ALCC East Construction Progress

Tuesday, October 13th, 2008 - Dedication Day!

2008-10-15T17:00:00.001-07:00

The parking lot of the new school is packed for the day of dedication. Folks from both the Lutheran Homes Society and LHS Family & Youth Services, Inc. boards of directors were present for the affair, as well as employees and even the local media.

Steve Plottner, Assistant Director, offers the Second Lesson during the dedication ceremony, from Romans 11:33 - 12:5.

Monica Flory, Education Director, receives a plaque from Lutheran Homes Society's President and CEO, David Roberts, during the dedication ceremony.

Steve Plottner, Assistant Director, and Bruce Flory, program director at the Maumee Youth Center, are present for the dedication of the new school.

Steve Plottner converses with Kent Buehrer, president of the Buehrer Group and architectural designer for the new school.

Paula Nowicki, a local art teacher, poses beside one of the several murals she guided ALCC East students in creating. These murals were framed and are displayed in the cafeteria area.

Dr. Neil Norris interacts with James Roemer during the refreshments after the dedication ceremony.

Pastor Gerald Labuhn and his wife Ilean enjoy refreshments and converse with others after the dedication ceremony.

Harry L. Blackmon, Executive Director of LHS Family & Youth Services, Inc., and architectural designer Kent Buehrer, are interviewed by the local TV media covering the dedication ceremony today.

Dr. Neil Norris takes a closer look at one of the larger skylights in one of the classrooms as he tours the school after the dedication ceremony. Natural light has been utilized as a primary illumination source, and several of the classrooms were equipped with over-sized skylights.

From left to right, Amy Dougan, Steve Plottner, Kelli Ratliff and Harry L. Blackmon enjoy a friendly chat at the afterglow reception, after the dedication ceremony.

Lutheran Homes Society President/CEO David Roberts (center) shares a conversation with an unknown attendee and Nancy Wellman (right) at the reception after the dedication.

Another unknown attendee shares a quip with Pat Bolman, human resources director for LHS Family & Youth Services.

Karen Blackmon and teacher Bob Rose share a lighthearted moment and pause for a picture at the reception.

Sunday October 12th, 2008

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This blogger came by on a weekend day to check up on landscaping development. Grass is growing nicely on the grounds around the building. The official dedication of the building is coming up shortly, and the sprouting of flora is quite timely indeed.

Monday (Labor Day), September 1st, 2008

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The parking lots and drive ways are now coated with a glistening layer of asphalt. The fences have been completed around the perimeter of the playground area to the back of the school, as well. Although the grounds have been seeded for grass, intemperately dry weather has not provided the irrigation necessary to make it spout! Still, nearly one year after this project's genesis, evidence of overall project success is clearly visible.

A lone cat scurries to get away from this writer after examining the playground area for a potential meal or shady spot.

Reminiscent of a biblical "dry and thirsty land," this run-off drain is very dry and very empty. Forecasts for the week are in the 90's, with some scattered showers, however.

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

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On this parching-hot Wednesday (predicted high of 92 degrees), there is evidence that some of the landscaping has begun on the school grounds. Trees have been planted, along with shrubbery, and the mulch has been delivered to be spread in designated areas. The sidewalks on the side of the road have been installed, as well as the to the north side of the parking lot.

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

2008-07-07T05:08:00.001-07:00

Some additional work continues outside of the new school. Maintenance men Jim and Steve have completed a significant portion of the fencing off of a playground area to the back of the school. Their work has stopped to make room for the equipment necessary to lay a patch of asphalt near the back door of the gymnasium, and after that the fence will be completed. Work has also been started on laying the sidewalk along the front of the property.

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

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On this gorgeous Monday morning, greenery is beginning to peak out of the ground around the school, but much more appealing landscaping is planned once some other exterior construction is completed.

Maintenance man Jim Hayes (pictured on the right in the photo directly below this paragraph) works with his assistant, Steve Wesche (left), to put up the privacy fence that will establish the bounds for a playground area. Steve does "dual duty" as both a maintenance assistant and a front-line staff for the agency. Both of these gentlemen are familiar, friendly faces to the residents.

This blogger discovered therapist Kelli Ratliff working in her office this morning. It would seem she's made the transition into her new office rather nicely, and her new digs seem quite comfortable and "homey" for her young clients to relax and "be themselves" in.

Residents are busy painting murals which will be displayed in the school. Over the summer, residents from the Wynn and Oregon treatment facilities use the school building for "summer camp" and carry on their camp activities there.

Oooops! This blogger stepped out the wrong door from the garage, in his efforts to get back to his Jeep!

