STEP 3 | 2018 Schematic: FAQs
MASTER PLAN
Q: Is the 5% growth rate assumed in the master plan realistic?
A: The 5% membership growth rate is a conservative assumption. In some past years growth was higher, but it could be lower in future years, resulting in 5% continuing to be a valid planning percentage.
Q: Is there a plan to remove any of the existing stained-glass windows at the historic Christ Church?
A: No. The current proposal does not directly impact the historic Christ Church in any way.
Q: How will people get from the historic church to and from the proposed sanctuary/pavilion if it is raining?
A: The cost of covered walkways is cost prohibitive. People will continue to need umbrellas.
Q: Can we do anything to change the structure of the historic church, can we expand it?
A: During the survey, people expressed they did not want to make any changes to historic CCF because there are no easy changes to make to that historic structure without ruining its essence.
Q: Did the Vestry contact any architects who specialize in designing around historic buildings?
A: The Vestry did not approach architects specializing in historic buildings because the Vestry decided against modifying the historic church. There are graves around the historic church, so there are severe limits to how much work can be done to the historic church’s footprint.
Q: I think the biggest strength of the CCF congregation is the original church, why are we moving from there?
A1: There is no intention of moving everything from the original church. Rather, the proposed construction provides new room elsewhere rather than adding more services that people do not express an interest in attending (based on prior surveys) in the single structure.
A2: There is no intent to design/build a new Christ Church, rather expand the worship space for the CCF community within a structure that compliments the site.
Q: Does a proposed sanctuary in the new building mean CCF is adding a fifth service?
A: CCF currently offers five services, one on Saturday, and four on Sunday morning, including the two simultaneous 9:15 a.m. services. Right now, the demand for a 9:15 a.m. is large enough to require two services, but with the new building the population can consolidate into the new sanctuary, taking us back to four services. Having two simultaneous services strains the staff and organizational resources.
Q: What will be done with the historic Christ Church?
A: The parish will continue to use the historic Christ Church for services, but it cannot handle the influx of congregants that attend the Sunday, 9:15 a.m. service. There is no plan to sideline the historic church, and docents will remain.
PROPOSED SANCTUARY/PARISH HALL
Q: Are we modifying or tearing down the existing parish hall facility.
A: The existing parish hall will be demolished. One proposal was to remodel the existing building, but proposed design concepts did not lend themselves to providing an adequate sanctuary space or flow of people without having people walking through the sanctuary between offices and classrooms.
Q: Is the proposed sanctuary more for benefit of those attending the 9:15 a.m. service?
A: The new sanctuary space primarily benefits those attending the 9:15 a.m. service, but the larger facility address all of our space need. The 9:15 am service currently represents ½ of our total regular worshipping community, and with a larger space that could grow to 2/3 or more. We currently have staff in closets and adult classres in undersized spaces inside the existing parish hall building. In addition, the new sanctuary space is flexible and has many uses that will benefit the entire congregation and community. We are trying to address all our space needs. We designed the proposed sanctuary/pavilion, initially, with the assumption we would not have a pavilion, so the current design provides for many, many uses.
Q: How does choir get down to altar rail?
A: The proposed sanctuary/parish hall has a second-floor choir loft. There are stairwells on either side of the choir loft as well as an elevator.
Q: Can we look at placing the choir at the front of the nave?
A: Hank Houser (House Walker Architects) discussed the design process given the existing choir size and how the singers would fit around the front of the nave. Moving the choir up front would cause the sanctuary space to widen and decrease the overall number of seats.
Q: Is an acoustical engineering involved in designing the sanctuary?
A: Houser Walker Architects has an acoustical engineer on staff and has identified an acoustical engineer for final design in its proposal. However, during the schematic design stage an acoustical engineer is not yet directly involved in the building’s specific design with regard to finishes and surfaces. The general design is favorable to musical acoustics.
Q: Will the new sanctuary/parish hall have an organ?
A: The current design provides space for a pipe organ in the choir loft, but the funding for a pipe organ will be a future fundraising goal. Currently, CCF uses an electric organ and the technology is such that the sound quality of electric organs and speakers is constantly improving. The space is conceived with an initial digital organ.
Q: Traditionally altars face east, but the proposed sanctuary/parish hall has an altar facing west, why?
A: East facing altars are a tradition, but not a requirement. The west facing altar (as exists now in the parish hall) will remain to help the space remain a pleasant space to worship in on early Sunday mornings.
Q: Does the new sanctuary provide for parish hall space.
A: Yes. The south side of the first floor shows space for kitchen with serving and dining areas. Houser Walker Architects designed the space within the proposed sanctuary/parish hall to be flexible, so the
parish hall and the nave are connected by multiple doors for bigger events. Additionally, the nave seating uses chairs instead of pews to provide further flexibility.
