LETTER TO CONGREGATION CONCERNING BFTL BUILDING PROJECTS
The purpose of this newsletter insert is to apprise you of the current status
of the various building projects associated with the Building First to Last (BFTL)
campaign, to outline the process the church is following in selecting which
projects to embrace, and to solicit your input on the possible projects.
List of Possible Projects
In early summer 2004 the Trustees compiled a list of possible projects that
could be undertaken to repair, renovate, and enhance the First Congregational
Church building. In August 2004 the Trustees solicited ideas from the
congregation in order to obtain a broader view of possible projects. There were
a fairly small number of responses. From those efforts, the Trustees have
compiled a master list of possible projects.
Principles Governing the Final Selection of Projects
The Trustees felt that a prioritization process must be undertaken because the
“wish list” of repair, renovation and enhancement projects exceeds the
availability of money. The Trustees proposed a prioritization process to the
Church Council who approved the approach. Obviously, there are many ways in
which to prioritize the list of possible projects. The Trustees felt that some
basic principles should be established to guide the decision making process on
the selection of projects. A committee of volunteers was formed, then met and
agreed on a set of prioritization principles for use in ranking possible
projects. Those principles and an explanation are:
Principle 1: Critical Structural Issues and Health and Safety.
The first priority should be to fund projects that address critical structural
issues associated with the building such as tuck-pointing. Closely related are
health and safety issues that must be addressed such as a new dishwasher that
automatically adds soap and a disinfection agent to the wash cycle.
Principle 2: Enhancing the church to aid in attracting new members.
Because First Congregational Church must grow in order to sustain the programs
we want to see established, (i.e. associate minister, missions, etc) a very
important principle for prioritizing projects is the enhancement of the church
to aid in attracting and sustaining new members.
Principle 3: Achieving compliance with building codes
There are building codes that must be met during major renovations or
enhancements of buildings. All projects undertaken will comply with such
codes.
Principle 4: Structural issues (not critical) including aesthetic and
functional enhancements.
A number of projects include structural improvements that are not critical to
the overall structural integrity of the building but are very important to
improving the aesthetics of the property and to make the church facilities
more functional for new and existing programs.
Using these principles, the committee assigned each of the possible building
projects to one of the above principles. The committee then assigned each
project into a “Stage” with Stage 1 meaning the project is of higher priority
than Stage 2. Within these two Stages, the projects were assigned a rating of
High, Medium, or Low to represent the priority of that particular project within
its assigned Stage. It is very important to note that the prioritization process
recommended by the committee does not mean that all projects under Principle 1
get done first before moving on to Principle 2, etc. The objective is to try to
accomplish all of the “High” ranked projects, no matter under which Principle
they fall.
Project Lists
Below is the list of proposed projects grouped under the
established principles discussed above and ranked by the committee.
Estimated Costs
The cost estimates reviewed by the committee are mainly estimates. The Trustees
did not obtain firm costs on all projects because that is a very time consuming
process. When the Trustees have a relatively firm list of priority projects they
will obtain final bids and associated costs. The Trustees will strive to keep
cost down while getting quality work done.
Staging and Sequencing of Projects
A number of the projects are interrelated. Some projects must be done in
sequence and some are closely related to others in order to achieve the desired
result we want. For example, there is strong consensus on the need to redo the
narthex area to make the church more inviting. This includes new doors, new
lighting, new flooring, and a new area for coat storage. A possible area for
coat storage is to convert Greg’s present office to that purpose. That means we
would need new office space for Greg, preferably close to the main office. We
also need office space for the new associate pastor and new storage areas.
Therefore, staging and sequencing become very important. Depending upon how we
do some of the projects, the costs may vary.
To assist us in some of the space planning questions, we may be hiring a
space planner or an architect to assist us. We will also be discussing various
projects with the City to make sure we comply with all building code and related
requirements.
Next Steps
The Trustees would like your review and comment on these proposed projects. Your
comments can be submitted to Dale Bryson electronically (cleanwater@sprynet.com)
or you can drop them off at the church office (Attention Dale Bryson). Please
submit your comments by June 30. If you have any questions on the projects,
please call Dale at 630-357-4210 or Mary B. Wangerin at 630-357-1828).
Once the Trustees have feedback from the congregation, a final prioritized
list will be developed and recommended to the Church Council. The Council will
make the final decisions on which projects will proceed and the timing of those
projects. The objective is to get several items accomplished this construction
season.
