Building Committee

Building Committee Input to October 2007 Monthly Newsletter

Building for Our Ministries

In recent weeks, several important actions have been taken by your Building Committee, 3 of which will be reported on here.

First, with the assistance of the lead architect from the two prior building programs at St Chad’s, BC3 conducted an in-depth study of the feasibility of expanding our current worship center into a permanent sanctuary capable of seating 250-300. We concluded that although such an expansion was possible from a structural standpoint, a number of important negative consequences made that unwise. Not only would our worship services be disrupted during such a project, probably for a couple months, but the nature and character of our worship services would be affected -- the resulting longer center aisle would detract from the more intimate feel of worshipping “in the round” with everyone sitting close to the altar and celebrants. Also, the interior and exterior aesthetics likely would be degraded by having to literally raise the roof and move the front wall outward. Moreover, the additional costs of having to significantly enlarge the Commons and building new classrooms to replace those used to enlarge the Commons, in order to serve a larger congregation, would offset any cost savings from expanding the current worship center into our permanent sanctuary. Accordingly, BC3 recommended, and the Vestry concurred, that our Building Program should be aimed at building a new sanctuary. (Although not a decisive factor in reaching this decision, we should add that the conceptual Master Plan made for St Chad’s 25 years ago when the current worship center was built envisioned an eventual, new sanctuary with the current worship center becoming our fellowship hall; even the kitchen was designed with a side door and “pass through” between those two rooms.)

Second, a series of Preliminary Facility Goals (PFGs) have been elaborated from the Ministries Emphases surveys conducted during the two “town hall” meetings held in July. As reported to you last month, the key ministries emerging from that process included: a traditional (for St Chad’s, not a Gothic-like long center aisle) worship setting; Christian education for youth and adults; and fellowship (to our own members, as well as to newcomers and visitors). The preliminary facility goals stem directly from those key ministries: a new sanctuary that seats 275 worshippers, plus a choir of 25-30; a few additional classrooms; and the wonderful fellowship hall that our current worship center could become. In addition, and anticipating that some increase in staff will be necessary to support a congregation roughly twice our current size, we will need a few more offices, administrative workrooms, etc. Obviously, some additional bathrooms, parking places, and other infrastructure will also be needed for a larger physical plant. Because it is impossible to discuss all the facets of these PFGs here, we have scheduled meetings with the congregation after each service on 7 October at which we will ask parishioners to comment on those goals and to provide further suggestions to the Building Committee. We hope that you will make every effort to attend and offer your suggestions.

Third, with the PFGs that emerge from those discussions with parishioners serving as the core, the Building Committee plans to soon issue Requests for Proposals to a few architects. Four of the 6 candidate architects that we have interviewed have been “short-listed” and will be asked to make presentations to the Building Committee in early November. One will be selected as the architect with whom we will then work jointly to develop specific concepts, site plans, floor plans, etc, etc.

I hope that you, too, are becoming infected with the increased level of excitement that has gripped the Building Committee as we are moving ahead and approaching the design phase of your Building Program. Just as our tempo is increasing, so, too, is the importance of your providing input and suggestions to us.

Bob Gough, Chair