Building Committee

Building Committee Input to November 2007 Monthly Newsletter

Building for Our Ministries

Preliminary Building Goals for our Ministries

First, the Building Committee thanks you for your valuable questions and suggestions at the Building Program discussions following each service on 7 October!  In addition to our gaining some useful input, we hope that you now have a better understanding of where your BP is heading and how we are progressing.  As always, feel free to contact me or any other member of BC3 with questions or suggestions, as well as checking both St Chad’s website (www.stchads.org) and the BC3 bulletin board just inside the front door. 

Although the Preliminary Design Goals (or Requirements) for an eventual congregation approximately twice our current size were discussed on 7 October, and are on the website, they are important enough to reiterate here because they are expected to have guided the architects’ presentations late in October (next month I will be able to tell you which architect was chosen to work with BC3 to make our Building Program a reality). 

To address St Chad’s Worship Ministries

    - a new sanctuary seating 275, plus choir of 25-30

    - having a short aisle (modified “in-the-round” like the current worship center)

    - with a larger altar area to allow small pageants or other flexibility

    - containing an integral Baptismal font

    - with a full-scope sacristy, plus an area near altar for celebrants to robe

    - containing space for our organ and piano, with good acoustics throughout

    - flanked by a welcoming, sound-deadening entry or lobby

    - complemented by a chapel seating 30 or more

    - with by an outdoor courtyard for meditation, reflection, and interment of remains of deceased

    - distinctive as a church and visible from both Tramway Blvd. and Tennyson St. (bell tower?)

 

For our Christian Education key ministries, a total of 10 classrooms (many sharing functions or users)

    - 1 each for nursery and pre-school (current rooms are too small)

    - 4 for elementary school (unless it becomes practical to share 2 with the tenant pre-school

    - 1 each for middle school and high school (the latter being larger to allow “hanging out”)

    - 1 shared by adult education and choir

    - 1 shared by library, Vestry, conference room, adult education

 

For our Fellowship ministries

    - current worship center becoming our parish hall (as envisioned by the 1982 Master Plan)

    - current kitchen and pantry are adequately sized

    - covered outdoor courtyard

    - outdoor activity space (e.g., basketball hoop)

 

Administrative space to meet the staff needs for a larger congregation

    - 4 offices plus a reception area and work room

 

Infrastructure and other issues

    - adequate bathrooms (with showers for youth overnighters)

    - ample storage for all functional areas

    - double the current number of parking spaces

    - character and style consistent with current worship, interior and architectural “styles”

    - consider landscaping, possible views, and “green” construction

 

Bob Gough, Chair