Resonance Build Meeting
The last remote build meeting before the team works in person. Ed walked the full assembly sequence for the tower, and the single biggest open item going in, how to get the net and steel ring up, got resolved live: build with the bamboo ring only, add the black asper structural poles, then lift the steel ring with the net already attached over the bamboo ring and lay it down. Long poles before short poles, because the structure is only stable once poles run both ways. Elliot also polled the group and decided against unloading the shipping container this weekend, taking out only the lantern boxes and a few sample poles for Ed to check for cracking, with the bulk unload moving to the following weekend. Steve brought playa experience that reshaped several details, from keeping the heavy equipment crew happy by being ready when they are called, to separating the bike barrier from the sensor ring so parked bikes cannot blind the lasers. Two things did not resolve: where the shade sails ratchet without cracking bamboo, and whether the team drives in overnight on the 21st or arrives fresh at dawn.
Build meeting, 30 July 2026, two hours, nine attendees. Last remote meeting before in person work.
SEQUENCE AGREED
1. Build two hyperbolic scaffold towers flat on the ground, then stand them up and expand. Good trial run with the bamboo.
2. Flag ground anchor positions with pink flags; the org heavy equipment crew augers them in. 12 to 24 anchors.
3. Build the temporary scaffold tower, prop the top ring, expand, hoist with ropes and pre rigged pulleys.
4. Fit the 24 main tower poles, 12 in each direction, roughly 8 metres. Long poles before short ones.
5. Lift the steel ring with the net attached over the bamboo ring on edge, lay it down, tie net to steel ring and steel ring to bamboo ring. Likely a telehandler, not a crane.
6. Ring poles, then roof ring, then roof poles, then 24 curved glulam limbs, then grid shell, then bark.
KEY NUMBERS
Asper (black) poles roughly 12cm diameter, about twice the weight of the 8cm tali construction poles.
Steel ring with net roughly 150 lb. Chandelier roughly 25 to 30 lb. 50 wind chimes available, likely hang 10 to 20.
Grid shell splits 14 metres, spliced from about three pieces.
Canopy diameter 10.25 metres. Inner light perimeter 24 lights at 6.5 metres. Proposed outer perimeter roughly 25 metres.
Each light under 3 lb including electronics. Splits can carry about 10 kg at a crossing.
Shade: 10 large triangles, limited by canvas width and 7.6 metre poles. Anchors 16 inch by half inch lags, beefier than the 3/8 by 10 to 12 standard after last year wind.
Shade cloth 50 to 80 percent perforated so wind and rain pass through.
LIGHTING
Steve and Ben target 5 uplights, 5 perimeter lights and 10 downlights before Nevada City. Infrared laser proximity sensors on the 24 perimeter posts give full coverage with no blind spots, so the tree reacts as people approach. Uplight solar panels peek through the open diamonds of the grid shell, which is a reason not to cover everything in bark. Anything within reach is called a cat toy and is built to be handled.
THIS WEEKEND VS NEXT
Container stays mostly packed. Out come the lantern and light boxes plus a few sample poles for Ed to inspect for cracking. Bulk unload and the all hands build move to the following weekend.
THE WEEK STRUCTURE, DECIDED IN THIS MEETING - THE FACT EVERY OTHER PLAN HANGS ON
THIS weekend (Sat Aug 1 - Sun Aug 2): lights work, small crew. Steve and Ben target 5 uplights, 5 perimeter lights, 10 downlights assembled. Container stays packed except lantern and light boxes plus a few sample poles for Ed's crack inspection.
NEXT weekend (Sat Aug 8 - Sun Aug 9): bulk container unload and the ALL HANDS build. Elliot verbatim: "that's why we're all getting together. That's the plan for next weekend. Not this weekend, but next weekend."
Downstream consequences: the volunteer callout and the Roots Alchemy catering ask must be pointed at the weekend they actually serve. Catering currently books Aug 1-2; the all hands is Aug 8-9. One word from Elliot resolves which event gets fed.
WHAT GOT UNBLOCKED LIVE (the meeting's biggest win)
The net-and-ring sequence, unresolved going in, was resolved at 17:25-21:00 when Steve restated the constraint ("we have to have those inside construction poles there to get the ring in the right place") and the group converged: build with the bamboo ring only, add the black asper structural poles, then lift the steel ring with the net already attached over the bamboo ring on edge and lay it down. Likely telehandler, not crane. This was the item Ed said would "hold us up" - it no longer does.
WHO OWES WHAT BEFORE SATURDAY AUG 1
Ed: ground-anchor flagging accuracy method (rope jig option); ring assembly and net attachment procedure; shade-sail tension test that will not crack bamboo; physical model of the shade tension loads. Also inspect sample poles for cracking as they come off the container.
Elliot: flag anchor positions with the org heavy-equipment crew; pull the sample poles; plywood and platform spec for the scaffold decks (blocks the Home Depot delivery - spec needed within days, 4x8 sheets do not fit the SUV); early-access participant list for the 21st.
Steve: weigh assembled lights with electronics to confirm tower load math (each under 3 lb target); source garden-light posts and mounting hardware for the 24-post perimeter, bring examples to Nevada City.
Charlie (not on call): net adjustments for pole placement plus possible cargo safety net - Elliot to liaise.
OPEN QUESTIONS CARRIED OUT OF THE MEETING (owners and windows on file)
1. Shade-sail corner ratcheting: ratcheting straight over bamboo will crack poles. Options: rope loop, webbing strap, or carabiner through a tied knot. Owner Ed, decide before shade assembly.
