Answer:
We are also considering replacement of the current electrical resistive heating
elements with a gas heating system like we have throughout the rest of the
facility if there are sufficient funds available. The air conditioning
compressor is fairly new, so we plan to keep that as is.
Q:
Have we learned what is causing the noise in the ducts?
Answer:
Most of the noise we get from the HVAC system is from the fan. There are fans
that are much quieter. At a minimum we plan to replace the HVAC.
Q: I
have a concern about the baptistery relocation; will the proposed permanent
location cause conflicts with sightlines? Can it be raised or relocated
so that more people could view the baptisms?
Answer:
This will be looked at closely to ensure that the placement will have the
intended effect of showing the prominence of baptism to our faith.
Q:
Why do we want to make the baptistery permanent?
Answer:
From a liturgical point of view, baptism is central to our faith so making the
baptistery permanent will highlight this concept.
Q:
Can the current baptismal font be incorporated in this plan?
Answer:
The shell is not stylistically compatible with the redesigned baptistery. The
current thinking is that it will be moved into the chapel under the Holy Spirit
stained glass window. It can be used for small baptisms in this venue.
Q:
Can all the hanging light fixtures in the Sanctuary be at the same level (on the
same plane)? The drawing shows them at different heights as the ceiling slopes.
Answer:
We will bring this up to the Nave Renovation Committee.
Q: If
we use spotlights on the altar, how will we change the bulbs?
Answer:
A major consideration in nave lighting will be to avoid the cost and difficulty
associated with our current lighting.The Nave Renovation Committee will work
closely with the architect to ensure that new
lighting can be easily maintained.
Q: I
have a concern about the skylight that will be above the reredos. Since we won’t
be able to control the light coming through the skylight, won’t it lead to
unintended changes in atmosphere in the nave?
Answer:
The architect has done several light calculations during different times of day
and different times during the year. Your concern will be brought up to the Nave
Renovation Committee.
Q:
Can another row of pews be added behind the last rows on the two center
sections? This would help make up for some loss of seating.
Answer:
Those walkways were initially put in to satisfy fire code regulations. We will
need to review this with the architects as well as the current fire code
regulations to see if it is feasible.
Q:
Can we use a “folding glass wall” for windows in the back of the church so that
the narthex can be used for overflow and the folding glass wall can be opened
for better viewing.
Answer:
The narthex currently has a sound system so that overflow congregation seated in
the narthex can hear the service as they view it through existing windows in the
rear of the nave. Replacement of the current windows and brick walls may create
structural issues and additional costs that are unjustified for the use that
might be expected. This suggestion will be brought to the Nave Renovation
Committee for their consideration.
Q:
Will the current sound system be enhanced?
Answer:
Yes, it will be entirely redone. The three large speaker boxes will be removed
and new speakers will be installed. We do not know yet what type of speakers we
will install. Two ideas that are being looked at are vertical speakers and
speakers within the light tubes.
Q:
What audio/visual equipment will be purchased? Shouldn’t we wait to purchase
audio/visual equipment until we plan to use it?
Answer:
The audio/visual equipment to be purchase will be decided by the Renovation
Committee. We expect that the system will be designed to support an evolving
spectrum of anticipated needs but that specific equipment will not be purchased
until we plan to use it.
Q:
Will the new reredos cover unsightly things like heating vents that are
currently hidden by our reredos?
Answer:
This will be looked at closer by the Nave Renovation Committee, but it seems as
if new reredos will cover up the things that we want covered.
Q:
Won’t the clergy sitting behind the altar actually be more visible than
utilizing the current seating configuration? It seems like we might just see
their heads above the altar?
Answer:
This will be looked at closer by the Nave Renovation Committee.
Q:
Where will the Bishop’s chair be?
Answer:
This will be looked at closer by the Nave Renovation Committee
Q:
What about the shelf where the flowers currently are placed?
Answer:
It has not yet been determined where a shelf will be put on the new reredos, but
flowers
will be accommodated in the design.
Q:
What type of material will the new cross be made from?