Sidewalks are works in progress out front of the school, running to the north and south along the property by the street.

Looking across the way to the south, construction continues on new additions to the independent living apartments, another Lutheran Homes Society project.

Monday, June 9th, 2008

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Below is a shot of the ground work for the new sidewalk which will run the width of the front of the property.

Below is a shot from the cafeteria.

Students have lockers assigned, so that they can store their personal belongings while at school.

The soft room below has a color monitor (pictured in the upper corner), from which staff can visually monitor the secluded resident.

Staff Nolan Hensel takes a moment to check his email. Nolan has been working on a project, to move privacy fence from the old facility in Unit Two (nursing home), to set it up in the back of the building to segregate off a playground area.

The new school now has the "lived in" look, having a few weeks of classes under it's proverbial "belt".

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

2008-06-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

The last few days of school are quickly fleeting, though students have occupied the school for only the last few weeks of this school year. Outside the building, the landscaping has yet to be done. The agency anticipates holding an open house reception later in the summer, once the landscaping has been finished, making the school a much more complete-looking and attractive package to present.

Friday, May 9th, 2008

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Today is MOVING DAY! Staff are busy boxing up items from the old school in Unit 2, loading it up, and then unloading it after the short 1/2 mile move. The day was perfect for doing the move, being sunny and mild.

Below, Harry and Karen Blackmon stand outside the new school, watching for the very late moving truck to arrive. For some reason, the movers seemed to have a pronounced proclivity for getting lost today. :)

Staff members Nolan and Amy take care of packing up computer equipment in the old school.

Teacher Bob Rose gives his old room one final "look-see" to make sure nothing is left behind.

School supplies are packed into the outer lobby of the old school, to be loaded on the moving truck when it finally gets here....(sigh).

Below is a view inside of the garage of the new school.

The padded panels leaning against the garage wall are being prepped to be mounted on the walls of the "soft room" or seclusion room.

Some of the old farming implements that remained in the barn are displayed where they can be seen, but not touched!

Below are four more shots of the cafeteria area.

Workers clean up small blemishes on the gymnasium floor.

The soft room walls are readied for those padded panels being readied in the garage.

Aimee Benevides applies some elbow grease to putting together some shelving units.

Therapists Laurie Nagle and Kelli Ratliff work on setting up their offices in the new school, with some help from Aimee Benevides.

New classrooms have plenty of storage space for teaching materials and classroom supplies.

Friday, April 25th, 2008

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On this overcast morning, rain seems to be impending in the skies. One noticeable difference as one looks over the construction site is the conspicuous lack of a construction trailer and heavy equipment. The grounds around the building have been graded off in anticipation of landscaping work to come.

The interior climate control system seems to be in place and working.

The next two shots below show the portals from which natural sunlight is channeled into the interior rooms. The first shot below is from a classroom and the next shot is from the ceiling of the gymnasium.

This "soft room" has it's solid door installed. This door is held by staff when seclusion of a student inside the padded "soft room" is necessary to keep him or her safe from doing self-harmful, aggressive or destructive acts. The window which will eventually be installed is made of shatter-proof glass, and it allows the staff to keep an observant eye upon the resident, and sometimes regardless of how agitated a student may be, it is comforting on some level to still be able to see a staff member's face and know they have not withdrawn themselves in the student's moment of need.

Below is a shot of the kitchen / food prep area of the cafeteria. The cafeteria main area continues to have a hint of the rustic feel that was in the original barn from years gone by.

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

2008-04-17T10:03:00.001-07:00

More interior work has been completed, including the installation of several doors and collapsible room dividers, and the floor of the gymnasium.

Below is a shot of the run-off pond.

Below, this blogger verifies that the rims are mounted at the correct height!

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

2008-04-10T11:57:00.001-07:00

This was a beautiful morning to be taking a gander at the new school's progress. The gymnasium floor is being laid, some of the carpeting has been put down in the classrooms, and significant progress has been accomplished on the interior of the cafeteria.

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

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Exterior work is significantly accomplished, and the focus is more on doing the interior finishing work. The walls have been painted, and now tile is being laid on the hallway and classroom floors.

Note on the floor in the next two shots, that tile is being laid over the bare concrete floors. These areas are cordoned off to allow the adhesive to dry under the floor covering.

Below is a shot of the main circuitry for the phones and internet systems that will make the facility "wired". Technology in this facility will be state of the art.

Upon entering the gymnasium, this writer was not cloaked in darkness for very long. Motion sensors activate the lighting in the classrooms and even the gymnasium immediately upon sensing that someone is moving into the vicinity.

