The Observatory’s Great Hall

A welcome addition to the observatory was a larger hall to accommodate more people than the hot room could. It can comfortably accommodate around 30 people and has been used extensively for teaching school classes and other groups.

Countless volunteer hours were put into this and the results were also very good!

Construction took place mainly in the summer of 2003.

A child who thinks he has to “tighten” the wire to the mast..!

Ola Smedstuen in the foreground, Mats Ivar Aarsby looking up, Kjell Vangestad with a cap and Roar Skartlien behind the tripod. Person on the left currently unknown.

Surveying and clearing

Here was the humble beginning of surveying and clearing the property.

The rails are in place.

Concrete columns are in place, as are the rails that will hold the floor up.

From left: Martin Nordengen, Randi Lien, Tommy Linnerud and Morten Vangby.

The floor is laid

Here, floor joists are laid with donated used materials from Tommy’s grand parents.

Ola Smedstuen with saw and Mads Ivar Aarsby.
Ola Smedstuen on the left and Mads Ivar Aarsby

Stripped exterior wall

The paneled tables on the outer wall were removed and adapted to the hall.

The floor is customized

The edges have been cleaned and the floor has been adjusted. The baseboards are in place and the tiles can soon be laid.

Mads Ivar Aarsby is in control of the development.
Mads Ivar Aarsby attaches end boards.

End boards is installed

End boards are attached so that the insulation boxes are sealed.

Materials arrive

There were some loads of mostly donated materials from Tommy’s grandparents. Mads Ivar made the long trip from Skreia to Hågår with his tractor, and with a sturdy trailer, he really managed to bring in some big loads.

Mads Ivar Aarsby with his trusty 94 model tractor Fiatagri 100-90 Dt
Mads Ivar Aarsby in the back, Kjell Vangestad crouching, Kjell Dahl in the foreground, unknown on the right.

Walls are coming up

The walls are going up at full speed.

The cheerful volunteer group!

Here is today’s “crew” who contribute with good humor and a good desire to work.

From left; Mads Ivar Aarsby, Kjell Vangestad, Kjell Dahl, unknown and Ola Smedstuen.
Mads Ivar Aarsby i stigen og snekrer vegger.

Walls near set up

Here the framework for the walls is almost completed.

Roof trusses in place

Then the framework for roads and roofs is in place.

A milestone when the construction work is completed.

Roar Skartlien og Tommy LInnerud snekrer lekter.

The roof is being covered.

Roofing paper is on and the battens for the roof panels are ready for the turn.

Weatherproof

The building is finally weatherproofed and cladding can begin.

Tommy Linnerud ser om det går an å gå inn døra…!

Covered

Roof tiles are on and paneling is almost finished. Wind skis are also being processed here.

Almost finished exterior

Here is the front view and there is only a little work on the roof needed to complete the exterior facade.

And this is how the building has essentially been for the last 20 years until the modernization and raising of the dome began in 2019.

And this is how the building has essentially been for the last 20 years until the modernization and raising of the dome began.

Ola Smedstuen and Mads Ivar Aarsby enjoy a well-deserved lunch break.

Breaks

Here is a lunch break in the warm-up room. The hole in the wall of the hall has not yet been made. It will be on the wall behind the sofa in the picture here.

Inside the hall

Inside, the hall has both a carpeted floor and wall panels, and the hall is now in use.

Trond Nybråten on the left, Ola Smedstuen in the middle and Roar Skartlien.

Per Sigolsen on the right and Roar Skartlien

In use

It was great to hold meetings in the new hall at first.

Lecture

Here we see Roar Skartlien giving a lecture with a slide show. The wall was used as a canvas. And there has been good use for a hall like this over the years.

2022 also saw the start of a renovation of the hall, but we will look at that in more detail in a separate section.

Roar Skartlien