2. Centre steel hoop for the shade: RESOLVED SAME DAY by Ed on WhatsApp 11:12 - 24 inch, 12mm solid steel, welded; UK eBay or fabricate. Tracking to closure.
3. BM early access Fri the 21st: leave Nevada City that night (Elliot: gains ~8h, arrive after midnight, raise shade in the cool dark) vs arrive at dawn (Steve: "having a working brain actually saves way more time than anything else trying to jumpstart the clock"). Undecided; affects the 10-pass list.
4. Carla's shade sails: sewn HANDED, not identical? Elliot has told her more than once, not confident it landed. Verify before assembly.
5. Plywood/platform spec: see Elliot item above.
PROJECT CONTEXT THE SUMMARY PLUGS INTO
Prototype 2 framing: this build is deliberately a different structure and sequence from the Bali prototype (heavier asper poles cannot be stood up like prototype 1). Expect procedure, not repetition.
Interactivity spine: 24 perimeter posts carry infrared laser proximity sensors with full coverage and no blind spots - the tree reacts on approach. Anything reachable is a "cat toy", built to be handled. Uplight solar panels peek through open grid-shell diamonds, one reason not to bark-cover everything - this is the physical base the lighting workshop and the marketing capture plans build on.
Wind lesson carried forward: shade anchors upgraded to 16in x 1/2in lags after last year's wind; shade cloth 50-80 percent perforated so wind and rain pass through.
Heavy-equipment dependency: anchor auger work is the org crew's; flag positions early, keep that interface smooth - it recurs at placement.
Decisions · 7
Key moments · 5
The net-and-ring assembly sequence, the single biggest open item going into the meeting, was resolved live: bamboo ring only, then asper structural poles, then lift the steel ring with net attached over the top and lay it down. Telehandler, not crane.
[17:25-21:00]
Elliot polled the group and the container decision landed: stay packed this weekend, extract only lantern and light boxes plus sample poles; bulk unload and all hands move to the following weekend (Aug 8-9). This decision sets the shape of both build weekends.
[39:30-42:06]
The build was framed as prototype number two: a deliberately different structure and sequence from Bali, because the heavier asper poles cannot be stood up the prototype-one way. The team should expect new procedure, not repetition.
[25:14-25:45]
The interactivity contract crystallised: 24 perimeter posts with infrared laser proximity sensors give full no-blind-spot coverage, and everything within reach is a cat toy built to be handled. Physical base for the lighting workshop.
[1:21:40-1:24:41]
BM early-access debate opened and stayed open: night arrival (gain ~8h, raise shade in the dark) vs dawn arrival (rested crew). Affects the 10-person early pass list for Friday the 21st.
[1:55:38-1:59:22]
Quotes · 5
“But let me say it back to you. We have to have those inside construction poles there to get the ring in the right place.”
“It doesn't matter because we're gonna figure it out in Nevada City, and that's why we're all getting together. That's the plan for next weekend. Not this weekend, but next weekend.”
“I don't know that there's actually any real benefit of trying to unload this container this weekend other than we just need get the lights.”
“We have been calling things that people can reach cat toys.”
“But I think having like a working brain actually saves way more time than anything else trying to jumpstart the clock.”
Open questions · 5 open
Where do the shade sail corners ratchet to? The corner node is overlapping bamboo and ratcheting straight over it will crack the poles. Options discussed were a rope loop spreading the load, a webbing or hammock style strap, or a carabiner through a well tied knot at the triangle joint.
Owner · Ed Wilkes
Where does the centre steel hoop for the shade come from? Ed gave the precise spec on WhatsApp at 11:12 the same day: 24 inch diameter, 12mm solid steel, welded. He can buy them on eBay in the UK and has found no US equivalent. By 15:50 he had moved toward fabrication: "If we can't find something online I guess we will have to have them make it yes." Trampoline rings and bicycle wheels were floated in the meeting and doubted, since a bike wheel will explode under ratchet tension. It must be big enough to climb through or someone gets stuck at the top.
Owner · Elliot Jr Fabri
For Burning Man early access on Friday the 21st, does the team leave Nevada City that night and arrive at Black Rock City after midnight to raise the shade in the cool dark, or arrive fresh at dawn? Elliot favours the night arrival to gain roughly eight hours of schedule. Steve favours arriving rested and argues a working brain saves more time than a head start.
Owner · Elliot Jr Fabri
Did Carla sew the shade sails handed correctly rather than all identical? The sails are symmetric and the sewing has to respect that. Elliot has told her more than once but is not confident it landed.
Owner · Elliot Jr Fabri
What plywood and platform material should be ordered for the scaffold tower decks? Elliot wants to place a Home Depot delivery for the Nevada City weekend and cannot fit 4 by 8 sheets in his SUV, so the spec is needed within a couple of days.
Owner · Ed Wilkes
Who owes what
- Evaluate accuracy requirements for ground anchor flagging and develop a placement method, possibly using a rope jig.
- Assess ring assembly and net attachment procedures in Nevada City; pre-assemble the steel ring and bamboo ring properly before hoisting.
- Coordinate flagging of ground anchor locations with volunteers and heavy equipment teams.
- Finalize the schedule and participant list for early camp access on Friday night (the 21st) and communicate it to the team.
- Measure weights of assembled lights, including electronics, to confirm load expectations for tower hanging.