Thursday, 19 January 2012 14:45

By Christopher M. Riggs

Work crews began pouring the concrete floor in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception last week.

As they finish the floor and steps, they are preparing the church for the paint crews that will arrive in mid-February. The decorative painting will begin on the inside of the central dome of the Cathedral after scaffolding is assembled under the dome, which is 94 feet above the floor.

Patty Zimmerman, a representative of the Chicago office of Evergreene Architectural Arts, said their work will take about eight months. She anticipates a completion date for their artwork by September.

Chris Baalmann, project manager for Simpson Construction Service, said the balcony area, which is being brought forward and expanded, is still in the structural phase. “We are putting in the wood joist and rebuilding the wood floor,” he said.

Work is in full swing underneath the Cathedral, as well. Baalmann said workers are installing new ductwork and are running new hydronic lines in the space.

The slab for the gathering space just east of the Cathedral has been poured, he said, and structural steel was to have been trucked in this week. “We will start erecting that on the north side first, which is the two-story side, and we will be working our way south.”

Mechanical work in the basement under the gathering space is about 55 to 65 percent complete, Baalmann said.

Crews began pouring footings at the entrance of the St. Joseph Pastoral Center last week and masonry work will follow. The new entrance will have an elevator with access to all three floors.