Answer:
Not sure yet.This will be looked at closer by the Nave Renovation Committee
Q:
Why are we designing a reredos that doesn’t accommodate our current cross?
Answer:
It would be very difficult to provide space on the revised reredos that can
accommodate the size of our current cross, and which could be projected upon.
Discussions are underway about the use of the present cross in the new nave
design and it is possible that it could remain as part of the reredos with some
re working.
Q:
Are there really only about 4 seats lost? It seems like the calculations are off
a bit.
Answer:
We are having the architects review their calculations and will pass along the
information when we receive it. The loss of seats is not a compelling issue
given our capacity to expand seating for special services and also taking into
account our present average attendance. The church would feel more full and that
could increase participation.
Q: As
a follow-on to the last question, it seems that since we are expending a
significant amount of money for our future ministry we should also be adding to
our congregational seating, not decreasing it.
Answer:
That is a good point. We do hope to grow the congregation and ideas will be
considered that will address the issue of a need for additional congregational
seating.
2. Organ and Choir Area:
Q:
Will the organ be refurbished at St. Andrew’s?
Answer:
No, it will be transported to New York and to Pennsylvania for the required
refurbishments.
Q:
What is the timeline for the organ project?
Answer:
It will be removed from St. John’s, Norwood Parish by the end of June 2007. It
will then be transported to the two different venues for cleaning and
restoration and should be refurbished to our standards by the Summer of 2008. It
will remain in storage until it can be installed at St. Andrew’s.
Q:
What is the approximate cost for the organ refurbishment?
Answer:
The bid is expected to be $300,000 for removal, restoration and installation.
Including a contingency fee for cost override of approximately $42,000 the cost
could go as high as $340,000. The organ builders have said that once the
restoration is completed, it will sound like a brand new instrument that was
specifically designed for our space. The instrument will not need major work for
approximately 50 years when the organ leathers might need attention. The pipe
organ is not only a better instrument qualitatively speaking, but also a better
investment requiring only modest maintenance on an annual basis-- underscoring
the benefit of a pipe organ vs. a digital organ.
Q:
Where will the organ pipes be located?
Answer:
Most of the pipes will be within the organ room, as illustrated on page 8 of the
project booklet. In addition, pipes will extend along the wall where the choir
will be located. The coat rack will be removed and that area enclosed in the
organ room.
Q:
What will the décor be with the pipes? Will they be bright brass exposed pipes?
Answer:
The Organ Committee will be working with the organ builder to determine how best
to install the organ and which pipes to display. Exposed pipes are unlikely to
be finished with bright brass.
Q:
Will the installation of the organ in the rear portion of the nave mean that we
will lose seating for the congregation?
Answer:
Our architectural consultants have assured us there will be an actual loss of
fewer than 5 seats/spaces because the choir loft will be redesigned for general
congregation seating.
Q:
Will we continue to use the piano with the Youth Choir and if so, is there space
for it in the choir area?
Answer:
The piano is included in the layout for the choir space.
Q:
Will there be room for any additional instruments?
Answer:
Space has been allocated for additional instruments in the choir space.
3. Chapel, Narthex and Nave Loft:
Q:
What is the motivation for renovating the chapel?
Answer:
We want to be able to more fully utilize the space. The chapel also needs
additional light and people need to know that we have a chapel.
Q:
What will the loft be like?
Answer:
As illustrated on page 9 of the project booklet, it will include either chairs
or re-sized pews and will have seating for approximately 35. The loft will
include an audio-visual (A/V) station built in the front for use in various
aspects of worship. The large speaker boxes will be removed and new speakers
distributed throughout the sanctuary (possibly in new lights) to take advantage
of improved technology in sound and lighting.
Q:
Will the area of the Narthex be a separate HVAC zone, rather than combined with
the Nave as it is now?
Answer:
We have not addressed as yet appropriate zoning of the nave, narthex and
chapel---but clearly this is the right thing to do if our current duct work will
enable us to do this without excessive expense.
Q:
When the walls of the chapel are removed, how will the heating and cooling of
that area be affected?
