It has been over 2 ½ years since the Building Committee started meeting in August 2005, and almost 1-½ years since the congregation voted unanimously to embrace the plan on October 15, 2006. At this point, we are 1 year into a planned three-year fund-raising program to raise at least $300,000 to be used for a down payment toward a new building addition here at Faith Church. We have some new members and attendee’s with us who may be unfamiliar with the history of this project, so we thought this might be a good time to recap where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Architects Rendering of existing building with proposed addition
Faith Church has been “bursting at the seams” in our existing building for quite some time. New programs and steady growth made the need for additional space very apparent to everyone by early in 2005. Various groups and individuals were bringing specific requests and concerns to the Board of Stewards, so they decided to form a Building Committee to research the issue and bring a report back to the Board.
The committee held their first meeting on August 29, 2005. The first order of business was to meet with each group in the church individually to give everyone an opportunity to voice both needs and wants important to their particular group. We also held a general meeting open to everyone to get more feedback. By October 2005 we had a full list of our needs and wants for a new building addition.
The following items topped the “Needs” list: 1) Handicap accessible restrooms – Upstairs and Down, 2) Elevator convenient to main worship & meeting areas, 3) Baptismal pool, and 4) Connection to city sewer services. Since that time, a portable Baptismal Pool has been purchased (with mostly donated funds) and is in use at this time. Items 1, 2 & 4 remain on the needs list.
There were more items on our wants, or “Wish” list. These items are listed generally in order of importance, but all were considered important enough to include. 1) A “multi-purpose” meeting facility. 2) Additional and larger classrooms, 3) More storage space, 4) A dedicated Library space, 5) A larger, more private Pastors Study, and 6) A larger Janitorial Room. There were many specifics outlined under each of these items.
Late in 2005, the building committee began meeting with architect Reed Graves, of River Bluffs Architects to turn these ideas into a plan. Meeting regularly, sometimes twice a month, this group discussed various options available to us. Initially, our goal was to develop a plan that met all the items on both the needs and wants lists. This became our “if money were no object” plan.
Our property is large and we had many options. However, all ideas and plans were judged based on their ability to satisfy the needs and wants expressed by the congregation. Some plans had a cheaper price tag, but didn’t meet all the needs. Other plans met the needs, but were too expensive for what they provided. Some plans were not esthetically pleasing and detracted from the appearance of the existing structure. After many discussions, we began to settle on one plan that seemed to meet all our needs and wants, was the most practical to construct, and blended into the existing structure the best.
This plan called for an addition to be constructed on the lower parking lot, north of the office wing and extending east from the main building. This plan required the least amount of expensive concrete foundation work, allowed for some 2-story construction (which is cost-effective and works well for adding an elevator and handicap restrooms up and down) and provided a large gymnasium-like multi-purpose space east of the 2-story section. A detailed plan was created and estimated by the architect that included every item on the needs and wants list.
When the $2.1 million cost estimate came back for an all-inclusive structure, we decided including everything would be out of our reach. Still, the committee liked the overall plan and decided to embrace it as a long-term plan, possibly building it in phases. We asked the architect to bring us back 2 other estimates; 1) An estimate for just the two-story portion with only open space inside initially, and 2) The two-story portion and a smaller gymnasium space. The two-story portion only was estimated at $900,000, and the two-story portion with a smaller gymnasium space was estimated at $1.4 million.
These three plans were presented to the congregation on October 15, 2006. At that time, the congregation voted to embrace the overall plan and begin a fund-raising program to raise money for a down payment. After three years of fund-raising, we will have a better idea exactly what we will be able to afford, and specific plans will be drawn at that time, with an eye toward future expansions if needed. The congregation will have an opportunity to review and approve the specific plan at that time.
Our “needs” and “wants” are still with us. Our elderly still have a difficult time going from one floor to the other, often having to travel around the building in cars. And our restrooms are still a major challenge to the elderly and/or handicapped. We still meet in cramped spaces bordering on unsafe. The existing building first opened 41 years ago last month. When the doors opened for the first time, LBJ was president and the very first Super Bowl had just been played (even though it wasn’t called “Super Bowl” at the time). 8 presidential administrations have come and gone, as well as 41 more Super Bowls. Our church building has changed little in those 41 years, but now change is necessary. We have needs this building no longer meets. Fortunately, we can address these shortfalls with a new addition.
To date, we have raised almost $100,000 toward our goal of $300,000. Our building fund totals almost $135,000 and is growing steadily. The scope and nature of our new building addition is being determined right now during this all-important fund-raising phase. We thank everyone who had already made a Promise Pledge to this campaign and encourage all to fulfill that promise. We also encourage anyone who has not participated in this campaign (whether they were not here at the time or just chose not to participate), to please make a promise pledge at this time. Simply call the church office and they will make sure someone from the building/fund-raising committee contacts you.
In the 1960’s, the founders of Faith United Church stepped out in faith and built our current church building. It has served us well, but changes are called for. Today, the challenge lies with us. Be part of the plan. Be part of the dream!
Late in 2005, the building committee began meeting with architect Reed Graves, of River Bluffs Architects to turn these ideas into a plan. Meeting regularly, sometimes twice a month, this group discussed various options available to us. Initially, our goal was to develop a plan that met all the items on both the needs and wants lists. This became our “if money were no object” plan.
When the $2.1 million cost estimate came back for an all-inclusive structure, we decided including everything would be out of our reach. Still, the committee liked the overall plan and decided to embrace it as a long-term plan, possibly building it in phases. We asked the architect to bring us back 2 other estimates; 1) An estimate for just the two-story portion with only open space inside initially, and 2) The two-story portion and a smaller gymnasium space. The two-story portion only was estimated at $900,000, and the two-story portion with a smaller gymnasium space was estimated at $1.4 million.
