Another milestone in construction of the observatory has been reached. We’ve poured concrete and set the first course of block for the footings. The work was done on Friday, January 9th 2009. The day dawned bright and clear. Not too cold or too warm, in the mid 50s with a good breeze.

The steel for the foundation had already been set. (Click on any picture to go to the gallery. It won’t open a new window this time.)

There is a solid set of steel in the pier footing.

The cement truck arrived with 5.5 yards of concrete, about 21,500 lbs worth. We needed a cement pump to get it into the footings. Here the crew fills the pier footing with cement.

Here the first course of blocks is set on the pier footing. All the footings, including the pier footing, will get another course of blocks. The pier will be filled with additional steel, then filled with concrete. To sonotubes of concrete will bring the footing to the level of the observatory floor.

Work is done for the day. Here is a panorama of the completed first set of blocks for the footings.

A view looking east.

There are more pictures in the Construction Gallery. Check them out!