Construction is underway for the new house on Chase Street in Burlington.  The house will float above the ground on an exposed steel frame.  All of the concrete foundation work for the project is pre-cast.  The steel frame sits on nine pre-cast concrete piers, each of which weighs approximately 8,000 lbs.  The piers were set with remarkable precision by Island Excavating, each on a bed of compacted stone.  Underground utilities will run up into the building through pre-cast concrete vaults which will be insulated.  On-site excavation and foundation work has been kept to a minimum with this system.  In only three days of work, the holes for the piers were dug, the piers were set and back-filled, the mechanical vaults were set in place, and the steel frame was erected and bolted together.  The framing will begin this week (weather permitting) for the first floor deck and walls, which will be a conventional wood system.

Christian Brown Design is actively involved with Zoe’s Race, “making homes accessible”.  Erika Nestor, along with the Howard Center, has organized this annual race in honor of her daughter Zoe.  Proceeds from this race will be used to make homes in Chittendon County accessible for families with children who are physically-challenged .  All applications for this money are processed through the Howard Center.

We are currently working to help manage the application and construction process.  All applications for project funding from the first year’s proceeds are in.  We have visited the homes, talked with the families and are in the process of reviewing these applications with two local builders who have offered to donate their time, Mark Bonser and Mark Boudreau.  Construction of these first projects will take place this spring.  At the same time, we are helping to coordinate this summer’s race which will be held on August 29, at Oakledge Park in Burlington.

The Akley Road Barn is in the final stages of completion.  Exterior siding is done, and lighting was completed just today.  These photos show the completed exterior of the barn and the great effects of the lighting (lighting design by Tim Mathiesen).  The builder is Michael Wells, Wells and Company Builders of Putney, VT.  These images were taken by Michael Wells and Tim Mathiesen.