Storage space out of thin air?

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, one of the biggest barriers to the productive use of our facilities is the shortage of storage space. Things that we use only occasionally (such as holiday items) keep getting shoved into corridors and corners of rooms —and other places where they don’t belong — because they lack a true home where they can be stashed.

Below the jump, this post describes a potential storage spot on our premises that has been identified by Guillermo Groisman, a retired architect and general contractor — and a friend of Mishkon. (NOTE: This is a speculative post that is exploring a possible project; no funds have been allocated at this time.)…  

Right now, the space is truly empty (and totally unused), but a framing contractor could turn it into an enclosed room fairly easily. It is located above an emergency exit stairwell that comes up from the basement, underneath the shed roof that sits between the play yard and the eastern end of our sanctuary building.

Few members have seen this space. It is largely invisible because it is almost completely hidden by a wooden fence that sits in front of a chain-link fence.

Guillermo says that the minimum required clearance beneath the room and the stairs below is 7′. That leaves an available space that is roughly 6′ wide x 17′ long x 8′ tall. Its floor area would be 102 square feet, which is equivalent to a 10′ x 10′ room.

In the following drawings, the red rectangles show the location, from each of three viewpoints.

Guillermo says that its base could be constructed by running 2″ x 8″ joists across the stairwell and anchoring them to each of its walls. The walls of the storage room itself ought to be made from 3/4" plywood, which would need to be painted or otherwise protected from termites.

An opening would need to be cut into the chain-link fence on north side, and a door would need to be hung there. 

My own thought would be to make the room well-lit during the day by incorporating translucent greenhouse panels, such as for its ceiling.

I have consulted our director of operations and our custodian about the basic idea: the construction of a storage room in this spot. Both are in favor of it.

Guillermo and I are working to put together a cost estimate this week, so that I can propose this project to the board soon.