Dojo Construction Photos
(click on the photo to see a larger view)

The following chronicles the construction of the Prairie Aikikai dojo in Sycamore, Illinois. In addition to continuing work by Jeff and Les (and others, as time permitted), we have hosted several "dojo building weekends". The last building weekend was held on June 29th and 30th. Since then the walls have been painted (on the main floor, at least), the carpeting is in, and we are getting ready to lay the mat! Scroll to the bottom of this list to see the latest photos!

	An exterior view of the proto-dojo, taken back in September of of 2000, before we even bought the property!
	A first major dojo building party (September 29-30, 2001). Several new windows (two downstairs, one upstairs, and a skylight), along with the HVAC ductwork, had been installed. Keith helps out with the placement of ceiling insulation.
	The upstairs crew (Dave, Paul and Kit pictured) did not have the benefit of a drywall lift, so that had to make due the old fashioned way.
	A consultation while insulating the upstairs (Dave, Tom, Paul and Amy).
	Sensei Jeff and Jim trying to figure something out (to this date, we still can't remember what it was)!
	Kevin and Aaron cut 6" insulation for the ceiling spaces.
	Sensei Jeff takes a lighter moment. Note the framed furnace room (back left), and all of the rolls of insulation stacked in front of that!
	Elton works on installing new decorative exterior lighting outside the front door.
	A consultation with the supervisory staff. Pictured are Dave, Dana, Daniel, Rachel and Elton.
	Still insulating upstairs (Kit and Dave). We had to installing foam venting to insure airflow through the narrow attic spaces above the second floor.
	Jim helping to put up drywall outside the furnace room just off the main mat area.
	Our second dojo building weekend was three weeks later (October 21-22, 2001). This is a view of the framed changing rooms upstairs. The "fog" is dust from cutting and mounting the drywall.
	Laura takes a turn at the screw gun, just inside the garage door off the mat area.
	Dave is helping to prepare a piece of drywall on the hoist. We eventually went through 118 pieces of 4' x 12' drywall!
	Inside one of the changing rooms, Jim works to secure some drywall to the ceiling. It was tight work, and we tried to do as much as possible in single pieces to reduce the amount of cutting!
	A long view of the "meeting area" part of the second floor. Again, drywall dust permeates all.
	This weekend's supervisory staff: Katie, Rachel, and K.C..
	Even with six screw guns going it still took a bunch of time! Laura and Keith working on the first floor.
	Mike working on a second of drywall. While the main floor's nine foot ceilings will be a plus come practice time, they did make putting up the drywall on the ceiling a bit of a chore.
	A view of the furnace room, with the furnace in and the drywall (mostly) up.
	This is from December 22nd. We realized that having a stairwell opening without a railing or wall next to it was asking for trouble. Rachel and Jeff decided a small wall was the best choice!
	A view down the short hallway leading to the two changing rooms (second floor). Almost finished putting the drywall on.
	The "mudding" part of the program is in full swing (February 23, 2002). Jeff is doing his best to make the weird angles upstairs look O.K..
	Rachel helps to clean up!
	April 11, 2002. The main floor is mostly mudded at this point. Note the few remaining sheets of drywall (foreground), and the 4' x 9' foam, stacked in the back. This will eventually be used for the mats.
	About this time we realized the only entrance to the sole bathroom was from the storage side of the building. A quick plan to expand the bathroom, adding a door and moving a sink, led to some additional framing.
	The plumbing completed in the new wall!
	Just in case you were wondering if there was a toilet in the place...
	A view up the stairs. The wall to the right is new (previously the staircase opened out on to the main mat area). This provides a little more privacy, and a little less vertigo.
	Two weeks later (April 21, 2001) we decided that there had been too much construction and not enough Aikido, so we too a few hours off for a special practice.
	This practice brought together the students from our NIU Aikido class with students from Bloomington and other places!
	Too bad we couldn't have done this at the new dojo! Soon, though!
	A group photo from that day.
	Back to the proto-dojo (May 6, 2002). Supervisor Rachel is examining the handiwork to date. View is from the furnace room across the mat to the garage door.
	Another view from the main door across the mat to the opposite corner. Note that all of the drywall (previously stacked on the floor) is gone.
	Looking at the furnace room, across the mat area, from the garage door.
	Again looking from the garage door, this time towards the front door (the stairs are behind the new wall). Les is trying to run out of the shot!
	Looking down the stairs from the second floor.
	The meeting area upstairs, looking from the changing rooms (Rachel is helping to keep that trunk firmly planted on the floor).
	The opposite view, looking at the stairs and the short hallway to the changing rooms.
	The inside of one of the changing rooms (not much to see, really, its too small for a good picture).
	Our next construction weekend was June 29 and 30, 2002. Goals were to install a stone pathway (from the two driveways to the main door), prime the first floor walls, and begin construction on the raised floor for the mat. Pictured are Keith and Paul preparing the band saw to cut foam blocks.
	We rented a sod cutter to remove the grass from the path (Jeff operating).
	Dave and Tom mark out lines for where the path should go (not that it went there, but we tried).
	Meanwhile, Rosalie and Laura are inside getting ready to prime the first floor walls.
	Professional kid-sitting services were provided both days by Dani. Pictured are Dani, K.C., Daniel, Rachel, and Dana.
	Cutting 600+, 4"x4"x"4 foam cubes required having a good surface on which to work with the 4'x9'x4" foam sheets. Keith and Paul constructing a raised platform for the band saw for just this purpose.
	The first part of creating foam blocks was reducing the 4'x9'x4" foam sheets into 4"x9'x4" strips.
	Aaron and Laura, inside working on the prime coat.
	Jenny and Carolina prime painting.
	Now the 4"x9'x4" strips are fed back through the saw to create the finished 4"x4"x4" cubes.
	It was a nice day, and the kids could only watch TV and play inside for so long. Pictures are K.C., Katie, and Rachel playing with the Rug Rats water toy.
	Dani watched, and Daniel and Dana eventually got into the fray!
	Daniel taking a break on the deck.
	Dana drying out from water fun.
	The stone blocks to be used for the path were stored in the back of the garage. A "fire line" was used to move them out to the path area.
	The path bed prepared, and the first few blocks paid into place.
	The "path crew" hard at work (Dave, Jon, Aaron, and Jeff). This is the next day (the 30th).
	After the foam blocks were all cut, they had to be glued to the 1/2" plywood 4'x8' boards. These boards had to be marked, first, to make sure the foam blocks were correctly and evenly spaced.
	Aaron, Jon, and Jim working on the path.
	Gluing the first foam blocks onto the plywood boards. Glue is applied to both block and board, allowed to dry, then heated (briefly, or the whole mess goes up in flames) and pressed together. Mike and Jim.
	The finished path.
	By Sunday afternoon we had had enough construction, building, digging and gluing. Out to the lawn for an hour or so of jo kata. Jeff is explaining a fine point of the 31-count kata, while Mike and Jim follow.
	Not quite sure what that last movement was ...
	OK, maybe we've got it now! Pictured are Jon, Aaron, Mike and Jim.