Purpose of the Project   Our furnace has just broken this past winter, and we need to either replace it or find an alternative in order to heat our 14 000 square ft facility.  As a board, for environmental, and efficiency reason, we have decided that we would like to carry our following projects and accomplish this in two phases.   The following is updates on the progess of the project thus far:   Alternative Heating Project – Atikokan Art Centre Dates covered by this report: January 1, 2006 – January 28, 2006   After the New Year holiday, the project got underway by laying the cement in the 8’ x 90’ hallway, and two rooms (14’x14’ and 14’ x 12’) which were previously prepared with Styrofoam, wrisbo tubing and wire mesh.   Hallway, Utility Room, Storage Room: The process of mixing cement began with bringing bags of cement into the large room that had the gravel and sand.  The township of Atikokan has been generous in lending us a cement mixer for use during the project.   Wood platforms were constructed for wheelbarrow and worker access. Cement was poured on the 8’ x 90’ hallway Cement was poured on the 14’x12’ utility storage room Cement was poured on the 14’ x 14’ rental room After the cement was dry, the floors were washed down several times and the whole area (floors and walls) was cleaned Painted doors that were shortened Painted cement floor in storage room Print Making Room (14’ x 23’) To prepare the print making room for the heat sink, the room had to be emptied of its contents Removed all baseboards and moldings Cut door frame and shortened door to allow for 6” rise (heat sink) Laid 2” Styrofoam (322 square feet) Put down wire mesh overtop Styrofoam to anchor tubing Put the ½” wrisbo tubing in place and fasten it to the wire mesh Constructed wood platform for wheelbarrow and worker access Poured cement floor After the cement dried, the floor was washed several times Washed walls Painted floor Painted door that was shortened Reinstalled room contents (equipment) Miscellaneous: Installed and painted door on boy’s washroom Installed light fixtures in back stage area Plumbed and installed washer in pottery room Installed hooks for towels in 2 showers There has been a delay in getting the 5 solar panels, although they have been on order since the project started December 1, 2005.  Israel Brubaker assures us that we will receive them shortly.  It is our intention to install the solar panels before the end of phase I of the project.  If we receive the panels too late for installation during this phase, they will be installed in phase II of the project. (April 18 – July 8, 2006). The workers have been kept very busy preparing and installing the heat sink in the lower level of the building.  We are getting as many of the floors done as possible with the sand and gravel that we brought into the building at the beginning of the project.  It is not possible to get more sand or gravel until spring, because of winter conditions.         Project Foreman - James Marohnic

Alternative Heating Project – Atikokan Art Centre Dates covered by this report: January 29, 2006 – February 18, 2006   Multi-Purpose Room (20’ x 24’) To prepare the multi-purpose room for the heat sink, the room had to be emptied of its contents Removed all baseboards and moldings Removed a ¾” wooden sub-floor on 2” x 4” joists Cut 2 door frames and shortened doors to allow for 6” rise (heat sink) Laid 2” Styrofoam (480 square feet) Put down wire mesh overtop Styrofoam to anchor tubing Put the ½” wrisbo tubing in place and fasten it to the wire mesh Constructed wood platform for wheelbarrow and worker access Poured cement floor After the cement dried, the floor was washed several times Washed walls Painted floor Painted doors that were shortened Reinstalled room contents (equipment) Miscellaneous: Cleaned up entire construction areas Reinstalled room contents in all rooms with new cement floors Took several trailer loads of garbage to the land fill site.   The four solar panels arrived late in phase I of the project, so there was not time to install them before Phase I ended.  Phase II is schedule to begin April 17th, 2006 and finishing July 8, 2006.  The workers’ enthusiasm and interest continued to the last day of this phase of the project.     Project Foreman - James Marohnic

Alternative Heating Project – Atikokan Art Centre Dates covered by this report: April 17, 2006 – May 13, 2006 (4 weeks)   Solar Panels: The four solar panels arrived late in phase I of the project, so there was not time to install them before Phase I ended.  At the beginning of Phase II (April 17, 2006) of the project the 4 solar panels were installed on the south portion of the roof.  In preparation for installations these steps were taken: Construction of wood frames for each panel Construction of metal frames for each panel Attached all frames to the roof in preparation for the panels Installed panels into their individual frames Attached wrisbo tubing to solar panels Cut through the roof and down 2 floors into the lower level Installation of eight water pumps in furnace room on lower level Put the wrisbo tubing through the opening in the roof and attached them to eight water pumps on the lower level. Made attachments from the eight water pumps to the hot water tanks. Hot Water Tanks: 2 – 30” x 10’ hot water tanks were installed in the lower level furnace room Bank of windows were removed in order to get the hot water tanks into the building. Replaced and repaired window frames after installation of hot water tanks Plumbing and connections to a portion of the tubing in flooring heat sink Hot water tanks were drilled to make accommodation for 30 valves and other hook-ups. Wood Working Room (25” x 30”) To prepare the woodworking room for the heat sink, the room had to be emptied of its contents Removed all baseboards and moldings Cut 2 door frames and shortened doors to allow for 6” rise (heat sink) Laid 2” Styrofoam (750 square feet) Put down wire mesh overtop Styrofoam to anchor tubing Put the ½” wrisbo tubing in place and fasten it to the wire mesh Constructed wood platform for wheelbarrow and worker access Preparations for pouring cement   Miscellaneous: In order to get sand and gravel into the building for cement mixing, one window (8’ x 7’) and part of a wall was removed in one of the lower rooms of the building. Bringing sand and gravel into the building (15 yards). Continual clean up of entire construction areas Because this is an active art centre, and many programs are held here regularly, daily building clean up has been part of the duties of the work crew. A start was made on preparation for the heat sink in the Pottery Room Took several trailer loads of garbage to the land fill site.   The workers’ enthusiasm and interest continue into this phase of the project.     Project Foreman - James Marohnic

Alternative Heating Project – Atikokan Art Centre Dates covered by this report: May 14, 2006 – June 10, 2006 (4 weeks)   Wood Working Room (25” x 30”) Poured 750 square yards of cement When cement dried, swept and washed floors several times in preparation for sealing and painting Replaced all moldings and baseboards   Pottery Room: (30’ x 40’) To prepare the pottery room for the heat sink, the room had to be emptied of its contents Removed all baseboards and moldings Cut 3 door frames and shortened doors to allow for 6” rise (heat sink) Laid 2” Styrofoam (1200 square feet) Put down wire mesh overtop Styrofoam to anchor tubing Put the ½” wrisbo tubing in place and fasten it to the wire mesh Constructed wood platform for wheelbarrow and worker access Poured 1200 square feet of cement When cement dried, swept and washed floors several times in preparation for sealing and painting Replaced all moldings and baseboards   Miscellaneous: In order to get sand and gravel into the building for cement mixing, one window (8’ x 7’) and part of a wall was removed in one of the lower rooms of the building. Began construction of insulated cargo doors for this opening in the wall. Bringing sand and gravel into the building (15 yards). Continual clean up of entire construction areas Because this is an active art centre, and many programs are held here regularly, daily building clean up has been part of the duties of the work crew. A start was made on preparing the Youth Centre Room for heat sink. Took several trailer loads of garbage to the land fill site.   The workers’ enthusiasm and interest continue into this phase of the project.         Project Foreman - James Marohnic

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