LIST OF ITEMS FOR REPAIRING/RENOVATING/UPGRADING THE BUILDING
June 17, 2005
Categories of Projects
|
Estimated Cost
|
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Comments |
Principle 1: Critical Structural Issues and Health and
Safety
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuck pointing |
50,000 |
High |
|
Underway |
|
Replace asphalt parking lot; and the concrete behind
the church building |
22,000 |
High |
|
This is a safety issue because of the cracks and
unevenness in the asphalt and the concrete |
|
New dishwasher |
7,000 |
High |
|
Needed to automatically feed soap and disinfection
agent to the wash cycle (a safety concern) |
|
Upgrade electrical service to sanctuary and to the
Parsonage building as needed |
25,000 (E) |
High |
|
Electric service to sanctuary may be getting
overloaded. The Parsonage building definitely needs upgrading. |
|
Repair interior walls and paint sanctuary |
2,000 |
High |
|
The church has a prior gift of $9,000 to defray some of
the expenses for this painting. |
|
Waterproof Sunday School rooms, paint, and eliminate
musty smell (Replace carpet) |
500 |
High |
|
May be done by church volunteers |
|
Principle 2: Enhancing The Church to Aid in Attracting New Members |
Estimated Cost |
Stage 1
|
Stage 2 |
Comments |
|
Remodel the Narthex:
Two new Entry Doors on SE Corner and new Bridal door |
40,000 (E) |
High |
|
3 new doors to match one by the office. Glass above
the two main doors to “open up” the area with more light. See Note 1 |
|
Glass panels in wooden doors between narthex and sanctuary |
10,000 (E) |
High |
|
More light into sanctuary and opens Narthex. See
Note 1 |
|
New wooden floors, lights, and welcoming table in narthex area |
17,000 |
High |
|
See Note 1 |
|
Possibly convert Greg’s office into a coat room |
1,000 (E) |
High |
|
See Note 1 |
|
Redo Choir Loft
New chairs in choir loft |
3,000 (E) |
High |
|
Remove pews, replace with moveable chairs. Makes the
space more useable for various programs |
|
Install wooden floor in choir loft |
(?) |
High |
|
Will help sound and usability of the space |
|
Upgrade lighting in sanctuary |
3,000 |
High |
|
To light pulpit area better |
|
Air condition sanctuary |
80,000 (E) |
High |
|
Will greatly aid in making the church more attractive |
New office for Senior
pastor
|
6,000 |
High |
|
Bundled with other items See Note 2 |
New office for Youth
pastor
|
|
High |
|
Bundled with other items See Note 2 |
Change nursery area,
create new offices and storage in present nursery area
|
|
High |
|
Bundled with other items See Note 2 |
|
Remodel Community room |
<10,000 |
High |
|
Update room with new windows, new ceiling grid and
tiles, new wall treatment, etc. to make room more functional See Note 3 |
Install Community Room Sound and projection system
|
(?) |
|
Low |
An option that will be considered |
New community
room chairs
|
3,000 |
|
High |
Purchase new, more comfortable stacking chairs |
Paint and update Sunday
school rooms
|
1,000 |
High |
|
To be done with volunteers |
NEW functional furniture
for youth rooms
|
|
High |
|
Present furniture is old and dirty. |
Signage around church
|
|
High |
|
Consider stand-alone signs strategically placed |
|
Pew cushions |
10,000 |
|
Medium |
Suggest as a possible gift from a member |
|
Reside wooden building and roof |
5,500 |
|
Medium |
Roof leaks, new siding would upgrade aesthetics |
|
New electronic marquee in front of church |
10,000 |
|
Low |
Existing sign is old and rusty. |
Principle 3: Achieving Compliance with Code
|
Estimated Cost |
Stage 1
|
Stage 2 |
Comments |
|
Elevator to second floor |
90,000 (E) |
|
Low |
This is a major expense item. Hold until future
expansion of church down the road |
Principle 4: Structural Issues (not Critical) Including
Aesthetic and Functional Enhancements
|
Estimated Cost |
Stage 1
|
Stage 2 |
Comments |
|
Upgrade computer system |
DONE |
|
|
|
|
Level floor in front of pulpit area |
3,000 (E) |
|
High |
To make space more user friendly See Note 4 |
|
New adjustable organ seat |
500 |
High |
|
Existing seat may have to be replaced with a vertically
adjustable seat |
|
Enhance storage: 1. By choir stairs, 2. Upstairs for
custodial supplies; 3. Old bathroom upstairs; 4. Christian Ed materials |
6,000 |
High |
|
Utilize a space planner to sort through these storage
issues. See Note 5 |
|
Better fans and cooling of choir loft |
|
High |
|
Tied to air-conditioning of Sanctuary. |
|
New hymnal racks on back of pews for black books |
|
|
Low |
Recently installed new racks under the pews. Hold this
project in abeyance for now. |
|
Remodel rear hall between sanctuary and the Community
Room |
|
|
Low |
This needs more exploration. Maybe a Disability Act
issue. Maybe tied to redoing Nursery area. |
|
Resurface kitchen cupboard doors |
|
|
Medium |
Maybe Woman’s Fellowship could fund |
|
Replace vents on roof of sanctuary |
3,000 |
|
