry than a door way could provide, large HVAC machines, loaders, forklifts, all sorts of large equipment must continue to enter the building even as it is being closed up!

The masonry wall is irregular, called "toothing", and when all access has been made and it is no longer needed, it will be blocked back in along the toothed edges.

Dramatic light is always going to catch my attention!

To give you a sense of scale this photo shows Don Critcher, our WCS project coordinator, standing in the light! Thanks for all the work you do for all of us Don!

First Site Visit of 2009

2009-03-22T09:26:00.005-04:00

It has been a while since I have been able to coordinate a site visit to our new campus. Winter weather and spring rains have made it difficult to get out and about at the right time for a walk through.

From the exterior it appears little has progressed, but rest assured work has carried on every day and a tremendous amount of progress has been made in spite of the ire of the elements.

Lets talk a walk in the front entrance....

Well, perhaps a walk in by the front door isn't such a good idea! Look closely at the wheels on that lift and you will see it mired in mud. the machine is actually driving into our main entrance, the front door of our school. The columns to the right will be the canopy posts out front for students waiting for parent pick up. At the left is the roof over the wrestling room.

Worth noticing there is the fascia that has been added to the roof, soon guttering will be attached and the final standing seam metal roof will be added.

As we step inside we will turn to the left and go to the Main Gym. I am fond of dramatic light and geometric shapes. So this photo and the next are a study in dark and light within the main gym.

To the right is the south end wall, you are looking east.

This is the south wall exposed for an interior shot. The vertical wall will be at the end of the ball court. It will have a huge insignia or school logo on that wall. What do you think should be painted there? Also, notice the large beam in the center!

That is the most massive, longest, and heaviest of all the roof girders in our building. It spans the length of the gym.

This is the concessions booth on the commons side of the main gym.

New Aerial Photographs of Campus

2009-02-16T11:34:00.016-05:00

This aerial photo was taken in January. The first "sky" view of our campus this year!

In this annotated view it is exciting to see many features becoming more clearly defined.

This is an approach from the East.
That is the actual infield for the Softball field in the lower right.

This is a North approach, as if you were entering the driveway off of old 421
which is along the bottom of the photo above.

Here is an overview of the main building.

A zoom in over the classroom wings

And this is a detail of the intersection and contrasts in our roof design.

I find the geometry interesting in this photo.

Hopefully I will get over to the site this week for some updates on the interior progress.

All aerial photos were taken by

SKYSITE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Skysite Aerial Link

Thanks!

One Year Ago Today

2009-01-30T08:22:00.003-05:00

Hey Folks,

One year ago today the first blog posting went out on our new WHS!

I have enjoyed sharing what I could with the community and hope it has been informative and inspiring to read these posts over the last year.

In recognition of the progress we have made I invite you to review the first post of January 30, 2008.

January 30, 2008 click here

I truly hoped to return to those locations and photograph them as they appear today. But, it is just toooo cold and windy to go over there today and shoot. Maybe over the weekend I will get out and do that.

We have come a long way and there are just a few hundred days left on the countdown. It is an exciting project and I continue to be proud of the accomplishments of our county commissioners and school board for carrying our new school construction forward in these difficult times.

Onward and upwards,
shelton

Last Aerials of 2008

2009-01-26T15:01:00.004-05:00

These are the last aerials of 2008

taken from a flyover on December 13, 2008.

This image above is an approach from the west. The small green patch in the upper left is the Boone Greenway. The ridge in between that and our campus remains forested. It is mostly property owned by ASU. I hope someday there can be a forested trail spur off the Greenway along that ridge. Perhaps even a cross country trail could find a place in there someway.

This view is flying in from the West.

I was happy to see some relatively close-up photos in this flyover. This is the main building and you can clearly see the three features: classroom wings, commons, and main gym, theatre, and entry lobby.
The areas read clockwise from bottom: Area 1 (at 6:00)
Area 2 (at 8:00) Area 3 (at 9:00) Area 4 (top center 12:00)
Area 5 (middle of building) Area 6 (3:00)
This is a nice zoom in on Area 2 (the middle classroom wing).
You can see our brick and block divisions and inlay accents.

All aerial photos are taken by SKYSITE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Skysite Aerial Link

Thanks!

Today from the Driveway

2009-01-22T13:44:00.006-05:00

As we come out from under the freeze I stopped by the site to take the most recent photo. One reader had pointed out that the 1-20 photo was an older one. That is true, only the Flag added in was new in that photo. (Which we will have to determine where to place our flag pole soon).

This view above shows the progress from the North end of campus. Most notably, area 4 , the commons, areas 3, and 2 show changes.

You will note that area 3 looks pretty much complete from the exterior. Windows are installed and the roof is completed. This is true for much of are 2 as well.

Looking closely at Area 4 one will notice the walls going up on the north end. While it is still wide open the length of Area 4, as seen just below the roof, this section is beginning to be closed in. I have annotated this photo in the next image so you might be able to orient within the building.