Answer:
As you know, the chapel is on its own thermostat and HVAC. We are not certain
whether this will need to be resized. Clearly the issue of appropriate zoning
for the chapel, narthex and nave will need to be addressed in the final design
details.
Q:
What does opening the Chapel wall accomplish?
Answer:
The chapel will be more accessible to the Narthex and will accommodate overflow
seating more easily than the current design. In addition, all those coming into
the narthex will now see the Chapel’s beautiful stained glass windows.
Q:
Why wouldn’t we just move into the sanctuary if we had a group too big for the
current seating in the chapel?
Answer:
A group of 35 or so would be ‘lost’ in the sanctuary; by using the chapel with
the space just outside the chapel this size group could be accommodated.
Q:
Comment about the previous question: “I wouldn’t want to be one of the people on
the other side of the wall”.
Answer:
It won’t seem as if you are ‘on the other side of the wall’.
Q:
How will we minimize noise and disruption from the narthex for those worshipping
in a more open-design chapel?
Answer:
We’ll reintroduce in the narthex signage that alerts people that there is a
worship service in progress in the chapel.
Q:
Have we ever had an occasion where there will be services in the sanctuary as
well as the chapel?
Answer:
No. There probably won’t be an occasion where that would happen.
Q:
Has any thought been given to providing a sound-proof baby room?
Answer:
We haven’t experienced the need for such a room because parishioners with babies
or young children that are being noisy go into the narthex. There is some
seating there and since it has a good speaker system, so they can still hear
everything that is going on in the worship service.
Q:
Will placing the baptismal font in the chapel be encouraging private baptisms?
Where will it be located?
Answer:
No, there won’t be any additional emphasis on private baptisms. The baptismal
font will be moved from its current position in the Nave to the Chapel under the
baptismal stained glass window.It will be available for use in the chapel during
services on Wednesday, Saturday and during private family services.
Q:
Will there be a skylight in the chapel to bring in more natural light?
Answer:
Eliminating the solid barrier that exists between the narthex and chapel will
let more light into the chapel. In addition, there will be a skylight introduced
in the narthex, directly outside the door of the chapel. These two design
features will provide much more light and preclude the need for a skylight in
the chapel. Lighting in the chapel will likely be changed out in favor of
recessed lighting.
Q:
Will there be chairs or pews in the Chapel?
Answer:
Chairs will likely be used, as is the current practice.
Q:
Will the carpeting in the Chapel be the same red carpet we have now?
Answer:
The Chapel will be re-carpeted.
Q: Is
there any plan to change the plain window that is in the narthex and is adjacent
to the Holy Spirit stained glass window? You don’t see them together with the
current chapel configuration, but once the renovations are made, you will see
them side-by-side and it will look somewhat odd.
Answer:
There is not currently any plan for a change to that window. Because of the
width of the supports in the chapel wall the two windows will not be visible
together from many points within and outside the chapel. But, this will be
brought to the attention of the Nave Renovation Committee.
Q: I
think the removal of the coat rack near where the organ room will be will cause
people to bring their coats into the sanctuary instead of utilizing the other
coat racks. Will it be replaced?
Answer:
This will be a pretty minor change that parishioners will have to make. We may
need to make other arrangements. However, the coat rack in the passageway
between the narthex and parish hall is underutilized (except for Christmas Eve),
so there may be no need to replace the coat rack in the narthex.
Q: I
think there will be a lot of tension between parishioners and the choir when
parishioners use the double doors near the choir during worship. This is the
‘beeline to the education wing' and is used by many parents when they pick up
their children for communion.
Answer:
This is another area where some people will have to adjust. This was noted when
the Nave Renovation Committee met and will be looked at again. A different
arrangement in seating will create different patterns in the behavior of the
congregation which will not be problematic after a time of adjustment.
Q:
Will it be possible for the Contemporary Worship to be held in the Nave if it
outgrows the Parish Hall? Mainly, can the Netcasters fit in the proposed choir
space? The risers don’t seem deep enough to accommodate a chair, person and
stand. Measurements should be taken for the various scenarios: A. Netcasters, B.
