BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — Progress continues to be made on the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá following the fire caused by an accident in early April.

The project team has made headway in clearing debris from the affected areas. Following extensive testing, as mentioned in a message from the Universal House of Justice about the Shrine last month, the project team has begun further restoration and rebuilding work on affected surfaces.

Meanwhile, work has continued to move forward on other aspects of the project that were unaffected by the fire, including planters in the north plaza, the cutting and shaping of the marble cladding for the trellis in Italy, and the manufacturing of the glaze work in Portugal. The construction of a visitors’ centre and other related facilities will also commence shortly.

Progress on the site of the Shrine is featured in the images that follow.

The concrete walls affected by the fire have been cleaned by pressure washing with water. Broken or loose pieces of concrete have been scraped away. These same walls are being reinforced with rebar and an additional layer of concrete is being applied to them, which will restore their thickness according to specifications.

The waterproofing of the west berm using a special dark coating has been completed. Protective materials were applied over the top of the waterproofing substance to protect against UV exposure while the berm is being completed.

Work on the garden planters using a special waterproof coating has continued.

The placement of the polystyrene (EPS) formwork is rapidly advancing on the western berm. These will support the structure of the gardens on the east and west sides of the Shrine.