Low |
Move to “regular maintenance of church” |
|
Replace Community Room door |
6,000 |
Medium |
|
Rusted, very hard to lock. Upgrade door with more
window area |
|
Upgrade boiler and heating throughout all rooms as
needed |
|
|
Low |
Need an objective analysis of facts by outside person
on boiler issues. Based on analysis, priority may rise. |
|
Flooring for acoustics |
|
|
Low |
Replace the flooring in the entire sanctuary for better
sound |
|
Organ upgrades |
25,000 |
|
Low |
Upgrade organ with new pipes and related. Would be
asset for church anniversary celebration |
|
Music tables 18” with pads/cover for back of
church/chime ringers and musical storage areas for music, bells and music
stands |
|
|
Low |
Include with other storage issues See Note 5 |
|
New tablecloths that all match and better flatware with
more weight |
|
|
|
Suggest Women’s Fellowship take this as a project |
|
Sprinkler system for lawn and landscaping |
3,000 |
|
Medium |
Automatic watering would enhance lawn and landscaping
making the church more attractive |
|
New sanctuary banners |
4,000 (E) |
|
Low |
New banners to coordinate with church events |
|
New pews with possible reconfiguration |
|
|
Low |
Eliminated from the listing. Consider in the future |
|
Projection system for sanctuary |
27,000 (E) |
|
Low |
Eliminated from the listing. Consider in the future |
Note 1: Narthex Remodeling. The present main
entryway into the church is neither inviting nor friendly. The plan for the
narthex remodeling will include the following: (1) Install two new glass doors
identical to the new one by the office. (2)Install a glass insert over the new
doors to fill out the archway. (3) Install new lighting such as a chandelier in
the entryway. (4) Install new wooden flooring in the whole narthex area. (5)
Install glass panels in the existing wooden doors between the narthex and the
sanctuary. This will allow more lighting into the sanctuary. (6) Consider
adding a “welcoming table” in the new narthex area. (The suggestion has been
made to use this remodeled area for adult education for those that do not want
to go down or up stairs.) (7) Also replace the Bridal Door (on the east side of
the sanctuary by the North Room) with a door that matches the other new doors.
Note 2: With the narthex remodeling, a place is
needed for coats. A prime option is to convert Greg’s office into such coat
storage. That triggers the need to find/create office space for the Sr.
pastor. An option is to make an office in a corner of the existing nursery
right next to the church office. The rest of the nursery area would also be
remodeled to: have a separate area for infants; some storage space for Christian
Ed material; and a walkway through the nursery area between the north and south
access doors. There also needs to be an acceptable office space for the
associate pastor. The current Christian Ed Office space may be remodeled for
alternative uses. A space planner/architect will be retained to help analyze
various options.
Note 3: The Community Room needs remodeling to
update it and to make it more of a functional room. This would include:
installing new windows that can be opened; replacing the ceiling tile system
with new grid and tiles; possibly new wall coverings; new paint, etc. Included
could be a new sound system and projection system for the room. The objective
is to make the room more up to date and to enhance its usability for more
functions including contemporary worship services, activities such as movie
nights for youth and other groups, etc. Options will be developed in
conjunction with a decorator and builder.
Note 4: The sanctuary area between the front row of
pews and the raised pulpit is slanted such that it is uncomfortable for
musicians to sit and play in that area, to have music stands that are level,
etc. This project would level that whole area thereby making it a more
comfortable and usable space. The area would probably be wood as opposed to
being carpeted. This would enhance sound as well.
Note 5: Additional storage space is needed for
various materials as follows: (1) materials that support the music program such
as music stands, speakers, etc; (2) cleaning and maintenance supplies, and (3)
Christian Ed supplies. One option is for an enclosed storage area for music
materials to be created by the steps going from the back hall up into the choir
loft. An option for cleaning and maintenance supplies it to convert the
existing but non-functional bathroom on the second floor for such storage. As
stated in Note 2, a space planner/architect will be retained to help analyze
various options. IF the boiler is replaced new boilers are a fraction of the
size of the existing one. The boiler room could be totally redone with new
lighting, new shelving, new painting, etc which would create a large amount of
storage while still containing the new smaller boiler.