Youth Choir C. Brass Ensembles D. Added Musicians.
Answer:
There is a representative from the Netcasters on the Nave Renovation Committee;
this question should be reviewed by the committee while examining the plans for
the layout of the choir area. There are no plans to move contemporary worship
into the nave because the nave cannot accommodate the “coffee house” room
arrangement we use for contemporary worship. The space on the risers and on the
floor should provide ample room for the Netcasters since they are a smaller
group.
Q:
Can the pews be eliminated and a moveable style seating be used for either the
entire nave or just on the choir side?
Answer:
[No answer was given, the suggestion was just raised] Nave pews could be
replaced by chairs but it would be extremely costly and not a useful change for
our purposes at this time. The new Nave loft is likely to be configured for
chairs, but plans are not yet complete.
Q:
Will the A/V console in the Nave loft be as high as the current organ in this
location?
Answer:
The A/V console will not be as high as the current organ and should not
interfere with one’s ability to fully participate in the worship service.
Q:
Will we need new A/V equipment installed in the nave loft?
Answer:
Yes, The AV equipment in the parish hall and multi purpose room will remain as
part of those rooms to support ministry activities there.
Q:
What type of floor surface will be used in the nave loft?
Answer:
The flooring will likely change, but will not be slate. The plans have not
reached this level of specificity as yet.
Q:
What sort of light fixtures will be installed in the narthex?
Answer:
The light fixtures will most likely complement those in the nave. The light
fixtures in the area where the coat rack is currently located may be left as is.
Q:
Will the carpeting in the narthex be replaced?
Answer:
Yes, both the chapel and narthex will be re-carpeted.
Q:
Will the slatted surfaces in the chapel and narthex all be replaced? What will
the new treatments look like?
Answer:
The slatted surfaces in the chapel and on the stairwell in the narthex leading
to the nave loft will be replaced with a treatment that complements the nave.
Q:
Will the railing in the nave loft be comparable to the railing in the narthex
staircase?
Answer:
Again, the plans have not reached this level of specificity, but we would expect
the railings to be compatible from both structural and aesthetic perspectives.
Q: Is
there any planned change to the sacristy currently located in the narthex?
Answer:
No, there is no planned renovation to the sacristy. It functions well as it is
and where it is presently.
4. Property Acquisition:
Q: If
we are as successful as we hope with this project and we continue our growth as
a parish, won’t we need to develop the property sooner than anticipated?
Answer:
That may well happen. We may have some overlap between completion of this
three-year campaign and next steps with the property development. We
anticipate that conceptualizing, designing, and developing the property
will most likely take 4-5 years or longer.
Q:
Are we moving full-steam ahead on the purchase of this property? I really think
we should!
Answer:
Definitely, yes. The property owner has indicated they are positioned to sell at this
time. They want to move to Leesburg to be closer to children. As soon as Mr.
X recovers from his recent knee surgery, we anticipate hearing from him
about next steps. The owner really likes us, and they want to sell to us---we
just need to come to terms on a fair price. Serious negotiations have started.
It is providential timing for both St. Andrew’s and the owner.
Q: Is
there any known competition for the property?
Answer:
Not that we know of. The owner is convinced that it only makes sense for us
to have it. We essentially have first right of refusal.
Q:
What is the current value of the property?
Answer:
The current assessed value of the property is $525,000. Both buyer and seller
will have the property appraised as part of the sale agreement process. We had
the property appraised about four years ago when we last engaged in negotiations
with the owner; at that time, the appraised value was $425,000-$450,000.
Q:
Will we employ someone to help us with the property purchase?
Answer:
St. Andrew’s congregation will buy it, with the help from a Real Estate attorney
we’ve used before. Zoning actions are yet to be determined.
Q:
Are there creative sale options that we might employ to assure success in the
upcoming round of property negotiations?
Answer:
We’re open to being as creative as we need to be in order to secure the property
for St. Andrew’s. A slowing housing market doesn’t really help us – not like
buying a house.
