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?

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.