As we lean into the much-needed task of improving our facilities for ministry and mission, the Facilities Improvement Team (FIT) is committed to helping the FBC congregation stay informed and engaged throughout the process. Be sure to read the bi-weekly FIT news and information in the churchwide email Updates and here on the FIT Blog.
FBC FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT TEAM (“FIT”) REPORT 2019-20 Program Year
As you know, the Facilities Improvement Team, now co-chaired by Dave Ryder and Lucy Plovnick, has been working hard for the last two-plus years to develop a proposal for addressing FBC’s numerous facilities issues, including working with developer Keener-Squire to negotiate a plan to (1) renovate and restore our existing Sanctuary Building (the 1955 Building), and (2) replace current Education Building (the 1983 Addition) with a new structure where the first floor and lower floors (basement and sub-basement) belong to FBC, while the upper floors become apartment space similar to The Drake. During the 2019-20 Program Year the FIT Team established five different sub-teams to tackle the many different aspects of this enormous project:
Development Team (led by Wil McBeath)
Design Team (led by Lucy Plovnick)
Finance Team (led by Dave Ryder)
Building Transition Team (led by Jay Guenthner)
CDC Wind Down Team (led by Sarah Hodges-Austin)
At the February 2020 congregational meeting, Wil McBeath and Lucy Plovnick gave a report on behalf of the FIT Development and Design Teams and shared a draft of the plans that Wil and our outside architect, Eric Colbert, have been working on for both the FBC floors of new building that will take the place of the Education Building, and the expected renovations planned for the Sanctuary Building. Following the meeting the FIT received feedback on the draft design from a few church members and also from Keener Squire, and Wil McBeath and Eric Colbert put their heads together to create some revised draft plans addressing those comments. The most recent version of the revised draft plans was presented to the Church Council in April, 2020, and is available here.
Important features of the revised draft plans include:
One over-arching goal we have had in the FIT process is to improve FBC’s accessibility for all people, particularly those with physical challenges. The plans reflect significant improvements in this area, such as the addition of a ramp in the Sanctuary to provide wheelchair access to the Chancel; a new elevator in the Narthex; a new elevator in the Sanctuary Building that will descend to the parking garage and access all floors; a relocated Youth Lounge; the additional of many accessible bathrooms; and relocating the Choir Room the rear of the Fellowship Hall so that it will have a high ceiling, adequate rooms for robing and storage, and easy elevator access.
A new entrance off O Street with a welcome center area.
Renovated Children’s Rooms with sink and toilet facilities on the ground floor, close to the O Street entrance and elevator.
Placement of all Sunday School Classrooms on the same floor, near one another.
Placement of all staff offices on the same floor, near one another.
Addition of two “bunk rooms” with shower facilities.
Restoration of the Sanctuary (including new lighting), renovating the Fellowship Hall and Narthex to make them more welcoming and improve access.
Elimination of the gym in favor of accessible parking with elevator access.
The plans are still a work in progress as we work with Eric Colbert and others to develop more detailed architectural drawings.
While the work of the FIT was slowed in some respects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FIT Team remains committed to moving FBC’s renovation project forward. The FIT Team plans to continue our ongoing projects of getting renovation design plans finalized, working on a financing plan, and starting the process of cleaning out the areas of the Education Building that were used by the CDC following its closure on March 31, 2020. We will continue to keep the congregation updated on our progress, and we ask that you please keep the FIT Team in your prayers as we all look forward to the time where the FBC building reopens and it is safe for us to gather together in person again.
FIT members:
Didier Ahimera, Alyssa Aldape, Kate Campbell, Chelsea Clarke, Rod Coates (Moderator), Ken Ellison, Jay Guenthner (FIT Transition Team Leader), Philip Hawkins, Sarah Hodges-Austin, Dennis Lambert, Wil McBeath, Bill Newell, Julie Pennington-Russell, Lucy Plovnick (FIT Co-Leader), Dave Ryder (FIT Co-Leader)
FIT Update: April 1, 2020
Dear FBC Family,
Even though we are all physically separated for a time due to COVID-19, the FIT Team remains committed to moving FBC’s renovation project forward. Last Thursday the FIT Team chairs and sub-team leaders met via telephone with Moderator Rod Coates, Pastor Julie, and our newly-called Executive Pastor Joel Campbell and discussed how we can best facilitate progress on FBC’s building issues while we find ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic challenges.
The FIT Team plans to continue our ongoing projects of getting renovation design plans finalized, working on a financing plan, and starting the process of cleaning out the areas of the Education Building that were used by the CDC following its closure on March 31, 2020. We will continue to keep the congregation updated on our progress, and we ask that you please keep the FIT Team in your prayers as we all look forward to the time where the FBC building reopens and it is safe for us to gather together in person again.
In Christ,
Lucy Plovnick and Dave Ryder
FIT Team Co-Chairs
FIT Update: March 4, 2020
FIT FAQs: Child Development Center
At the FBC Annual Meeting on May 5, 2019, the congregation approved the recommendation by the FIT that First Baptist Church wind down CDC operations so that the facility is closed as of June 30, 2020.
Q: What is the current status of the CDC?
Enrollment:
September 1, 2019: 80 children and 34 teachers
March 1, 2020: 33 children and 17 teachers
Active Classrooms:
September 1, 2019: 10 classrooms
March 1, 2020: 5 classrooms
Q: What about the CDC teachers?
Because FBC was able to give CDC staff and families 14 months to prepare for the CDC’s closing:
some teachers have chosen to continue their education while continuing to teach in our CDC
some already have transferred to other child development centers
one is following her heart to pursue a life-long dream
some teachers and CDC families are making plans for infant & toddler care in teachers’ homes (and elsewhere) after the CDC closes
CDC Director Carolyn Roebuck continues to gather information about openings at other centers and is sharing it with staff.
