Construction Updates Blog

New Gathering Space Opens

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:50:39 CDT

If you have been on on campus in the past couple of weeks you have no doubt noticed that there is a lot going on and much to celebrate.

The City of Memphis began their drainage improvements on the West end of campus just in time for a busy Easter weekend. I pray that none of you had too much trouble parking. It seems that often our West parking lot fills first and thus there is typically overflow parking across Central and Goodlett. We understand the dilemma that parking can be at times on campus and we are encouraging the City's contractor to move as expeditiously as possible. On a positive note however, once the improvements are finished there is a net gain of parking on our campus. We will wait expectantly and patiently. The expansion of the B Building is nearing completion. Very soon our nursery will incorporate into its newly renovated original space, two new classrooms for further growth. These new classrooms will come online in the next few weeks and will provide additional relief to our overcrowded nursery. Additionally, we will soon be opening new offices for our staff above this new nursery space. Please pray for our staff as they take time out of their busy schedules to accommodate construction and several office moves. The wall is down! The temporary wall that once hid our construction has been taken down and the new gathering space has been revealed. We pray that this will long be a comfortable place for our members to gather, fellowship, and encourage and enjoy one another. Its proximity to the Library and Bookmark make it an ideal location for taking in a book and relaxing. As part of the construction of this space the Building Committee relocated what had traditionally been the handicap entrance to the B Building. In order to "reclaim" the square footage that was taken by the previous ramp, handicap entrances to the B Building were shifted to either end (East and West) of the North B Building parking lot at the Sanctuary and B / C connector doors. Automatic door openers are being installed in the coming weeks at both of these doors. The B Building North parking lot is being re-striped to shift handicap parking to the far West and East ends of this lot next to these two doors. We are also adding one additional handicap parking spot and one van accessible spot.

As you can tell there is a great deal of progress being made. I can't express how appreciative the Building Committee is for your prayer and support, it is humbling. I am reminded today of the theme of our campaign, Generation to Generation.

In this update alone we have covered the gamut of the generations at 2PC and how each has been and will be affected by what is happening. I can not help but think how much more our precious Lord ponders over even the tiniest detail of every generation that has come before us and every generation that is yet to come.

City of Memphis Begins Construction

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:18:16 CST

This Monday the City of Memphis will begin their drainage improvements to our campus. I have to admit that this will be the most disruptive part of this entire construction campaign. Beginning next week the existing west drive off of Central Avenue will be closed and traffic will have to come into campus from Central through the old CPC driveway just east of there. Traffic will flow across the old bridge in the old CPC parking lot and a new temporary drive will connect traffic to the existing driveway and the new CPC parking lot.

The City of Memphis is doing these drainage improvements to relieve flooding problems on the South side of Central Ave. The church and school will benefit through the use of a new soccer field that the city will construct. Additionally, it will relocate the current drainage on campus making way for the new F Building which will break ground in the coming months.

We understand that this is a huge disruption for the entire campus including the CPC and PDS. We will make every effort to make this as painless as possible and will work hard to keep you informed as to changes to any planning. We will be posting updates on the new web site that launched this week. The map that is below is available in larger form here.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and prayers during this amazing season of our life together at 2PC.

Patrick Nelson,
Building Committee Chairman

February Construction Updates

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:55:30 CDT

Today we celebrated the first Sunday in our new nursery. It was a personal joy to see months of hard work being celebrated and enjoyed by so many, especially our young ones. You no doubt have noticed that the new square footage is going up quickly and will be completed and added to the renovated nursery in the late Spring.

The Bookmark and pre-function space are progressing nicely and should open in the next few weeks. We have had a few items have longer than expected delivery times and are awaiting their arrival. We will keep you posted on the opening of this space.

As many of you noticed today there was some concrete poured in front of the activities building this past week. This is not a special parking space for Todd Erickson (sorry Todd). In order to make way for the new building on the west side of the activities building it is necessary to relocate the two existing cooling towers that provide air conditioning to our entire campus. It was also necessary to do this early in the process as the ambient temperature needs to be below 50 deg F as we will be without air conditioning for the week that they are being moved. The towers will eventually be located on the roof of the new building out of site, however in the interim it is necessary to find a temporary location for them that will not impede construction. Unfortunately the only location that allows for them to still be economically plumbed into the existing system is in the parking lot right in front of the activities building. The location is temporary and will be fenced and screened as much as possible.

You will also notice the activities pavilion being torn down in the next few weeks. This is the building on the Central driveway that is used to house field equipment. It will be torn down to make way for the construction of the new storm drainage on this end of the campus. The driveway from Central will be impacted minimally during this demolition.

We thank you all for your patience and understanding during this exciting season in our church life.

Patrick Nelson,
Building Committee Chairman

January Construction Update

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:30:25 CDT

I always enjoy the season immediately following Advent. The New Year is a time of planning, renewal, and anticipation for what is to come. 2008 will be just that in the life of our congregation at Poplar and Goodlett; and not just for construction. We will all witness major changes to our campus this year and enjoy the fruits of the projects that are nearing completion.

The Christian Psychological Center is enjoying their new space. It will be a place where God ministers to His flock for many years through this marvelous ministry. The renovated nursery, minus the new construction space, will open on Sunday February 3rd, on schedule. It has been magnificent to watch this space transform in the last few weeks. I truly can not wait to watch our little ones grow and flourish in this space. On that note, I want to take a moment to offer special gratitude to our nursery staff and volunteers, who have continued to love our children under difficult circumstances in the way only they can. The Bookmark and seating area will be completed in early February just a few weeks after the Nursery opens. The City of Memphis has awarded the drainage improvements to the West end of campus. Please offer praise for this answer to prayer. This construction will most likely begin in early February. Early in the Spring construction will begin on the PDS Early Childhood Center and Youth building.

Prayer Requests:
There are still hundreds of details to be worked out by our construction team before these projects kick off in the Spring. Please pray that God will continue to work through them and in the details. It is has been a joy to watch the pieces that He set into motion fall into place. Even when we try to control and plan for every contingency, there is always one detail that was overlooked, that He knew about, ordained, controlled, and provided for. Praise to our Lord who is in the details.

Matt. 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Patrick Nelson,
Building Committee Chairman

November Construction Update

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:09:20 CST

It is truly amazing how much can change in just a few short weeks. It was only a few weeks ago that we were celebrating God's provision for our campus. Since that time:

ALL of the demolition has been completed on both the North side of the B building and in the old nursery. We are currently making preparations to pour the foundation for the new part of the B building. The nursery has been successfully moved to the Fellowship Hall The program staff has done an amazing job of accommodating events in the gym The ramp on the North side of the B building has been infilled and is now one flat surface Many CC's have successfully moved to new spaces. Thank you for your avid support in this. Today you will notice that the Bookmark has closed temporarily but will reopen just after Thanksgiving in what is now the Christian Psychological Center lobby. The CPC is moving this coming Friday, November 16th to their new space, which is truly beautiful. Please Pray!We are asking for your prayers as we move forward. Renovation of the nursery and B building is proceeding on schedule, please pray that the contractor is able to continue on that schedule. The City of Memphis has successfully bid the drainage improvements on the campus. Those will come before the City Council soon for approval. We are praying for success in that venture.