Q: One member of the congregation expressed concern about the mobility of the choir moving up/down all the stairs and the average choir age of being around 68 years old with one member being 86.
Why does the choir have to go up and down stairs for processioning?
A: The building committee and architect consulted with other churches and CCF staff including the music director. The building’s design changed over time to consider the choir, and the building committee believes it makes the best use of available space. There is recognition that the average age of choir members creates mobility issues, and those issues exist today without a choir loft. Some choir members already do not process, nor do they need to travel downstairs to receive communion in such a design. Communion can be brought to the choir loft. The choir loft also provides space for the bells, other musicians, and a future pipe organ.
A: Per HWA, it’s common for churches to feel an issue with accessibility, and there are still design considerations that can help, such as exploring the number of levels for choir seating in the choir loft.
A: The Building Committee looked at many options for the choir, and moving the choir room and choir seating drastically changes the shape of the building. Given the site limitations impact on the building design along with given needs, church leaders will likely have to make choices that not everyone will like.
Q: Do you (Fr. Purdy) envision the normal procession as we have today?
A: Yes. A Sunday service would function like today with easier movement.
Q: The architect talked about windows on all four sides of the sanctuary, but how does sunlight reach the room with the second story gables?
A: There are Clerestory windows on the norther and southern walls that will provide daylighting into the sanctuary in addition to the large eastern and western windows.
Q: Will there be chairs or pews in the proposed sanctuary/pavilion?
A: Chairs. The design idea is that chairs provide more flexibility for multiple uses. The chairs will be cathedral chairs that are high quality that support people kneeling. A point of reference are photos of the National Cathedral’s chairs.
Q: Is there only one aisle in the nave?
A: There are at least three aisles by design: one aisle down the center with two aisles on either side. Give the use of chairs instead of pews, additional aisles can be created based on chair layout.
Q: How do you think people will get to/from the altar from their chairs.
A: The three aisles allows for people to approach the altar down the center aisle and return to their seats along the side aisles.
Q: With the proposed floor plan, how do one get to the restroom from the kitchen area.
A: There is no restroom space adjacent to the kitchen, so one must walk through the narthex to the restrooms (there are also restrooms directly overhead on the second floor).
Q: The restrooms appear to be adjacent to the sanctuary, won’t that create a noise concern?
A: The plumbing for these restrooms is not in the shared wall. And insulation can be added between the wall between the restrooms and sanctuary.
Q: There was a question raised about the general coloring of the sanctuary interior in the presentation renderings not reflecting Episcopal traditions.
A: At this stage of the schematic design stage, specific colors for walls, carpets, and other features has not been a major focus, so many of the renderings are based on default coloring assigned by computer software.
PROPOSED PAVILION
Q: Is the pavilion a separate building from the sanctuary/parish hall structure?
A: Yes. The pavilion is proposed on land to the west of the existing parish hall.
Q: Could new pavilion be rented out?
A: Yes. The current schematic design for an enclosed pavilion could make it a viable and in-demand rental space on St. Simon’s Island, which could provide a revenue source for CCF; however, further analysis is necessary to determine how often CCF would make the space available, the demand, rental rates, and maintenance costs.
Q: Does the cost estimate include providing stained-glass windows for the new sanctuary/parish hall?
A: The cost estimate includes costs for high quality glass, but it does not specify costs for the installation of stained-glass windows. Stained-glass windows and other features (e.g. a pipe organ) will be part of future fundraising efforts.
Q: How many guests would the proposed pavilion hold?
A: Given the current schematic design, there is room for 256 seats using round tables (8 chairs to a table) within the glass walls. There is room for 350+ seating using round tables outside in the elliptical lawn, or 400 people with just chairs for seating.
Q: Will the pavilion restroom drain to a sanitary sewer?
A: Yes.
Q: Will the restroom facilities in the proposed pavilion handle 400+ people? What about a dressing area for renters, such as bridal parties?
A: First, the proposed pavilion is not designed to be a stand-alone facility, and so the existing restrooms meet code, but renting the proposed pavilion space might require opening proposed sanctuary/parish hall space for supporting uses. Second, CCF would expect renters of the proposed pavilion to provide chairs and tables for seating as well as portable restrooms depending on the number of invitees.
Q: Is the proposed pavilion designed more for wedding receptions than wedding ceremonies?
A: Yes. The building committee envisioned it more for receptions. There is no desire to “go into the wedding business”, but we think pavilion could provide a space for receptions of all kinds when CCF is not using it.
Q: How many adult Sunday school rooms are in the new building?
A: All the proposed rooms are designed to provide multiple uses as needed, but as designated there will be two large adult classrooms.
Q: Looking at the plan view of the pavilion, it seems to have inadequate storage space?
A: Renters would need to provide their own chairs (i.e. rentals) as the design provides storage only for CCF needs.
