BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The formwork that shaped the trellis of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been removed, revealing the completed body of that structure. The emerging Shrine stands as a symbol of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s unremitting service to the unification of humanity.

The concrete for the trellis, poured at the end of August over an intense 19 hour period, needed time to “cure” before the formwork and scaffolding could be removed. With each piece of formwork that was peeled back, a rising sense of anticipation enveloped the site, culminating in a striking display of dedicated labor and meticulous planning.

With the central plaza and edifice now fully cleared, the team has moved on to repairing any variations that naturally occurred in the surface of the concrete as the formwork was removed.

Speaking with the News Service, Khosrow Rezai, the project manager, highlighted the collaborative and unified spirit among the diverse team working on the project. “Throughout the past four years of joint work, the team’s profound dedication to raise this structure to its utmost perfection has only deepened.”

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

The expanded polystyrene (EPS) formwork that gave shape to the trellis concrete is removed.

The formwork is chipped away to reveal the concrete structure.

First the scaffolding that held the formwork in place is removed, and then the forms themselves are peeled back to reveal the concrete.

Workers clean and remove the EPS from the central plaza.

The remaining scaffolding is removed, clearing the area for the first time since the trellis structure was completed.

Sunlight filters through the now open spaces in the trellis.

The team can now begin to smooth and refine the concrete surface, prior to cladding it with marble.

Looking up towards the intricate geometry of the roof structure.

Workers refine variations in the concrete surface, preparing for the next stages of work.

Railings are installed around the openings for the safety of workers on the roof.

An outer coating of concrete is applied to the pillars to achieve a smooth and uniform surface.

Final cleaning is completed in the central plaza. Metal is placed over the openings in the roof to keep out the rain during the winter.

Now that the central area has been fully cleared of the EPS formwork and scaffolding, and the walls pressure washed to remove any remaining debris, the team is able to begin the next stage of preparing the central plaza and trellis to be adorned with marble and glass in the coming year.

A view of the central edifice from the north plaza, looking south.

Meanwhile, work has continued to advance on other areas of the site. On the west berm, the irrigation pipes that will provide water for the landscaping have been laid and the final layer of soil will soon be placed at the top of the berm.

On the east berm, the majority of the EPS formwork has been placed in position, and the team has begun to apply the gravel, tar, mesh, and concrete to the berm’s surface. This work will be completed later in the spring when the weather is more accommodating.

The external plastering is nearly complete on the ‘Akká Visitors’ Centre.

On the interior of the Visitors’ Centre, work is underway to install the mechanical and electrical systems.