by Gordon Keating, Co-Chair, Building Plans Subcommittee
After months of poring over two-dimensional floor plans, the new building design is beginning to look very real! The schematic design for our new building is nearly finished and the next stage of the project will soon begin. You should get involved.
When Doug Heller and Michele Mullen brought the first 3-D renderings to a recent Building Plans Subcommittee meeting, we could suddenly visualize walking in the entry and moving through the foyer, looking south to the fellowship hall and north down the hall to the entrance of Robinson Hall, with the church offices and elevator beyond. A sweeping staircase curves upward to the second floor RE rooms. The fellowship hall is lit by a splash of southern sun and looks out onto the patio and the grove beyond. Its stone hearth adds a warm focal point.
Robinson Hall will be bigger – seating two hundred on the main floor and room for forty more on the balcony. Large windows face provide a view of the canyon and mountains we have come to love so well. There is even a specially designed window in the northwest corner that adds an interesting focal point to the space. Rev. John may have to add some dance moves to his morning delivery to keep us focused on what’s happening inside the hall!
The wood floor in Robinson Hall will allow us to continue to support dance and other creative arts that require it. The exteriors are equally inspiring. Come see for yourself.
The sketch above shows a view from near the front of our lot, looking northwest toward the front corner of the fellowship hall, with the entry and the RE/office wing behind. The upper edge of the sloping roof of Robinson Hall is just visible in the center skyline.
Of course this drawing is not meant to give you the complete picture, just to tickle your curiosity. To get the full concept, come to the Hearth Room Sunday mornings during coffee hour to see the floorplans, siteplan, and interior and exterior renderings. Members of the Building Plans Subcommittee and the Building Project Steering Committee will be on hand to answer questions and tell you more about the design.
As this phase of the project finishes it is time for everyone to get involved. So to set the stage on the evening of Sunday October 16th we held a dessert open house with Doug and Michele, our amazing architects. It was well attended, and we were pleased to hear the thoughtful questions, and Doug and Michele’s answers, and to feel the energy in the room.
By now you should have received a brochure in the mail that describes further aspects of the schematic design. The brochure highlights some of the values you have emphasized during the design process, including a balance between function, beauty, and cost.
While we decided early on to forego the added expense of formal LEED certification, we have been incorporated many of the concepts of sustainable building design embodied in their guidelines. Favorite aspects of the existing building have been included in the new design, like the wood elements in Robinson Hall, the mountain views, wood floor, and the Elmo Robinson Memorial stained-glass window.
Please note that the Final Schematic Design delivery by Mullen/Heller at a Congregational Dinner Sunday, November 13th at 6:00 p.m. at the church. They’ll present the features of the building as well as costs at bronze, silver, and gold levels. You’ll be receiving an invitation for that, too, and we request an R.S.V.P. Don’t miss out on this very important event! Now is the time to become informed on the new building design before we can have a congregational vote on how to proceed with the building project in late January or early February.
The members of the various (sub) committees who have participated in bringing the building project to this major milestone look forward to getting together as a Congregation on November 13th and celebrate this commitment we are making with each other. We hope to see you there!
