Immaculata WebCam

2:45PM 7/16/09  The work goes on! At about noon today, Meier removed the metal tower cap and began the process of bringing down the bell-tower itself in stages. For the next couple of weeks, work will focus on cleaning up the site and moving the wall stones to their storage location on campus.

4:30PM 7/15/09  Half-way there!  Meier has eased the metal tower cap half-way off.  Tonight or tomorrow should bring it all the way off and then work can begin on the stone portion of the tower.

11:30AM 7/15/09  Meier has brought in a crane to approach the metal tower cap.  This morning has been occupied with set-up as Meier continues to work carefully around the vulnerable NE corner of the bell-tower.

TECHNICAL NOTE: Monday afternoon we reduced the resolution of the webcam image in order to allow more people to access the site.  Because of the dramatically increased traffic to the site this past week, a number of folks were unable to view the webcam at all.  Traffic this week is up 3,400%, with visitors from 54 countries and territories checking in!

8:00AM 7/15/09  Late morning and all afternoon yesterday were spent consolidating loose rubble and working on the "rock-pile-excavator-base".  Depending on how the early morning goes, today may bring another attempt at removing the metal tower cap.  Meier continues to work carefully around the vulnerable NE corner of the bell-tower.

10:30AM 7/14/09
No Activity this morning. Check back this afternoon!

LATE AFTERNOON UPDATE 4:15PM 7/13/09 
Today has turned into a prep day for approaching the tower cap.  Meier has been building a base that now stands as tall as the second story of the bell-tower.  There is now no set schedule for when he will begin pulling down the bell-tower itself.  As one of the engineers on our Building Committee writes: " Meier has been careful and prudent in his approach and accomplishment of the demolition, recognizing the potential impact the work could have on the rest of the site".

1:00PM 7/13/09
The Immaculata bell-tower is structurally very weak in the NE corner of the base. Meier is trying to work around this weakness to bring the tower down in sections rather than all at once: this has complicated his approach.

Monday morning, Meier has been working at building up the rock pile his excavator is sitting on so as to safely reach up to the metal tower cap. He will try to pull the cap today and then work on the tower bit by bit on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Check back for an update this afternoon.

10:00AM 7/09/09
Starting on Monday, July 6, Meier & Co. has taken down the back, side and front walls of the old Immaculata. Friday morning, the contractor is going to rig cables to the bell-tower and then at 2:00pm, CST, he is going to pull the bell-tower down. It will take up to three weeks to clean up the rest of the site.