Q: If the pavilion becomes an event space, you essentially create a business, and the pavilion would be important to build first. There needs to be a bride’s room, powder room, men’s room in the pavilion to make it viable.
A: The pavilion is not being designed as a specific wedding venue, but for the greater needs of the parish.
Q: If the pavilion becomes a banquet hall/conference center, then I want to leave. Building the pavilion is not the CCF mission. I think the current design looks too much like a banquet hall, but a covered pavilion is a great idea.
A1: The design team, with building committee input, created the proposed pavilion design around church events, and as a complimentary facility to the proposed sanctuary/parish hall.
A2: Fr. Purdy: Modern churches are encouraged to look for ways in which their space can be made available to the public to both engage with the larger community and as potential sources of revenue. Generating revenue is not our primary goal, and we can limit when people utilize the pavilion. The proposed pavilion does potentially provide a resource to help implement our vision and fund our overall mission.
PROPOSED RELOCATION OF ST. IGNATIUS
Q: Will St. Ignatius use the same foundation?
A: Yes. The foundations for St. Ignatius will be the same or similar, just moved and rotated. Based on initial feedback from company’s the move buildings, moving and rotating St. Ignatius should be relatively simple.
Q: Please explain the parish hall in the diagram for the St. Ignatius master plan?
A: As part of the master plan, there is a parish hall across the property from the chapel, but that structure is NOT part of the current proposal.
Q: Is there going to be a covered drop off area at St. Ignatius?
A: There will be a drop off area in front of the main door, and a covered drop off area could be added at a future date if needed.
Q: Will St. Ignatius be wheel chair accessible and provide easy access the pews?
A: Yes. The wheel-chair ramp leads into the side of the chapel and right to the front row.
FORT FREDERICA ROAD REALIGNMENT
Q: The cost estimate to CCF for aligning for Frederica Road is $445,400. Does CCF have to provide that funding all on its own?
A: The total cost estimate for the Frederica Road realignment is $1,324,700. The U.S. National Parks Service will contribute approximately $47,700; Glynn County will provide approximately $50,000; and the Federal Highway Administration will provide $781,600. CCF’s overall share of the funding will be $445,400. The fundraising consultant may help identify revenue sources to contribute towards Christ Church’s portion of the cost.
Q: Are we still looking at a land swap with the Fort to help with expansion?
A: In late 2018, CCF leadership and Jeremy Marquis will meet with Glynn County to discuss a one-for-one land swap as part of the Frederica Road realignment. If Glynn County approves of this land swap, the newly available land will allow the CCF parish to continue to expand, if necessary, even into the future. There are no active plans to pursue a land swap with Ft. Frederica.
SITE WORK + PARKING
Q: With so much focus on the proposed buildings, what about the new parking? What is the cost, layout, and timing for construction?
A: Per the current proposal, there is approximately $3,945,300 in site work for the proposed sanctuary/parish hall and pavilion which includes drive aisles, parking spaces, and sidewalks. These funds provide for 160 dedicated parking spaces in vicinity of the proposed sanctuary/parish hall and historic church once Frederica Road is realigned; furthermore, there is a potential for 92 dedicated parking spaces for the proposed pavilion. Additionally, there will be space for 2-3 buses. The parking drive aisles would likely be asphalt with a mix of pervious and impervious materials making up the parking spaces. Special care is going into the vehicular circulation routes to avoid cutting down healthy trees.
Q: Is the new Frederica Road being built on church property?
A: No. There will be a land swap, so the road will be built on Glynn County property. The master plan image shows interior roads and pathways.
Q: Will constructing the pavilion create the need for an archeologist?
A: We have already done an initial archeological survey. A definitive need for an ongoing archeologist has not yet been shown, but House Walker Architects identified an available archeologist within their proposal just in case.
Q: What are the impacts on cemetery?
A: There is no intention to move or directly impact any graves. The site work funding includes rebuilding some of the existing brick walkways, which might appear to impact grave sites in the drawings.
Q: Do we have enough room to bury additional people in the graveyard if we go ahead with all the new construction?
A: There will be a day when CCF runs out of room for gravesites, but there exist enough unsold burial plots so that day is likely 20-25 years away. Given trends toward cremation, that day pushes farther into the future beyond 25 years. The Vestry has raised the idea of construction a columbarium in future phasing, and, for example, cremated remains can go into biodegradable containers extending useable space and time almost without limit.
Q: How far is the distance between the proposed pavilion and the proposed sanctuary/parish hall.
A: The sanctuary/parish hall is centrally located to be as close to equidistant from historic church and pavilion.
GENERAL FUNDING + TIMING
Q: Where will Sunday school classes meeting during construction?
A: Depending on the Vestry’s decisions on moving forward, there are three options currently under study. An option is to build the pavilion first and move parish hall activities to it while the new sanctuary/pavilion is under construction. Another option is to bring temporary structures onto the CCF campus. The third option is renting/leasing/borrowing facilities from around the local community.