There is an excellent article in the High Country Press this week about the progress of this project. You can read it at this link:

New School Article click here

Only 554 days left on the countdown!

Thanks to all who sent artifacts from 1-20-2009. Sorry I could not post them all on this blog. Perhaps they will find a place in your memory box for your children. ;-)

January 20, 2009

2009-01-20T10:49:00.011-05:00

I hope everyone at home, at school, at work, any place in the state and nation could stop and pay attention.

I wish some way, some how, it could be announced that:

"all students and parents who will not be in school, should create one artifact that commemorates this event. This is your history, english, social studies, and art homework and "no day" assignment!"

Make a collage, cut out pictures, draw something, cut out words from magazines that inspire you, write a paragraph, tell a story, take a picture of you, your family, your friends, spin an opinion, make a music mix...

"Just make some type of personal response to this historic and peaceful transfer of power in the leadership of the government of the United States...

"The artifacts you create today will teach your children in years to come."

Here are a few comments sent today from readers (please send me yours):

B.......I agree with you 100%. I've often thought how remarkable it is that in this great nation of ours we do this peacefully every four years. In spite of our many differences, we respect the constitutional mandates, and no one tries to change it.

No one riots in the streets if the election doesn't go to suit his ideology; no one tries to use military force to try to hold onto power that is no longer his; and, like it or not, people go along with the transfer as outlined in our constitution.

We truly do live in a remarkable country. There has never been another like it. Even if people don't do any of the things you suggested, I hope that everyone will at least use this "no day" to watch history unfold on television. Peace and Hope to all of us!

from.... L...WHS ALUM... Class of 03......from DC on the mall today!.....

From N....is especially proud today to be a citizen of the United States of America.

From E....WHS Alum ...Class of '97.....

From K....WHS Alum Class of 86....This poem resonated with me about today:

Success:

To laugh often and much;

to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;

to leave the world a bit better,

whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

from G... WHS Alum.. Class of 93...

My 7-year-old son and mother baked an Obama cake to commemorate this day. I can hardly wait. ;-) Great assignment! Thanks :-)

BRRRRRRRR!!!!

2009-01-16T08:59:00.006-05:00

Keep warm out there folks!

I stopped by the site this morning and saw construction workers heading into the building. It is -.3 degrees up here in the high country today! I am sure the winds whipping through the school site are driving the chill factor into the negative teens. BRRRRRRR.

It has been so cold that our solar powered webcam batteries are chilling out!

Hopefully we will have our live cam up again soon.

I appreciate Mike Kesterson, our CCM, and our contractors for planning this project in such a way that there would be plenty of indoor work to be done on these cold winter days.

And to all the workers, keep warm, stay safe, and thank you.

I'm sure those space heaters are roaring today.

How do Stairs Get into a Stair Well?

2009-01-14T21:27:00.005-05:00

Seeing the empty stair wells all walled in and closed off one might wonder how you get the stairways, landings and steps into the well through the small doors.
The photo above shows an empty stair well. There will be windows at each landing! Our stairwells are for emergency egress only (the doors will lock upon exit). The main movement up and down between floors will take place within the commons area.

Anyway, back to the question, they are built from the ground up, flight by flight, floor by floor.

Using a hoist, block, and tackle, the metal treads and risers are assembled within the stair well.

Slowly building upon themselves as the climb the stairwell.

Perplexing notion, why do they call it a stair well when it is really a "stairs-well". ;-)

By the way, there is an article in the Watauga Democrat today that states we are 54 days ahead of schedule on the project. You heard that three weeks ago here first! ;-)

Oh, and BTW, the photo on the front page of the Wednesday Jan. 14 Democrat is not our school. It is not at all like what we are building. This was one of the earliest, preliminary designs under development by Sfla Architects. That idea and location was abandoned in preference of the design we have now.

OOPS!

Nice Morning Light

2009-01-12T09:53:00.003-05:00

I was looking at the webcam this morning and caught this interesting light. I am always amazed at the "surreal" nature of light when the sky appears dark and the ground light. (I say surreal because this is the inverse of natural light which is sky light, ground dark).

This occurs frequently here in our mountains when there is a storm approaching from the west and there is a low angle, early morning light from the east.

The morning light shoots in under the clouds lighting the ground while the sky remains dark. Thus in this photo the building is lit, but the back ground sky is dark.

We will enjoy a wonderful morning light on our new campus.

Area 2 Framing In Now

2009-01-07T21:28:00.006-05:00

This post and the following post will show the comparison of two different stages of construction in the wings.

This is Area 2. It is the middle academic wing. Area 2 is now being framed in and infrastructure (electrical, water, fire, sprinklers, hvac) installed . Area 2 is less finished and doesn't have windows yet. Hence, no drywall or wall board is in place.
I really like the line and perspective in this photo and the patterns which the play of light and shadow create on the floor.

The two openings in the middle of the photo on the right are locker bays. They will be more evident in the next post from Area 3. But, you can see the openings and get the general idea of how they are framed and set into the hallway walls.

