Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

Recycling as much of the deconstruction materials that we could during the Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories project was high on our priority list from day one.

And now that we’re working on the finishing touches, it’s nice to see how we succeeded in reusing many items, including a lot of wood trim.

First, we gave it a new look by staining and trimming it:

Now workers are installing it throughout the monastery:

In some instances, we didn’t remove items. Just left them there to become part of the new construction. For example, the exposed brick wall next to our new elevator is a former exterior wall:

It adds so much character and continuity of history to the new construction, reminding us of our roots and how we’ve grown. Just a few more weeks until we move back in!

A large duct is new addition to the attic

As we look  southward in the attic of the west wing, we can see a very large duct that will connect with an energy recovery unit.

Saving materials for later use

Also in the attic of the west wing, we have saved tin ceiling tiles that were removed for future use and stacks of insulation to be re-used in the attic.

There is much work being done in the building and on the grounds.

The deconstruction crew is wrapping up its part of the project, clearing out rubble and taking away the material they have collected.

The geothermal crew continues to drill holes 300 feet down and insert loop tubes.

The remodeling crew has been busy installing duct work in the attic, cutting out walls and building new support structures where they are needed.  Old pipes are being taken out, and the ground is being readied for excavation.

Good stewardship continues to part of this renovation project.  We have recycled lots of things from wood to metals to windows.

We are reducing our building space and will heat and cool the renovated building using renewable geothermal energy.

Materials have arrived for the geothermal portion of the renovation

Materials have been delivered;

Marking where the geothermal loops will be located

loop locations have been marked with little white flags, and drilling for the coils has begun.

The company begins early each day and works until sunset.  We are excited about moving into this phase.

This staircase is temporary yard art

This looks a bit like yard art – you know, those odd-shaped pieces of whatever sitting on grassy knolls.

However, it isn’t what it looks like even though it has a certain beauty and flow.

These are the spiral stairs that ran up the east end of the south Marian Wing. They were for Sisters’ use only;  no one else laid a foot on them. Now they await their arrival at a new location. Who knows what soles will tread upon them; or perhaps they may end up on someone’ s grassy knoll.

Cupola is finally removed

It took three days, a new crane, a ton of elbow grease and a lot of prayer…but the cupola has finally been removed from the top of the Marian Wing!

A worker removes the beams

The 9,000-pound beast didn’t come willingly. As you can tell from the iron support structures beneath, it was obvious the original builders didn’t mean for it to go anywhere.

Fortunately, crews were able to remove it then remove the beams below so it could be set on the ground.

We haven’t decided yet how best to incorporate this into the new construction. One idea is to use it in the landscaping near the new front entry. Time will tell where this beautiful reminder of a treasured building will be enjoyed by future generations of Sisters.

Salvaging decorative stone accents

In addition to bricks and wood, we are also salvaging many of the decorative stone accents (lintels and cills) that appeared above and below the windows of the deconstructed south wing.

Decorative accents appear elsewhere, such as above the east porch

This is to keep stuff out of the landfill. Plus, we will reuse these accents in the new construction to help tie in with rest of our monastery building. Helping the new look old.

Accents continue around all sides of the monastery

Today crews are preparing to remove the cupola from the top of the Marian Wing.

Handle with care

The cupola is attached to large beams that are bolted to the floor of the attic. It will be no small feat to get this thing detached and lifted carefully to the ground. Thank goodness we have nice weather today!

The cupola will be used on the new construction

Pipes lay exposed

The demolition continues, room by room…floor by floor…until only memories remain.

A shell full of memories

This once once our television room, with Sister Mary John’s sewing room (green walls) above.  We hold in our hearts the many memories made in these rooms.  The cupola shown above will be removed – carefully – in one piece and used on top of our new renovations.

While planning this project with the architects, we wanted to make sure that much of the materials we were going to heap on to the earth would not go to landfills.  We wanted to sell, donate or reuse much of the wood, windows and brick.  In keeping with this line of thinking, we budgeted time and expense for work crews to come in and clean mortar off the bricks that were once the walls of the monastery.

Many, many bricks await preparation

It is long and tedious work, but they have saved tons of rubbish by adding nothing to the earth. 

Cleaned and stacked and ready to go

We chose to do this because of our stewardship practices and our commitment to re-greening the earth.  In Mahatma Gandhi’s words, we know that we must “be the change [we] wish to see in the world.”