Yesterday during studio we worked in the shop to begin pre-fabrication of our columns. Since we only had 20 pieces of our 12′ 3×8 glulam members, we worked on cutting our B and C column groupings. Also, I worked on setting up a jig for the holes that need pre-drilled for our bolts to go through one glulam member + steel tube + another glulam member. These hole locations need to be very precise to ensure that there is a smooth connection between all three members. The jig is made up of three sheets of plywood, screwed together and marked precisely with small drill holes that will help us mark the exact location of the drill holes for the columns.
Also, on site for the past week we have begun our fabrication on site of the foundation parts. We spent many hours cutting and bending rebar to the specific dimensions for our foundation reinforcement. Once all 114 pieces of 20′ long rebar were cut to their length and bent to their unique specifications, Griffin and I worked to assemble the rebar cage that will sit in the foundation below the fireplace and tie into the CMU that runs through the inside of it for structural stability. Once that was completed, we tied together all of the J-formation rebar pieces where they needed to be tied. Now all of the rebar is perfectly ready to be placed into the foundation once all the digging is completed.