ECC Construction Update 6.30.2025

Updates from the Etna Center for Community

Weeks of June 1 - June 30, 2025

Above. New floor slab and walls at the Basement Level.

Throughout June 2025, Volpatt and their subcontractors transformed the Etna Center for Community (ECC) Basement from a dirt floor and open volume into a nearly finished space with defined rooms for future use. The initial phase included excavation for concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall footings and the placement of reinforcing steel. Concurrently, Veterans Plumbing Services advanced plumbing rough-ins, installing pipework for seven new floor drains and preparing for the installation of a sump pump.

Constructing underground plumbing and preparing for new wall footer construction.

1. Future wall for Basement Stair, footer in progress.

2. Future wall to support new Entry Vestibule, footer in progress.

3. Underground piping sleeve at new footer.

4. Future column footer and walls to enclose Electric Room.

5. Excavation for future sump pump basin.

6. Future wall for Basement Stair, footer in progress.

7. Piping for future floor drains.

Once underground plumbing and footer preparation were complete, Joseph Testa Concrete Contracting mobilized to pour the Basement Level footings. Plastic-state concrete was transported from the mixing truck into the building via wheelbarrow through the Butler Street entrance and poured into place through a wooden trough from the First Floor to the Basement Level. After footings had cured, a gravel base was spread across the Basement Level floor, and steel reinforcing mesh was installed in preparation for the future concrete slab.

As part of quality control, each concrete pour was reviewed by Artuso Construction Engineering Consultants. Inspection reports were submitted to the Etna Community Organization, Volpatt Construction, and the consultant team to ensure adherence to design specifications and maintain construction quality throughout the process.

Constructing the basement wall footers and new basement slab. Photos by Ken Betts.

1. Joseph Testa Concrete Contracting delivered concrete for the future slab.

2. Volpatt constructed a wooden trough to funnel concrete to the Basement Level.

3. Concrete pouring from the First Floor to the Basement Level.

4. Freshly poured footer for Basement Stair wall.

5. Rebar installed in footer, ready for CMU block installation at Basement Stair wall.

6. Gravel base and first course of CMU Basement Stair wall.

7. New gravel base and future column footer formwork.

8. New gravel base and steel reinforcing mesh prepped for concrete slab..

9. New gravel base, steel reinforcing mesh, and floor drain.

10-13. New concrete slab curing.

14. Power trowel used for final finishing of the concrete slab.

With the footers and slab completed, the Basement Level was prepared for CMU wall installation. Marsa (masonry subcontractor) completed the block work for all walls.

Constructing the Basement Level walls. Photos by Robert Tuñón and Ken Betts.

1. Ken Betts supervising delivery of CMUs.

2. First course of CMUs set for Basement Stair wall.

3. First course of CMUs set for new Entry Vestibule wall.

4. Marsa masons laying block for the future Water Service room.

5. Rebar reinforcing CMU walls.

6. Marsa mason grouting cells of CMUs.

7. Marsa mason cutting CMUs to desired size.

8. Marsa mason scooping grout for CMU cells.

9. CMU cell grouting in progress.

10. New CMU walls under construction for Electrical Room.

11. New CMU walls under construction for Entry Vestibule.

12. New CMU walls under construction for Basement Storage room.

In addition to the Basement Level wall construction, Marsa also worked on the First Floor to infill former chimneys and areas where deteriorated brick had been removed. Matching the color and size of the infill brick to the existing masonry was not critical, as these walls will not be visible in the final construction. However, the work is structurally significant because these perimeter brick walls are load-bearing and support the upper floors.

1-5. Brick repairs at the First Floor level. by Marsa. Photos by Robert Tuñón and Ken Betts.

At the biweekly Owner-Architect-Contractor meetings, Sara Chodkowski of GBBN assisted our ownership group in selecting a deep blue color for the window frames and storefront. Deep blue has long been associated with the Borough of Etna, and incorporating it into the storefront and window frames will help make the building more welcoming and distinctive - offering a more colorful alternative to the standard frame colors like white, silver, brown, and black.

Above. Sara Chodkowski of GBBN used a RAL color chart deck to present window and storefront color selections.

Advancing future framing efforts, Chris Davison of Volpatt Construction worked to mark out the wall locations on the Second and Third Floors. Orange spray was used to indicate where new walls will be constructed.

1-2. Layout markings for future wall locations.

With the floor layouts completed, Volpatt Construction began cutting through the existing flooring and framing to create openings for future stairwells. Fall protection was installed around all new floor openings to ensure jobsite safety.

1-3. Floor openings where future stairs and mechanical shafts will be constructed.

We held two Owner-Architect-Contractor meetings in June 2025 to review project progress: June 6th and June 20th. Attendees included Volpatt's Project Manager Allison Sachs, Superintendent Ken Betts, and Principal Michael Volpatt; GBBN Architectural Designer Sara Chodkowski; and representatives from Etna Community Organization and Etna Borough: Megan Tuñón, Bridget Barrett, Veni Mittal, Mary Ellen Ramage, and me, Robert Tuñón.

At the close of the month, we executed Application for Payment No. 3, documenting that 10% of the work had been completed and stored to date, with a value of $186,459.30.

Future work anticipated:

• Completion of the Basement Level's CMU wall construction.

• Construction of three-story scaffolding for facade restoration.

• Begin facade restoration.

• Begin interior wall framing.

• Infill the rear Courtyard with new gravel.

Photo credits: Robert Tuñón unless otherwise noted.