Q:
How is the property zoned?
Answer:
The property is zoned as “R1”, one acre residential with well and septic. We
have consulted with Fairfax County and know we would need to secure a special
use permit amendment. This would not be difficult to accomplish.
Q:
What are the short-term and long-term plans for the use of the owner's house?
Answer:
In the short-term, we would bring the building up to code and lay a
walkway to the house in order to make the space usable for our junior and senior
high classes. We might allocate some administrative space there, too. Existing
space there could be used almost immediately. However, the owner's house would
not include the church office which will remain where it is currently located.
In
the long term there are several possibilities, but we would likely
demolish the current structure in favor of a multi-use facility. Another key
consideration in the long term will be how to preserve green space as we develop
and use green building technology in doing so.
Q:
What has been the general reaction to Ministry for Tomorrow! you’ve
received in talking to parish friends and families ?
Answer:
“ Cool”, must-have; we’ve been coveting it for a long time!
Our
leadership team of Bob Edmonds, Chris Conrad and Doug Connell are working to
design the campaign in a manner that involves at least half of the congregation
in some aspect of campaign stewardship—be it training volunteers, marketing,
financing, fundraising activity, or engaging the membership in a broader sense
of stewardship and our future ministry. We fully intend to reach out to and
involve both past and current members.
Q:
Randall, how does your involvement with the county in housing issues relate to
this project?
Answer:
Not directly. However, down the road there is potential for including three SRO
units in our property development plans. These units could serve as a
model for area churches on creative ways to address our county’s homeless
problem. I see the homeless as one of three
priorities for our future growth in ministry. The other two priorities are
the elderly and our youth. It is important to note here that the majority
of newcomers to St Andrew’s are young couples and families—we owe it to our
young people to build for the future.
5. Finance and Capital Campaign:
Q:
What does the estimated cost of $2.1 M include?
Answer:
The acquisition of the property and worship space renovation and
enhancement (which includes organ acquisition and reconditioning, relocation of
choir to rear of nave, sanctuary redesign, chapel and narthex renovation and
nave loft renovation). It does not include renovation or construction of any
additional structures on the current property.
Q: Is
it correct that the purpose of this presentation is to ask the congregation for
approval of this project in order to move forward? And, do we have the necessary
monies to commit to next steps?
Answer:
There are funds that have been donated specifically toward each of these project
goals (property acquisition, nave renovation, organ replacement), but a
vote by the congregation is necessary in order to ascertain commitment on the
part of the congregation. It is important to understand that a vote to go
forward is a commitment to help make it happen. We’ll need everyone’s
participation.
Q:
Can the project be broken up into separate parts so that we don’t need to do
everything at one time?
Answer:
The proposed renovation and capital fund raising is strongly influenced by
events over which we have little influence or control.
-
Renovation:
It has been apparent for the past few years that our organ is failing and that
our ability to maintain it has been diminishing. We are now at a point where a
significant investment will be necessary to replace the current instrument. A
qualified professional assessment of our sanctuary has confirmed significant
acoustic deficiencies in the design and construction of our current nave and
sanctuary. Additionally, we are faced with ceiling damage from heavy rain
intrusion through the bell tower over the past 20 years and a lighting system
that has become increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain. In fact, we
were unable to obtain bids on replacing on our outmoded lighting ballasts this
year. We believe that we can provide for a new organ, improve acoustic and
design elements of the nave and sanctuary, and correct maintenance issues at
the least expense by approaching organ replacement and renovation as an
integrated effort; the cost of these three items alone represent
seventy-five per cent of the overall project.
-
Purchase of property:
We expect the property to become available for sale in the next few
months. The owner’s family circumstances are such that they now wish to move
closer to their children, so this is a window of opportunity for us. The last
sale of the property was more than 20 years ago. If we fail to successfully
purchase the property in the near future the next opportunity for purchase may
again be 10 – 20 years in the future. In the worst case, the property could be
sold to a developer who would subdivide and develop the property for housing
in a way that would preclude any prospect for us to purchase or use the
property in the future. We must be prepared to purchase the property at this
opportunity or risk its loss forever.