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

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On this glorious March morning, one finds that quite a bit of interior work has taken place since last visit. Dry erase boards are up in the classrooms, much of the electrical and electronic wiring has been run, and the cafeteria is well under way.

The shot below is of the outside of one of the cool down / soft rooms. Note that staff have access to a video monitor in the cool down area, to visually supervise what goes on inside the soft room when the door needs to be closed and an out-of-control student requires seclusion. Cameras and microphones record all that goes on in both the cool down and seclusion areas, and outside an "In Use" sign is lit to indicate to others when the room is being used, so that staff do not barge into a crisis situation with another student who may be experiencing difficulties.

Below is a shot of a cluster of bathrooms in one centralized area, including one handicapped-accessible bathroom on the left side of the picture.

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

2008-03-03T06:27:00.001-08:00

Quite a bit of the interior painting has been done, and the steel frames around many of the interior windows have been masked off for their own coating with paint. The interior is looking more and more like a school every day.

Below is a shot of the new construction of additional independent living apartments for one of LHS's complexes just south of the school.

One of the many safety features employed in caring for a behaviorally and emotionally challenged population is a video camera. Video cameras are positioned at strategic locations throughout the building, and video feed is stored on a web-based system which is accessible only to those with proper security clearance. Video helps protect both the residents and the staff.

Thursday, February 14th, 2008

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On this bright, sunny winter day, the reader can see that quite a bit of exterior work has been done. Inside, the cinder block walls have been painted a pale yellow. Interior work on the barn / cafeteria continues as well.

Happy Valentines Day from the LHS staff!

Below is a shot from the outside of one of the "soft rooms". When students become angry and lose physical control, one of the safe alternatives for them is to let out their aggression in a room with sufficient padding on the walls and floor to keep them from injuring themselves. The very back room in this shot will be the padded room, and the closer space will be the "cool down" room, where a student can sit and process with a staff member once they are deemed sufficiently safe to exit the "soft room". When the rooms are complete, a heavy, padded door will separate the two spaces. The school has two such "soft rooms" situated side by side in this hallway.

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

2008-01-31T12:29:00.000-08:00

It is a cold January morning as work continues at ALCC East. The interior of the barn has come a long way, as shown in shots below. The exterior of the barn has been covered, and prepped for facade to match the rest of the building. Most windows and doors are in place.

The shot immediately below is from the perspective of standing at the corner of Wheeling and Seaman, looking south at the campus.

The image immediately below is of a portable furnace. Several of these are positioned around on the inside of the building to heat the work areas. Temperatures dropped to 0 degrees F this week, and were "warming" (euphemism) into the 20's at the time these shots were taken.

Below are shots of the interior of the old barn, which is being made into the cafeteria area. The interior woodwork has been rough finished, the heating ducts are being run, and some of the wall studs are in place.

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

2008-01-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

Construction continues on a bleak January day. Some of the outer facade is up, and many of the windows and doors are already in place. The main furnace is installed, and smaller peripheral furnaces await installation. The outside work on the barn seems to be moving along.

The perspective on the shot below is looking south from near the corner of Seaman Street and Wheeling.

Below is the main furnace, set up in its designated room within the main building.

Below is a shot of the gymnasium, with the huge cylindrical air ducts awaiting placement overhead.

As the reader can see from some of the pictures just above, the grounds around the back and south side of the school have been rutted by the tires of heavy construction equipment. Recent snowfall camouflages shallow mud puddles within the ruts. This blogger happened upon several of these hidden hazards while trying to get an optimal angle for camera shots. Fortunately, the Oregon Treatment Facility was right around the corner, and Program Coordinator Sharon Abdo was available to assist this blogger with a paper towel or two for clean up! Thanks, Sharon!

Monday, December 31st, 2007

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The work site was quiet on the last day of the year...but much progress has been made toward completion of the project since it began. At present, much of the electrical and duct work has been put in place; the gymnasium has its roof started, and interior walls are being erected. The parking lot to the front also has a layer of asphalt laid down.

Wishing you all a happy New Year from LHS staff!

The perspective below is looking south from the corner of Seaman and Wheeling.

The perspective below is looking southwest, from the campus of the new school toward the Luther Hills complex. Some work is being done on the basketball court.

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

2007-12-21T06:38:00.000-08:00

Only a few more days left before Christmas, and work close to wrapping up for the holiday. Electrical wiring and Internet cable is progressively being run through conduit. The outside of the barn is being prepped for the application of the facade, to match the rest of the exterior. Heating/cooling duct is also being positioned for eventual connection to the environmental control system. Things seem to be progressing nicely.

Merry Christmas from the LHS staff!

Pictured below is the beginnings of an outdoor basketball court, which lies west of the barn.

