Much has been accomplished over the past year and we are coming into early 2024 in a good place. As a reminder, the scope of the project is to renovate our Social Hall, Kitchen, and West Clifton entrance, and to update the systems (i.e.: mechanical, electrical, plumbing, asbestos, HVAC) that support these spaces. These are very active facilities used by many groups in our congregation, and it has been about 70 years since they were last renovated.
2023 Accomplishments:
- We gathered input regarding design needs from a number of different groups who use the spaces regularly. Using this input, Scott Richardson and members of his firm collaborated with our architects Dave Maddux and Rick Benos at The Arcus Group to prepare preliminary designs which were shared with the congregation in May.
- At the same time, we expanded our working group with additional talent from the congregation and began discussions about how to organize a capital campaign. We began conversations with UCC’s Building and Loan Fund, which helps UCC congregations in major church renovation and church building projects. After several conversations, including a group interview and references from other congregations, we signed a contract with UCC’s Building and Loan Fund in June, with Rev. Sarah Jones as our primary consultant for our project.
- Consulting with Rev. Joanna and our team, we identified nearly forty LCC members to be confidentially interviewed by Rev. Sarah Jones for a Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study helps to determine the congregation’s level of support and gathers additional input for us to factor into the project. The findings were overall very positive, showing strong support for the project as an important enhancement to our Church, and a broad willingness to provide time and donations to help the project to be successful. The overall recommendation from the Feasibility Study was that we have a high probability of success for our upcoming capital campaign.
- Meanwhile, The Arcus Group and Richardson Design worked the next few months on refining the renovation designs based on input from the congregation. They also completed preliminary engineering assessments for mechanical, electrical, asbestos, and kitchen needs. This further work was needed to assemble a project cost estimate and prepare for the construction drawings and upcoming bidding process.
Many thanks to the members of our Campaign and building teams for their leadership in 2023, and to our our newly appointed Task Group Chairs, who, with help from the Rev. Sarah Jones and guidance from the UCC Building and Loan Fund, have now formed small teams to address specific project needs to make our campaign successful. Below is a list of people who helped on the project in 2023:
John Bando, Rachel Burns, Joanna D’Agostino*, Michael Fleenor, Kristen Humphreys, Kim Katzenberger*, Nora Katzenberger*, Patti Komperda*, Cathy Kuhn, Catherine Lawrence, Karen Lee, Nate McLaughlin, Val Mechenbier*, Scott Richardson*, Sharon Schuldt*, Vicki Smigelski*, Mike Summers, Robin Suttell*, Scott Suttell*, Missy Toms*, Eric Tuck-Macalla, Devon Waddell-Stephens, and Julie Warren*, and numerous interviewees – from caterers to community meal preparers, from preschool teachers to youth musical producers, from musicians to social workers – who provided valuable input as to how the spaces are used.
*Task Group Chair
Also a special thanks to Scott Richardson and Richardson Design, which has generously donated their design work on the project.
We have selected a name for our campaign: Give, Gather, Grow: Building For Community. The team is excited to accelerate progress in 2024, and with the input and support of the Congregation, complete a successful campaign and renovation.
While we are working on our capital campaign, The Arcus Group and Richardson Design will complete construction drawings so we can apply for permits and put the project out to bid. We expect to be in a position to start the renovation in late spring.
The estimated project cost is $1,584,197. Below is the breakdown of construction costs by category:
| West Clifton Entrance | $94,916 |
| Social Hall & Stage | $557,787 |
| Kitchen | $267,007 |
| Electrical, Mechanical, Safety & Asbestos | $292,800 |
| Kitchen Equipment & Social Hall Furniture | $89,000 |
| Theater Lighting & Sound | $50,000 |
| Architecture, Design, & Engineering Fees | $120,000 |
| UCC Advisors & Other Campaign Costs | $62,166 |
| Construction & Other Contingencies | $50,521 |
Questions? Email the campaign team: givegathergrow@lcc-church.org