This view is into one of the classrooms. Most all of the rooms have a foyer, or entry way just outside the door into the hallway. Some rooms are offset to the adjacent classroom.

This is a better shot of the foyer space outside the classroom door.

This is the interior of a classroom. This is in Area 2 and you will note there are no windows in place yet. It was very cold that day, but work was progressing and numerous space heaters were warming the workspace. Once the windows are installed drywall and wall board can begin to be put in place.

Area 2 is one step or phase behind Area 3 in completion. Compare the framing photos above to the similar photos in the next post below.

Wall Board Going up in Area 3

2009-01-07T21:08:00.004-05:00

This is part two in a two part posting. In this post you will see basically the same shots as in the post above, but they were taken from within Area 3.

Area 3 is the first wing being completed. For your reference it is the short wing on the north west side of the main building. Wallboard is being installed in the halls and drywall inside of the rooms.

No, the walls are not going to be purple. ;-) The color of wall board signifies its "type". As opposed to sheetrock or common interior drywall, this is a denser, more resilient, and harder type of wall board. The color helps identify the type and aids inspectors and contractors in assuring the correct material is in place.

This view is looking down the hallway and you will see numerous features that are consistent throughout the academic wings. On the left front of the picture above the opening is a locker bay inset.

This view shows the openings and how the lockers will sit into the walls of the hall way. Lockers are distributed throughout the academic wings on all three floors. This helps provide better proximity to classrooms and prevents "clustering" in small areas with a large amount of lockers like we have at the old WHS.

This is a feature that I like and think is a nice attribute to the design of the classrooms.

Each of the rooms has a small "foyer" or recessed entrance that keeps you from stepping directly into the classroom.

This is a straight on entry view to a classroom. I like the geometry and one point perspective in this photo that lead the eye on out the window on the distant wall.

Area 3 will be the first area in which we will get an early sense of the finished product. The construction progression within this complex building is counter clockwise around the structure. Area 3, then Area 2, then Area 1, 6, 5, and 4 to completion.

Happy New Year 2009

2008-12-31T23:24:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year to all!

May this year encourage you.

Has it been windy enough for you? I was looking at the webcam and it was bouncing around and dancing in the winds like a bobble head.

Here are a few pictures from inside of the school that were made just a few days ago. It was a rainy, cold, blowing rain day that most folks would chose to stay home.

However, I enjoyed seeing the work carry on despite inconvenience.

More than once I stopped to clear my lens.

I found this area and thought it was an interesting feature. Perhaps you might like to guess the location? A clue for frequent readers, it is on the farthest, south facing part of the building......

I also enjoyed contemplating this notion that came up while talking to Mike K. In these conditions our school could be said to be in the

"Frank Lloyd Wright" phase of design.

(BTW, nice reflections)

Wright was noted for bringing elements of nature

from the outside into the inside of the building!

We sure were full of the elements that day, rain, wind, cold. ;-)

By the way, the photos above are the "main commons area".

It is more than the length of a foot ball field.

(FYI, that is one of the main stair wells on the right side of the photo.)

The other architect and designer "Frank" we might mention is Frank Gehry. Sometimes the contrasting angles and shapes and forms remind me of his work.

I will try to get some new photos up soon, once school starts back and things settle down again.

Hope you enjoyed the last look at our school for this year.

In just a few minutes, it will be true that

next year we will move into our new school :-)

Check the time stamp below :-)

What's Going on Here?

2008-12-16T10:06:00.010-05:00

I was watching the webcam yesterday and noticed a sequence of men and machines repeating a process over and over again. They progressed from the left of the screen to the middle right. This is the standard "home" view you will see from the webcam.

When I zoomed in to study it I was able to figure this process out. The photo quality is not as great as usual, but, it was a rainy day and the camera shield was wet. But, still I am impressed with the quality of the zoom images. How Cool!

The process begins on the first machine on the left. You will notice the roll on a spoll. I thought it was paper, or something soft and pliable. But it is sheet metal! In this photo above you can see it is being fed into the machine as a flat continuous sheet. This machine edges, shapes, and cuts the standing seam roof sections for our radial (curved) roof.

On the other end, a worker removes the length of metal which is now folded on two sides and cut into 10-24 ft sections. The standing seam is J -curved and locks over the matching edge on each adjacent sheet.

It is then fed into the next machine which is a "Bending machine". This machine puts the appropriate degree of curvature to the length in the overall piece of metal so it will fit properly on our radial roof section.

Each piece is then placed in an ordered and standing storage bin and kept ready for installation once the roofing under layers are completed. Every piece of our roof is being fabricated to specifications on site.

There are many, many pieces to be installed. Notice that you are seeing the "white" underside of the standing roof sections. The top finish of these panels is charcoal gray. You can see that color in the second photo as the metal comes off of the roll. Or look at the finished sections of the actual roof over the gyms in the center of the home view.

So, you never know what you can learn by spending a few minutes looking at the webcam! You can check out the view via the live webcam if you....

click here now