Q: The presentation covers a road realignment, a new sanctuary/parish hall, a new pavilion, and a realignment of St. Ignatius. Which of these projects would start first?
A: The presentation identifies “Phase 1A” as the Frederica Road Realignment as the first project, and it must come first due to the commitment of resources by external stakeholders.
Phase 1B includes the construction of new buildings and the realignment of St. Ignatius, and these projects can start (or not) at later dates based on the Vestry’s prioritization and available funds.
Fr. Purdy did state, given the evaluation of the site and various construction methods, the construction of a new sanctuary/parish hall, if approved, would not be a phased project The site doesn’t allow for phasing the new building. Workers would demolish the existing building and construct a new building consecutively.
Q: Are there sources of funding from outside the CCF congregation?
A: The Vestry has hired Sinclair Townes and Co. as our consultant to conduct a fundraising feasibility study including investigating non-parishioner funding. CCF will investigate other sources of revenue such as foundations, potential donors with interests in the CCF, income from a visitor center and/or pavilion, and mortgages, as needed and prudent.
Q: What consideration is being given to the different types and costs of materials (i.e. roofing, windows, etc.) in cost estimating process?
A: There has been no final selection of materials for the new sanctuary/parish hall, pavilion, or addition to St. Ignatius, or the site features (pervious or impervious parking materials). The decision to use specific materials will reflect CCF values. Often, people ask about the “sustainability” of materials which various organizations attempt to certify (i.e. the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation), and, along with other decisions, the Vestry will decide if such accreditation is worth formally pursuing. Regardless, we are planning on following the spirit of LEED construction principles.
Q: Will the construction of the proposed buildings increase CCF insurance costs?
A: An underwriter has not yet evaluated the proposed structures, but Fr. Purdy expects costs to increase if the Vestry approves the existing proposal. Fr. Purdy believes the existing insurance is fairly priced and a good value, and the improvements is energy efficiency in a new sanctuary/parish hall could help offset additional fixed costs.
Q: What will be the maintenance and cleaning cost of a new building, especially for a rentable pavilion?
A: Replacing the existing parish hall with a new sanctuary/parish hall limits the need for fixed costs. Adding a new pavilion does increase fixed costs, but it might also provide an income source to offset those costs. The Building Committee is investigating highly efficient HVAC systems that, while more expensive up front, could provide significant cost savings in the future compared to current costs.
Q: I’m really impressed the proposed designs. I don’t like leaving the 9:15 a.m. service held in the historic church for the new sanctuary, but now that I’ve seen it I am much more comfortable. What about the fundraising? How will get all that money?
A: The Vestry engaged Sinclair Townes and Co., a fundraising firm to conduct a fundraising feasibility study that will help answer this question? The Vestry does not know what is possible given our history of one or two major donors funding historic larger projects. There are foundations and “friends” of CCF who might support a capital campaign, but nothing will happen unless available funding to pay for it has been identified.
Q: How long is the parish hall going to be out of service?
A: Most likely 18 months. Once the Vestry decides what construction to proceed with, decisions can be made on when/where to move existing parish hall activities.
Q: Couldn’t the proposed cost of $15,000,000 be better spent helping people rather than constructing a building for a single service? We could use a new parish house, but this is an entire new church.
A: This is a question the Church has wrestled with since Jesus’ own experiences in the gospel. Ultimately, when the congregation invests in its physical resources to allow it to grow, we are multiplying our ability to positively affect the community, including helping those who need it.
Q: If we could keep using the historic chapel, what about adding chairs in the aisles, or what about using overflow spaces?
A: Fr. Purdy stated that, based on experience and anecdotal feedback, people would rather go home than sit in overflow, and people cannot sit people in the aisles per fire codes. CCF already has two preachers in multiple worship spaces, but the church has limited space based on the numbers of people wanting to attend worship services at the 9:15 our or for special events.
Q: I’m concerned with the economic viability of the proposal for the pavilion, are we going to bring in $250,000 per annum from renting the pavilion to pay for its construction?
A: Most likely not. The Vestry believes there will be a demand for rentals, but that assumption will require further analysis. If people do not want the pavilion, then it will not be built; moreover, if we do not believe we have the money to build the pavilion, we will not build it. The pavilion was last item to make it into the proposal, and it has multiple potential uses for the congregation.
Q: I don’t know about the economics, but it seems like this proposal will cost the average church family $100,000 without some significant support by major donors?
A: We are praying for major donors! Right now, CCF has no idea what amount of funds are potentially available to realize the construction of the proposed buildings and site plan, but that will become clearer in December when the Vestry receives the capital campaign feasibility report. Please respond to the survey(s) coming your way as we try to estimate those figures.