This week has seen this phase of the construction coming to a close. The shade structure (we really need a better name for it!) completed and they have been working on the new demonstration table. Let’s take a look!

Picking up where we left off last week, the next step was to top those beams with more metal bracing and then start putting the first layer of boards between all those main beams.

Next was a layer of boards on their sides, with the ends cut decoratively. Every layer adds more shade!

Meanwhile they were trenching underneath to put in the electrical line to the demo table area. You know how sometimes it seems like everything can go wrong? Yeah…

Oops! Hit the main irrigation water line. This re-flooded the just-dried-out south lattice end of the garden, preventing additional work on the drainage lines and preparations for getting the pavers in.

Luckily that didn’t stop other work going on! The crew was on to the third and final layer of boards for the shade structure.

As the final touches were going on to the shade structure, they started work on the demonstration table. The concrete pad was scraped off to remove the mud from the last week, and they started bringing in the block.

They made quick work of the demo table! The red block matches the block on our building.

Taking a step back, you can see the full effects of the shade structure. It will be so much nicer to be under there for classes rather than out in the full sun!

Once they had the block laid for the demonstration table, they put up the frame for the concrete top of the table. If the table seems high, that’s because it is. It will be 42″ tall, and then a platform will be built behind the table to elevate the speaker a little bit to a comfortable height on the table.

This morning they poured the concrete table top. It looks very tempting to put a handprint in! (Yes, I resisted the temptation!)

Of course with the thunderstorm that went through last night, the southern end of the garden is pretty soggy again, continuing to delay fixing that water line, putting in the final drain line, and beginning the work of laying the pavers. UGH. It looks like it is supposed to be sunny and dry all next week, so we should make progress on the rest of it!