Wednesday, December 5th, 2007

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This is the first day of snowfall accumulation, with temperatures in the 20's.

The shot below is looking south at Luther Hills independent living apartments.

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

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Temperatures have dropped into the 30's and lower, and snow is impending! Exterior work continues, as sidewalks, roofing and facade work go into place. Inside, interior walls are going up and electrical wiring is being run.

Friday, November 16th, 2007

2007-11-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

The "Indian summer" weather seems to have come to a close, and the temperatures are dropping into ranges more characteristic for late fall. The roof has been erected on the gymnasium, and the interior of the old barn has been stripped and "de-fested", readying it for finishing. The interior walls of the classroom section of the building are in place, and some of the exterior decorative features are beginning to show up.

This first shot is of the driveway that enters the grounds on the south side of the property, and leads up hill to a larger parking lot behind the school building. Much of the grassy hill that sat between Luther Hills and the school has been excavated.

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

2007-10-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

The foundation where the barn formerly was situated has been removed, and workers are in the process of leveling this ground off. One worker pointed out to this writer that after the foundation was removed, they discovered that a spot of ground under it was particularly soft, and would require being "firmed up" with more solid sediment or gravel. The reader can see this "soft" area in the first picture, where the tire marks are more pronounced in the ground. Otherwise, the project is moving along, with roof trusses going up on the gymnasium, and walls going up in the inerior classroom areas.

2007-10-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

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The gymnasium floor has been poured, and the walls are complete. The walls of the classrooms are going up and pretty soon they'll be ready to pour those floors as well.

This shot is view in through the back door of the gymnasium.

This shot is looking down the hallway of the classrooms.

This is the back side of the gymnasium.

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

2007-10-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

It's a bit of a rainy day again. The walls continue to climb, and the floor is solid in the barn and the classroom spaces.

Sunday, October 14th, 2007

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Remember way, way back on September 20th, when I posted a picture of this plaque shaped like the state of Ohio, that was left laying in the old barn? Well, here's an update on the particulars about that plaque. I received an email from Pastor Gerald Labuhn, who wrote the following:

"Scott, The Maverick sign is from a saddle club for which I and Roy Riegle, who lived in the farm house, served as sponsors and advisors. As Maverick advisor I also preached for 25 years at the Lucas County fair for a "ride -in"church where saddle club 4-Hers worshipped on horseback. Pastor Labuhn"

Here's the picture again, just for reference. Thanks so much for the info, Pastor Labuhn!

Thursday, October 11th, 2007

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Today is a bit of a dreary day, and temperatures have begun to drop back to a more suitable range for Fall.

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007

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The building is taking on more shape, and the interior structure is being set into place. Doorjams begin to demarcate where classrooms will be. The heating pipes are laid in the floor of the barn/cafeteria, soon to be covered with concrete. The high walls of the gymnasium are nearly complete, as well.

Monday, October 8th, 2007

2007-10-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

The weather over the last few days has been gorgeous, and the temperature has been in record-breaking territory for this time of year, hitting a high of 90 degrees today!

Heating for the cafeteria will be accomplished by running heated water through piping in the concrete floors, from which it will radiate upward. Here the pipe is being positioned in the floor prior to being covered with concrete.

Thursday, October 4th, 2007

2007-10-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

Construction continues, as the walls begin to ascend, electrical conduit is laid into the floors, and the building begins to take shape.

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007

2007-10-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

We've had a few days of rain, and the construction site is a bit muddy, but work goes on. While the walls of the gymnasium and classrooms go up, workers continue to prep the barn to be lowered into position on the foundation.

This is a shot of the former floor of the barn on it's old location...looks sort of lonely without the barn on it anymore.

Friday, September 28th, 2007

2007-10-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

Historic day! The barn is being moved from where it's sat for many a year, to its new location and new foundation. Construction simultaneously continues to move forward on the remainder of the building site as well.

Iron girders are positioned under load-bearing points, the barn is hoisted up intact, and trollied across the ground, finally being turned 90 degrees and rested on its new foundation. Lutheran Homes Society and LHS Family & Youth Services employees turned out to spectate the event.

Friday, September 21st, 2007

2007-09-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Work continues on the foundation of the building.

While surveying the project site for signs of progress to publish on this blog, this writer noticed that, at the end of the day, the construction workers left and neglected to close the overhead door to their tool crib trailer. Pictured here is Lutheran Homes Society's Mr. John Henry, who also was on the site inspecting the progress, and who took it upon himself to protect the investment of both the construction company and LHS, by closing and locking the tool crib door, and contacting the contractor to apprise them. Way to go, John!

