Crane Pick on the Horizon: Week 9 Construction Update
Nine weeks into the Tomorrow First HVAC project, the work is visible in almost every corner of the building. Copper piping gleams above the first floor hallway near the offices. Ceiling grid and tiles continue to return in Hess Hall and the second floor rooms. And a landmark moment is now just one week away: next Tuesday, April 28, a crane will deliver and set the new chiller and ERVs (energy recovery ventilators) on the roof.
What's Happening
This week the team begins removing the existing air handling units from the "Room to Nowhere" above the stairwell. New equipment arrives on Thursday and will be staged in the nearby hallway over the weekend, ready for install next week. Ductwork installation continues on the first floor and in Rooms 205–208 on the second floor. Mechanical room and basement piping is advancing, and insulation and electrical rough-in continue throughout the building.
You may have noticed one small change already: the double water fountain on the second floor was removed to make room for new equipment. It was broken anyway, so the timing worked well. We can revisit whether to install a replacement once construction wraps.
What to Expect
The biggest item on everyone's radar is the crane pick next Tuesday, April 28. For maximum safety, no one will be in the building or around the work area during the pick, which is expected to take about half a day. Staff will share more specific timing and zones as we get closer. Scaffolding will also go up around one of the sanctuary air handling units the week of April 27 and will remain in place for a few weeks. It will be very noticeable outside the sanctuary, a visible sign of the work underway.
Construction continues Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Hess Hall remains available for Wednesday evening activities, with scissor lifts moved out each Wednesday morning. Thank you for your patience with the hand fans on warmer Sundays.
Looking Ahead
After the crane pick next week, the major equipment of the new system will be in place. From there, the focus shifts to final connections, insulation, and controls. Vertical stack fan coil units are expected to ship on May 12. Rooms 209–216 ductwork begins the week of May 4.
By the Numbers
As of this week, 112 households have committed to the Tomorrow First campaign, with $1,845,013 pledged and $906,486 received toward our $1.75 million goal (52% received). Every gift, whether given online, by mail, or in the offering plate, moves this project forward.
How to Give
Give online at mcphersonfirst.org/give (select "Tomorrow First"), by mail to 1200 E Kansas Ave, McPherson, KS 67460, or place gifts in the worship offering plate marked "Tomorrow First."
As the crane rises next Tuesday to place the heart of the new cooling system on the roof, it carries the prayers, generosity, and vision of this congregation. God continues to be faithful through every phase of this work, and we are grateful to be moving forward together.