Out of the Slab and Into the Structure

June 9, 2026

What has the Dining House crew been up to this spring?

Following the pouring of the footings this winter, the team has since completed a raised slab foundation. Extensive rebar work, earthforming, and underground plumbing have all finished, with little in the way between now and framing. The foundation is now complete with 14 thin concrete piers, 3 feet away from the exterior walls, that will hold 4×6 columns. These uplift columns support the roof overhang and secure it firmly to the foundation, protecting against strong winds. Elsewhere, the Dining House team has explored the timber structure assembly through mockup trials. Rafters, a “sandwiched” assembly of 2x12s with a 2×10 in the middle, sit on a ridge beam, a sandwiched assembly of 2x16s and a 2×14 cut and milled from local lumber.

placing the ridge beam!
cutting the angle on the columns
fixing the rafters to the columns
the mockup with finished rafters in place
standing back to admire the work!
  • The mockup process has also helped the team refine their craftsmanship. By studying the trial assembly, they’ve learned:
    • how to cut precise angles accurately,
    • where precision matters most,
    • how to improve the final construction process before full framing begins.

It has been invigorating to watch the site transform. What once was a muddy puddle is now definitely beginning to resemble the Dining House. The mock-up provides a sneak peek at what’s to come. As the spring makes way for summer, the master planning around the Dining House is nearing completion, with a new parking lot laid. Major power and water lines are now rerouted. The slab has been stubbed up for electric and plumbing, and the team is connection those lines to existing water and power

This spring, the Dining House crew has made major progress on both construction and site infrastructure:

  • Foundation work is complete after winter footing pours. The team finished:
    • the raised slab foundation,
    • extensive rebar installation,
    • earthforming,
    • underground plumbing.
epoxying for the rebar
cmu block wall is in and ready to infill!
installing rigid insulation
infilling with engineered soil
running strings and digging for the plumbing + electric
checking our work on pressure tests
raking a nice layer of gravel over top
checking electric and placing outlet boxes
formwork and wire mesh in place!
heart glasses obviously! 😎
  • They also added 14 thin concrete uplift piers positioned 3 feet outside the walls. These will support 4×6 columns that anchor the roof overhang and help protect the structure from strong winds.
formwork ready for the concrete piers
adding a nice finish
taking formwork down!

Overall, the project has moved from a muddy construction site to something that is now clearly taking shape as the future Dining House.

slab being poured!
finished slab yay!

And we’ve made a few new friends along the way.