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

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The trenches dug for the foundation are being filled in with steel-reinforced concrete.

A quick look into the barn found this relic resting against the wall. If anyone recognizes what this may be, email this writer at scottknapp@familyandyouth.org.

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

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Construction personnel have leveled off the property where the new structure will sit, and work has begun on the foundation. Shown below is a shot of the leveled area.

To the north of the building site will be a small drainage pond, where water run-off will spill into, and alleviate excess drainage into the ditch behind the property. This is another aspect of the "green" construction efforts employed in this project.

The far end of the next three shots shows the spot where the barn will be moved to, from its present location. Harry Blackmon walks the site frequently to check things over and ensure the project is progressing expeditiously!

The trenches have been dug around part of the property, into which concrete will be poured for the foundation.

Harry stands at the front of where the new gymnasium will be constructed.

Saturday, September 15th, 2007

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Here are some photographs provided by Harry Blackmon, showing the demolition of the farm house and some of the outer buildings that used to stand on the property. This demolition took place earlier this year.

Friday, September 14th, 2007

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Below is a shot taken from the perspective of the Luther Hills independent living complex, which is located up the hill south west from the school site.

More land has been cleared on the north side of the school site.

Pre-Construction Plans and Construction Pictures from 09/12/2007

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Here are some shots of the pre-construction plans from the architects. One shows the overall layout of the corner property, and the other shows the conception of the building once it's done. The rest of the pictures are of the builders leveling the topography and readying the barn for the planned relocation later this month.

Here are some shots from the construction site, mainly the barn that is to be moved later this month (September 2007) and turned into the cafeteria.

2007-09-13T08:58:00.000-07:00

For several years, the Alternate Learning and Career Center East has been located in the Unit 2 space of the Lutheran Homes Society's nursing home at the corner of Seaman and Wheeling streets in east Toledo, Ohio. This school is operated as a tandem effort beteen Lucas County and LHS Family & Youth Services, with the County overseeing admission to the school, providing the teachers and setting the curriculum. LHS contributes an Educational Coordinator and teacher aides. The facility has a successful track record of providing appropriate educational and behavioral services to behaviorally challenged children and youth, who come from both from LHS treatment facilities and the community at large.

Prior to locating in the Unit 2 wing of the nursing home, the school was operated on the premesis of one of the LHS group homes on Wynn Road. When the success of this program necessitated more space, Unit 2 was renovated into classroom space. Once again, a successful venture has borne fruit and creating room for expansion is imperative.

For a number of years, Lutheran Homes Society has owned the property on the south-western corner of Wheeling and Seaman streets, upon which sat a farm house and barn. Only recently was the farmhouse vacated and torn down, with the barn being the only remaining vestage of a once active agricultural venture. Local historians have dated the construction of the barn at around 1860.

It is on this site that LHS Family & Youth Services is overseeing the construction of the new facilities for ALCC East. In fact, not only will this be a new school, but practically a whole new breed of buidling. Harry L. Blackmon, MS, LPC, the Executive Director of LHS Family & Youth Services, recently explained to this writer that the building will incorporate the latest in "green" technology, surpassing the requirements of Federal guidelines and setting a new precedent for energy conservation and efficiency. Many of the building materials are manufactured from recycled matierials, and much of the lighting will be natural light through skylights in the ceilings. Heating and cooling will be provided by energy efficient heat pump technology. As news of this project has spread, it has drawn the interest of "green" advocates from around the nation.

One of the more unique features of this facility will be the incorporation of the "old" with the "new." Mr. Blackmon pointed out to this writer that the construction plans include using the original 1860 barn structure as the cafeteria space! The structure as it sits now on the property will be picked up and moved about 100 feet, and repositioned to be alligned with the new construction. Of course, the structure will need to be "de-fested" of the elements that characteristically make a barn a "barn" (i.e., rodents, birds, manure, dust, mold, etc.), and then the wooden beams will be properly sealed and preserved. While the outside of the barn will be fully and covered with a facade similar to the rest of the building, the interior will display the rustic wooden beams exposed in all their historic splendor.

If this technique rings a familiar bell with the reader, it may be because the reader has previously eaten at The Barn restaurant, outside of Archbold, Ohio, near the historic Sauder Village Museum. Many years ago, industrialist/philanthropist/historian Erie Sauder moved an entire barn, structurally intact, across fields and byways of eastern Indiana and northwestern Ohio to the present location, sat it down on a new foundation and embued it with culinary purpose. In a similar fashion, Mr. Blackmon and Lucas County will be embuing the1860's relic at the corner of Seaman and Wheeling with both academic and therapeutic purpose.