Our P
a
ssi
on is Buildin
g.
®
4
t's not often a Rodgers project
team gets serenaded, but that's just
what happened at the topping out
ceremony for Charlotte's Trinity
Episcopal School on December 12.
Students at the K-8 school sang a
song as part of the ceremonies, and
included Rodgers' workers in their
verse (see box).
Since Trinity's 235 students have
attended classes in temporary
modular buildings for more than
two years, the children, teachers and
parents are excitedly watching the
construction progress of the
school's first
permanent
building.
The first phase
of construction
is a 77,500-
square-foot,
three-story, steel
frame, precast
and masonry
clad building
with classrooms,
administrative
areas, and cafeteria. Phase One also
includes an 18,000-square-foot,
two-story gymnasium with a
running track suspended above the
floor.
Construction began in April 2002
and is scheduled for completion in
summer of this year. Trinity's
enrollment capacity will increase to
400 students when the project is
complete.
An "A" From the Headmaster
The Reverend Doctor Louis
("Smokey") Oats, Trinity's
headmaster, was extremely
complimentary of the Rodgers
team. "They've been spectacular.
They've been considerate of us and
our program at every stage, and
their quality is stellar." Oats cited as
one example the willingness of the
Rodgers team to wait until the first
day of school to re-pour some
cracked concrete in a sidewalk.
"Their willingness to do this
allowed every student to put his or
her handprint in the fresh concrete
and to feel like a real part of the
new school."
The Trinity Team:
Donald Alston
Mark Cassel
Ryan Duke
Jill James
Bonnie Jones
Jeff Lambert
Randall Marin
Britain Means
Eric Reichard
Jennifer Trevisol
Lesa Walker
Topping Out Inspires Song
I
The children sang this song
at the topping out:
We're building a school
It's not just a school
For it soon will become Trinity.
It's you and it's me
Yes, that is the key
For together we're building a school.
Construction workers and teachers are we
Students and Father Smokey
Parents and friends and family we
Building our school Trinity.
Above: Topping Out
portrayed by a
Trinity student.
Left: Students
participate in
Topping Out.
Below: Rodgers
team members
help students put
their personal
marks on the
sidewalk, and
rendering of
Trinity Episcopal
School.
Information for this article submitted by
Britain Means, Assistant Project Manager.
"The Rodgers team has exhibited
great flexibility and sensitivity
to the fact that we're a school
and that our kids want to be
engaged in the process."
Reverend Doctor Smokey
Oats,
Trinity Headmaster.
Dear
Construction
Workers,
Thank you for
the totally
fantastic, out-
of-the ordinary
school. It is
wonderful!!!
Mrs. Curry's
Fourth Grade
Class
