Facilities

Facilities Goal Team Update – April, 2010

In February the Building Goal Team introduced a Master Site Plan. The plan is available on the north wall of the lobby. They have received many important comments, ideas and concerns that continue to shape the next phase of building. The plan in total includes a lot of documentation of our current facilities and site, agreements with the local government agencies, input from the Joy! community and more.

There are a couple of important things to know about the Master Plan. This is a plan that attempts to answer the space needs for many years to come. It is comprehensive in its approach though it comes with an understanding that it will be adjusted and refined as the design process continues. Even though it shows the details of a complete build out, it is really just intended to be used as a general mapping of future space.

That said, there have been some important decisions made in this process by the Building Goal team. One decision is that this Master Plan is the basic footprint for future building. The architects and the team discussed other options such as building to the East instead of to the South. Each option, including the one in the plan, addresses important needs but also creates challenges. The team believes the Master Plan addresses the needs and challenges the best.

The next phase of architectural planning will be focused on the space adjacent to the south of our current facilities. The plan is to create a space that will be the center piece of the building when it is complete. It will provide the main entry point into a welcoming and hospitable environment. It will set a tone for each person who walks through the Joy! doors. It will include a lobby area, informal and un-programmed space for people to connect and gather, as well as classrooms and conference rooms. The current facility will be remade into classrooms and multipurpose space for youth and children’s ministry as well as office space. The current worship space will be enhanced so that it will better reflect the needs of our worship gatherings, providing a more worshipful experience.

In this phase of design we’ll make adjustments and look at various configurations to conquer the challenge of meeting our missional needs. This is all about accomplishing our mission, not simply building a building or making things more comfortable for us…though it may do that. With the Master Plan as a guide, the new building may move a little one way or another…higher, lower, wider, deeper, etc. We’ll decide what can and cannot be used from the Master Plan’s concepts. We’ll look at specific improvements of our current worship space. All of this will be done as we look at the financing of the building. We’ll be deciding what we can afford and/or how much we might stretch.

So the next couple of steps in the process are to contract with the architects to continue the design process and choose a capital stewardship firm to help us with a capital campaign. At this time the plan is to do a capital campaign next fall and break ground on the new facilities in the spring or summer of 2011. There is a lot to be accomplished if we are going to hold to this timeline. We are moving ahead cautiously but also with a strong sense that we can and will accomplish our goals.

Please pray for God’s guidance and for a leadership that is discerning God’s intentions for us. Please pray about your part in all of this. How will you join the effort to grow the Joy! mission as we move toward this phase of building? Be sure to check out the Master Plan and the brochures on the wall near the drawings. Joy! is blessed to have the opportunity to make this next step a reality.

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Facilities Goal Team Update – March, 2010

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: Why do we need to make our spaces larger or modify the spaces we have?

A:  Our Youth are currently squeezed into classrooms and modifying and expanding our facilities have long been identified as needs for Joy!.  Several past consulting studies in 2005, the 2007 TCI (Transforming Church Institute) assessment, and our internal Strategic Planning Team in 2008 resulted in our 3 current goals teams.  Improving and modifying our campus supports objectives from all three goal team’s (Hospitality, Discipleship, and Facilities).

Q:  Given the state of the economy, job loss, etc., is this a good time to build or modify facilities?

A:   We are in difficult economic times and we believe God will guide us through the process of determining what our plans should be.  Our weekly attendance has been increasing and giving is up about 13%.  We also believe modifications to Joy! supports our mission of reaching neighbors with God’s radical love to change lives.

Q:  How will Joy determine what plan to implement?

A:   The plan we decide to implement will be based on a combination of factors including which plan the Facilities Team recommends, the amount of debt we believe is appropriate for Joy! to carry, the amount we are allowed to borrow, and ultimately by a congregational vote of acceptance.

Q:  How will we pay for an expansion and what will it cost?

A:   The expansion will be paid for by money in our Building Fund account (including the amount reimbursed back to the Building Fund from the mortgage pay down), money raised through a capital campaign, and any additional needed via a loan. Rough conceptual estimates for the entire Future State plan are estimated between $6 – $7 million and a phased approach, from $1.8 to $2.5 million.

Q:  How were our needs and wants identified?

A:  Our needs were based on numerous items including historical assessments and surveys, the 2007 TCI (Transforming Church Initiative), recent congregational “visioning” brainstorming, ministry & small group surveys, Facilities and Strategic Planning team’s input, facility usage data, and the our architect’s (RuckPate) expert knowledge who has worked with numerous churches and educational organizations building and modifying facilities. 

Q:  How soon will we break ground?  When will it be complete?

A:   We would like to break ground the Spring or Summer of 2011 however this depends on acceptance of an approved detailed plan, gaining needed  funding, and permits.

Q:  Will anything be done to improve the entrance/exit to the property, what implications are there in this?

A:  We definitely would like to modify ingress and egress to the property and are reviewing changes such as better visibility, wider lanes, turn lanes, safer drop-off area, and an additional roadway from the property.

Q:  Where can I get more information and stay up to date on the progress?

A:  You can stay current on changes through updates in newsletters, church bulletins and our website www.overthetopfans.org.

Q:  In the Visioning event the top priority was a better worship space.  The phased approach would not provide that until the final phase.  Why not?

A:  Large modifications to our current multi-purpose worship space are not included in the Phased approach.  This minimizes money put into a space which will ultimately not be used as our main worship space and maximizes money spent on permanent spaces such as a new, larger, Joy! Connection.  However, funds are budgeted to enhance and modify the current worship space to make it more useful and aesthetically pleasing in the short term and may include modifying and enlarging the stage, lighting, paint, and storage.

Q:  How was the size of the new space determined and will it take us into the future?

A:  The size of the new spaces were based on current and future space usage, attendance, square footage required for various types of seating, and expected growth in membership and support staff.

Facilities Goal Team Update – February, 2010

On February 7 we unveiled Joy’s! master plan to the congregation at our Over the Top Fans celebration. What a glorious thing to see God’s work being done in front of our eyes! The congregation was able learn about the plan, view the architect’s conceptual elevations and layout boards, ask questions, and make suggestions.

We’re looking forward to next steps, including current concept evaluation, additional design development, and funding. The Elevation drawings depict a possible Future State with a new sanctuary, additional rooms, new lobby (or “Joy Connection”), relocated new entrance, additional restrooms and new kitchen, and so much more!  Joy! is engaged in planning for both near and long-term improvements and these plans are preliminary.

As we progress with our plans, your ideas and suggestions are vital! Please email your feedback to info@joylutheran.org.

Facilities Team: We are working to modify our facilities to better reflect our values and move us toward our mission. Our team includes: Paul Ancona, Roland Bellman, Larry Bloom, Talea Bloom, Deanna Horne, Jan Keane, Laura Kline, Raeann Mitchell, Marty Reiling, Gloria Ricchio, Gail Schrader, John Schrader, Bob Strakusek, Jerry Voigt, Jeff Cassidy, Jim Keane, and Jennifer Bellman.