Prefabricating roof trusses for the C residence using steel studs.

View from the utility easement south of the site, looking north toward Sterling Forest Lake (Blue Lake). As many as 13 cranes have been in operation at the same time. In the foreground, concrete for the foundation of the B residence is being poured and finished.

Steel beams and columns are ready to be installed. The structural-steel design used in the Offices/Services Building allows for large, open floor-plans and an expedited construction schedule.

Workers assemble the prefabricated roof trusses, covered with metal decking and a waterproof membrane, into a full-width module for the C residence. Behind and to the left, a half-width module is being built.

Contractors install steel beams near the southwest corner of the building. This section of the building will house the kitchen, dining room, laundry, and other support departments.

A hand broom is passed to a worker who is installing sanitary drainage fittings.

This mock-up wall was built to determine the joint style, mortar color, and bricklaying practices to be used. It was also used as a demonstration panel for newly arriving masons. Here, the wall is being deconstructed after having served its purpose.

A prefabricated half-width roof module is lifted into place by crane. The gable roofs on each end of the residence buildings soften the appearance of the structures when viewed from a distance.

A 95,000 liter (25,000 gal) fuel-oil tank is lowered into place. The fuel in these tanks will supply the boilers.

View of the south face of the building, with Blue Lake visible at the right edge of the photo. Varying shades and textures of exterior finish materials are used to enhance the visual character of the buildings.

A husband-and-wife plumbing team installs drainpipes in preparation for pouring the floor slab.

Shoveling and blowing snow off the roof.

Another husband-and-wife team reviews plumbing plans.

Excavation, concrete form installation, and concrete pouring proceed on a snowy day. At the top left of the photo, sections of the Offices/Services Building have been enclosed with reinforced plastic tarps to allow temperature-controlled tasks, such as pouring concrete decks and fireproofing, to take place throughout the winter.

Workers apply a vapor membrane to the concrete columns and slab edges before the exterior wall panels are installed.

Aerial view looking west. The residence buildings are at the top of the picture. The large white building near the center of the picture is the Offices/Services Building. Construction is confined to less than 20 percent of the approximately 100 hectare (253 a.) overall property, leaving the neighboring forest undisturbed.

Aerial view looking east, showing the C and D residence buildings near the bottom of the picture. On the C residence, contractors complete the gable roofs by installing metal roofing panels.

A carpenter installs laminate flooring in a mock-up room. For each residence room, one of four preselected finish packages will be used. These include paint colors, carpet, laminate flooring, tile, and countertops.

The concrete slab is being finished by hand in order to provide the correct slopes to floor drains.

A 77-year-old technician installs multi-strand fiber-optic distribution cable. By the time the project is completed, about 32 kilometers (20 mi) of this type of cable will have been installed.