News

ACCELERATION OF “FINISHING TOUCHES” SAVES $1.0 MILLION

Over $1 million in savings was achieved on the Basilica restoration project by accelerating the $2.2 million “finishing touches,” or last part of the Basilica restoration, and overlapping it with the $5 million Basilica seismic retrofit. (The “finishing touches” include repairs to the exterior surfaces of the walls, buttresses, towers, and dome; completion of electrical and fire protection infrastructure; mechanical upgrades; new interior lighting and chandeliers; and modifications to common areas required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.)

The ‘finishing touches” work was scheduled to begin in about two years, following the seismic retrofit and the raising of the additional $2.2 million. However, by moving the “finishing touches” schedule forward in order to take advantage of existing seismic retrofit scaffolding and contractor infrastructure, plus optimizing the use of subcontractors for better overall project efficiency, a significant savings opportunity was presented.

In order to seize this opportunity, the Foundation had to quickly raise an additional $1 million at the beginning of this year. Thanks to a few very generous donors, the Foundation succeeded in raising sufficient funds by the end of January, enabling the “finishing touches” work to commence in February, thus saving over $1 million.

SEISMIC RETROFIT ON SCHEDULE

Meanwhile, the $5 million seismic retrofit project is on schedule and appears that it will come in under budget, thanks to the excellent work by the general contractor, Blach Construction, and the construction team. Over 300 steel rods have been inserted into vertical and horizontal wall cores and grouted into place, and roof trusses and beams have been strengthened. The weather protection structure has been removed, and the roofing tiles reinstalled. The Basilica is now three times stronger than before. Both the seismic retrofit and the “finishing touches” work should be completed about the end of April.

CORNERSTONE NEWSLETTER

The Cornerstone is the Carmel Mission Foundation’s periodic newsletter containing information on a variety of Foundation activities. The Spring 2013 issue highlights the savings of $1 million on the Basilica restoration, updates the status of the seismic retrofit, lists the names of all 2012 donors, and discusses the Foundation’s planned giving program. Additionally, there is a letter from the President and coverage of upcoming events for this year, including the celebration of the Tricentennial of Junípero Serra’s birth.

If you would like to receive the Cornerstone, join the Foundation’s mailing list by either contacting the Foundation Office or sending us an email with your name and address.

Cornerstone Archives

MEDIA COVERAGE

• Phase 2 of The Mission Retrofit To Begin Soon
  The Carmel Pine Cone – March 8, 2013
• Carmel Mission Restoration Nearly Complete
  Monterey Herald - March 7, 2013
• Mission Dome, Facade Next on To-Do List
  The Carmel Pine Cone – February 1, 2013
• Mission Conversion Focuses on Seismic Retrofit
  National Public Radio KAZU 90.3 – December 20, 2012
• Mission Foundation: Seismic work can’t happen quickly enough
  The Carmel Pine Cone – October 26, 2012
• Rehabilitating historical structures using laser scanning technology
  Homeland Security News Wire - October 16, 2012
• Interview of Vic Grabrian, Foundation President & CEO, on Seismic Retrofit
  Monterey Herald - October 3, 2012
• Seismic Retrofit underway at Carmel Mission
  Monterey Herald - October 3, 2012
• Lasers guide retrofit of Carmel Mission Basilica
  Monterey Herald – October 3, 2012
• Scaffolding in place for Mission roof re-do
  The Carmel Pine Cone – August 31, 2012
• Mission to get shrink-wrapped during retrofit
  The Carmel Pine Cone – August 17, 2012
• Carmel Mission Primed for Upgrade
  Monterey Herald - 8/11/2011
• Free Lecture by Author and Pebble Beach Historian Neil Hotelling
  SanJose.com - 2/14/2011
• Carmel Mission Then and Now
  Gentry Magazine - 11/2010
• Board OKs first phase of Mission preservation
  The Carmel Pine Cone  - 10/22/2010
• Mission Preservation will raise the roof
  The Carmel Pine Cone  - 7/9/2010
• Carmel's Historic Bells Reinstalled After Restoration
  Monterey Herald,  4/16/2010
• Historic bells back at the Carmel Mission
  Central Coast News,  4/15/2010
• From the Bells Down, Mission Restoration Effort Begins
  The Carmel Pine Cone  - 1/29/2010

PRESS RELEASES

• The Carmel Mission Foundation Elects Rich Pepe to Board of Directors – 10/1/2012
• Media Availability Day Planned for Carmel Mission Seismic Retrofit – 09/27/12
• Basilica Retrofit Begins – 08/30/2012
• The Carmel Mission Foundation Elects Victor Grabrian President – 02/15/2012
• The Carmel Mission Foundation Receives $10,000 Grant – 7/1/2011
• The Carmel Mission Foundation Announces Receipt of $70,000 Grant – 2/17/2011
• The Carmel Mission Foundation Receives $650,000 Grant – 6/9/2010

IMAGE GALLERY

• Images

VIDEO GALLERY

• Basilica Restoration - January 2013 (2:20)
• Time Lapse of Erecting the Weather Protection Structure (2:45)
• Exterior Condition of Basilica (2:08)
• Interview of Vic Grabrian, Foundation President & CEO, on Seismic Retrofit (3:23)