Q:
Will financing the project involve a loan from the Diocese?
Answer:
We will have to have a financing plan that allows us to go forth with the
purchase while we raise the additional funds. Our current thinking is to seek
funding from a source offering the best terms. We would then pay off the loan or
line of credit at the end of our fund-raising campaign.
Q:
When will we start the capital funds drive?
Answer:
Either start after Christmas or start it sooner if opportunity presented itself
– so as not to conflict with the annual stewardship campaign that provides us
resources for our annual operating budget. In reality, the campaign has already
begun; we have $100,000 + in the bank designated for the property and
approximately $100,000 more in the bank designated for other parts of this
project.
Q:
How long will the capital funds drive last?
Answer:
Both our Diocesan and outside fundraising consultants have recommended a 3 year
campaign. Given the transience of our parish membership, there will be fresh
opportunity in each of those three years to reach out to new folks. In
addition, after reviewing our membership and stewardship, both consultants
agreed that a 2.5 million dollar campaign is eminently doable in three years for
a parish our size (a measure used by our consultants is 2.5 – 3 x our annual
pledge income). We do not intend a long term mortgage to finance Ministry for
Tomorrow!
Q:
Has anything been done about involving the community in our endeavor?
Specifically, encouraging community members to consider attending St. Andrew’s
due to this exciting growth period.
Answer:
This hasn’t really been addressed, but the newly formed Capital Campaign
leadership team of Doug Connell, Bob Edmonds and Chris Conrad, welcomes
suggestions as well as new committee members. Please contact them directly if
you are interested in joining the Campaign committee. Now is definitely the time
to bring forth suggestions so they can be evaluated and incorporated into our
planning if deemed feasible.
6.
Other:
Q:
Are the needs of the various ministries being solicited in order to make sure
they will be met by the renovation and acquisition plan?
Answer:
A carefully selected committee, representative of a broad range of our
ministries, has been working to ensure that the proposed enhancements will
address the needs of the current ministries within the church. This committee
has also been reviewing all plans with the perspective of providing capacity for
our growing ministry
Q:
There is only one meeting designated for focus group meetings; can we have more?
Answer:
The schedule does not permit an additional meeting devoted to focus group
issues, but all questions and opinions are valued and we request that they be
submitted (via email, if possible) to Bill Adams, the Junior Warden, to John
Jaskot, the Senior Warden, or to the office.
Q:
What about voting? If we can’t be at the meeting on the 17th, can we
vote via absentee ballot?
Answer:
There have been many questions on this subject. It is clear that absentee
ballots are not allowed for vestry nomination meetings, but the canons are
silent on the use of absentee ballots in a situation such as this. Rev. Prior
has submitted an inquiry to the diocese in order to determine whether
parishioners can vote if they are not present. Rev. Prior also requests that
parishioners who know that they will be unable to attend the meeting write a
letter stating whether or not they support the project, sign the letter, and
send it to his attention. Their proxies will be included if possible.
Q:
How will you keep us informed about the voting issue as well as other aspects of
the project?
Answer:
We plan to use St. Andrew’s web site and the Net to keep you informed. The web
site will have a page dedicated to Ministry for Tomorrow! with information
including: A copy of the project brochure, Questions and Answers from all three
meetings, names and contact information for the Renovation Committee, Capital
Campaign Committee, other groups as they become identified, project updates,
and logistical information during renovation.
Q:
Can the current office and other administrative space be reconfigured so that
additional buildings do not need to be built?
Answer:
Reconfiguration will not alleviate the need for additional space. Our programs
and support staff have increased significantly over the past 20 years as
documented in the expanded breadth and depth of programs and ministry listed in
St Andrew’s 2006 annual report. Additional copies of the 2006 Annual Report are
available in the church office.
There
really isn’t any way to increase the amount of administrative and pre-school
Christian formation space within the current physical plant. St. Andrew’s needs
additional space for current and future ministry.
