Landscaping the Park Side

The ground on the site was originally excavated to install concrete footings earlier this spring, so we had to start filling the earth back in adjacent to the market decking.

The ground was filled all the way into the edges of the deck, which will allow for a seamless transition from market floor to park floor.


Part of our design for the market was the sculpting of the earth. This picture shows how the levels of the ground change in relation to the market floor, giving interest to the park space and in this case, providing the stage with a bit of a boost above the regular ground level. This will be a great feature during the town's festivals and small concerts.

Since the market is being completed at the beginning of the summer, sod was laid down in order to provide immediately usable green space for the farmers and the customers. We also planted trees along the edge of Monroe.

A view of the market from the corner of Monroe and Main.

Market Ceiling and Lights

In order to transport and install all the roof sections in Covington without breaking the edge boards of the ceiling, the end pieces of the ceilings were removed for installation. This left space between each two roof sections where we needed to repair tar paper ripped in transport, as well as insert and secure the edges of the ceiling.

Blocking had to be made and inserted between the roof sections to allow for mounting the LED lights for the market, which were generously donated by Traxon Technologies.

After the blocking was inserted the ceiling piece for the edges of the sections were reinstalled. As a final touch, the lights for the market were installed in between the sections to allow for adequate lighting at night, as well as a great visual.

The final product is a sleek, finalized ceiling.

Finalizing the Market Floor and Details

We continued to work on the decking of the market to make the floor space usable for the opening market day.

It was difficult to coordinate the lengths of the boards and frames in our pre-fabrication facility, so all of the decking for the building was done on-site. The widths of the floorboards match up with the building's exterior cladding so that the size of wood used for the decking would continue up the side of the building.

The building wall that faces the market was painted with chalkboard paint so it could be used as a community message board for the farmers and townspeople.

The concept of the decking wrapping up to create form continues with the bench on the park side of the market.

Roof Installation Phase II

After successfully installing three of the roof sections on Wednesday, we spent Thursday and Friday completing the roof installation. Sections were hoisted into the air and positioned above their spots in the columns, where our studio worked together to get all the pieces in their proper places without any problems.

In order to help with the placement of the sections, we attached leashes to the sections before they went up so that we could use them to maneuver each roof portion into place. Some of the maneuvering required a lot of help, as can be seen by the above photo.

For the installation, one student had to be at each of the four columns that the new section would be arriving on to ensure that the roof sections were getting connected to the columns. Once the sections were in place we began to bolt them to the columns so that they could remain in place.

Titanium underlayment from each section overlapped onto another to prevent water leakage from section to section.

A view of the roof from inside the market space.

The roof was finished being fully installed on Friday evening. This photo shows the roof stretched along the length of the market space from Main St. where it meets Monroe.

Design/Build LAB on the news

On Thursday night's WSLS 5:30 news, design/build LAB's farmers market project was featured as one of the local news segments.

Click here to view the video clip.

Roof Installation Phase I

Roof sections were transported with the ceiling-side up, so before we could make any progress towards placing any of the sections, there were a few final steps that had to be taken. First, sections had to be flipped so that they were right side up. We used straps to attach to the crane to pull one side up, and then carefully lowered each section so that the roofing side would face upwards. We then applied waterproofing titanium underlayment. The underlayment will protect the roof sections from any rainfall or water penetration until the metal roofing is put on next week.

Once each section was fully flipped and protected, we reattached straps to the roof sections so that Smitty, our crane operator, could lift the sections and position them on site.

The roof group boys coming together to pray for the safe installation of their roof sections.

Three roof sections were up at the end of the day Wednesday.

Market Floor Installation Phase I

In order to keep the market floor sections square and rigid during transport, the decking frames were built and decked so there would be no compromising holes that would make the frame weaker. Before the market floor sections could be lifted into place on site, spaces for the column placement had to be cut out of the frames using a jig saw.

Frames were then strapped and moved from their original unloading spot on the MeadWestvaco lot to the Craft Shop's lot, where the crane was able to access them.

Each decking section was then lifted from the parking lot to the site over the columns that had already been installed. Smitty, our crane operator, was then able to position the sections for installation.

We raised one side of each deck to be able to move it in between the columns until the pre-cut holes were lined up with the columns. Smitty then lowered each deck so that we could place it properly.

The market floor currently stretches Main St. down to just before the building. Some decks will be built in-place on site to ensure proper alignment with the building's slab.

Ground Prefabrication Phase III

On Friday, May 13th, the decking sections for the market floor began to be moved from our prefabrication facility to the site of the Covington market.

Once the groups of sections were lifted from their original stacks, we had to guide them out to the loading area while the forklift carried the sections out.

Sections were carried and loaded three at a time. Straps were wrapped around the width of the section to hoist them into the air as they were guided onto the truck bed.

We were able to load twelve ground sections onto the truck. The twelve sections will make up six of the fifteen ten foot by approximately 30 foot sections used to make the market floor. An additional load of frames and deck sections were transported on Saturday.

Site Preparation Phase III

On Thursday, May 12th, the steel columns were delivered and installed on site in Covington. These steel columns will support the roof sections over the market portion of the site. Our on-site contractor worked to get the columns assembled and installed as soon as possible, so that it would not delay the progress of the rest of the project.

A view from the market manager's office to the site, before and after column installation.

Columns being installed to the concrete footings on site.

The columns installed on site at the end of the day Thursday.

Ground Prefabrication Phase II

In order to line up the decking pieces, finishing nails were used as spacers between rows of locust to keep consistent spacing throughout. Some of the wood was bowed or warped, so we had to use bow wrenches, ratchet straps, or clamps to line the pieces up properly.

Once the wood was aligned, we had to pre-drill holes in the locust to prepare for screws. Since locust wood is so dense, it was too difficult to screw directly into the wood without any preparation or guidance.

We used a screw gun to insert the screws into each decking piece. The screws attach the market floor to the joists beneath.

One of the final widths of decking pieces. Due to restrictions on transportation ability based on size, each market width had to be divided into two sections, which we framed and decked together for instillation on site. The market floor will consist of fifteen two-deck sections from Main St. until the Alley at the end of the property.

Building Prefabrication Phase III

On Monday, May 9th, the three building sections were transported from the prefabrication site in Blacksburg up to the Market site in Covington. Preparations had already been made on site for the building's arrival. The slab was poured to support the building as well as provide the flooring.

Each building section was build and loaded onto the transportation truck separately, and later hoisted into place over the prepared slab. Anchor bolts were installed during the pouring of the slab to properly attach each building to its location on the slab. We had to adjust the rooms as they were lowered so that the holes drilled aligned with the bolts already included in the slab.

The storage room of the market building installed properly on site.

A view from Monroe St. of two of the building sections after being installed on site. All three buildings are on site and ready for the finalizing of interior details.