Carolyn plans to stay with the CDC past the closing date to help with the post-closing tasks that will need to be done. She is currently pondering her options and is looking forward to spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Q: What is the plan for the empty classrooms?
Short-term:
Construction, which is building the new Australian Embassy, will rent some of the vacated CDC classrooms in Fall 2020 (generating income for FBC).
Carolyn Roebuck and Sarah Hodges Austin are working together on the task of emptying the classrooms as they close, preparing for occupation by Clark Construction and renovation in the FIT process.
Long-term:
All classrooms in the Sanctuary building are slated for renovation as part of the FIT project.
FIT Update: February 19, 2020
FIT FAQs:
1. How long has the FIT been at work?
Moderator Rod Coates and former Executive Pastor Charlie Fuller formed the Facilities Improvement Team in January of 2018 for the purpose of addressing the many maintenance, repair and aesthetic issues associated with our Sanctuary building (completed in 1955) and the Education/Office building (completed in 1982).
2. What congregational decisions have been made at this point?
At the Annual Meeting on May 5, 2019, the congregation approved the following FIT recommendations:
First Baptist Church will enter into formal conversations with Keener-Squire Properties concerning replacing our current Education Building with a shared building. The FIT will return to the church to approve any proposals that come from these conversations.
First Baptist Church will wind down CDC operations over the next 14 months so that the facility is closed as of June 30, 2020.
3. Who is Keener-Squire Properties?
Keener-Squire has been a leading developer, owner and manager of apartments and condominiums in northwest Washington since 1984. The company has developed 34 projects, including The Drake apartment building which was constructed in 2014 through a land lease with First Baptist Church. Current plans allow Keener-Squire to build a 7-story structure on the land currently occupied by the FBC Education/Office building. First Baptist will occupy the ground level and two below-ground floors. Floors two through seven will be apartments similar to the Drake.
Keener-Squire also will renovate most floors of our Sanctuary building. The FIT has enlisted the services of architect Eric Colbert & Associates for this renovation. Mr. Colbert is working with FBC member (and architect) Wil McBeath on architectural drawings for our spaces. Wil shared the preliminary plans at the congregational meeting on Feb. 2 and asked for congregational input.
February 2, 2020 Facilities Improvement Team Update
As we lean into the much-needed task of improving our facilities for ministry and mission, the Facilities Improvement Team (FIT) is committed to helping the FBC congregation stay informed and engaged throughout the process. Be sure to read the bi-weekly FIT news and information in the churchwide email Updates and here on the FIT Blog.
Lucy Plovnick, FIT Co-Leader
Recap of congregational meeting held February 2, 2020
by FIT Co-Leader Lucy Plovnick
As you know, the Facilities Improvement Team, co-chaired by Dave Ryder and me, has been working hard for the last two-plus years to develop a proposal for addressing FBC’s numerous facilities issues, including working with developer Keener-Squire to negotiate a plan to (1) renovate and restore our existing Sanctuary Building (the 1955 Building), and (2) replace current Education Building (the 1983 Addition) with a new structure where the first floor and lower floors (basement and sub-basement) belong to FBC, while the upper floors become apartment space similar to The Drake. The FIT Team has been hard at work and has established five different sub-teams to tackle the many different aspects of this enormous project:
Development Team (led by Wil McBeath)
Design Team (led by Lucy Plovnick)
Finance Team (led by Dave Ryder)
Building Transition Team (led by Jay Guenthner)
CDC Wind Down Team (led by Sarah Hodges-Austin)
At last weeks’ congregational meeting, Wil McBeath and I gave a report on behalf of the FIT Development and Design Teams and shared the most recent draft of the plans that Wil and our outside architect, Eric Colbert, have been working on for both the FBC floors of new building that will take the place of the Education Building, and the expected renovations planned for the Sanctuary Building. You can look at a copy of the draft plans here.
Important features of the draft plans include:
One over-arching goal we have had in the FIT process is to improve FBC’s accessibility for all people, particularly those with physical challenges. The plans reflect significant improvements in this area, such as the addition of a new elevator in the Narthex; a new elevator in the Sanctuary Building that will descend to the parking garage and access all floors; ramp-access to the relocated Youth Lounge; the additional of many accessible bathrooms; and relocating the Choir Room so that it will have easy elevator access.
A new entrance off O Street with a welcome center area.
Renovated Children’s Rooms with sink and toilet facilities on the ground floor, close to the O Street entrance and elevator.
Placement of all Sunday School Classrooms on the same floor, near one another.
Placement of all staff offices on the same floor, near one another.
Addition of two “bunk rooms” with shower facilities.
Restoration of the Sanctuary (including new lighting), renovating the Fellowship Hall and Narthex to make them more welcoming and improve access.
Elimination of the gym in favor of accessible parking with elevator access.
As Wil explained during the meeting, the plans are still a work in progress and we would appreciate the congregation’s input as we move forward with the help of the FIT Finance Team to start working on addressing ways to finance the project. If you have comments or questions, please speak to Wil, Lucy, Dave, or any FIT Team member.
FIT members:
Didier Ahimera, Alyssa Aldape, Kate Campbell, Chelsea Clarke, Rod Coates (Moderator), Ken Ellison, Jay Guenthner (FIT Transition Team Leader), Philip Hawkins, Sarah Hodges-Austin, Dennis Lambert, Wil McBeath, Bill Newell, Julie Pennington-Russell, Lucy Plovnick (FIT Co-Leader), Dave Ryder (FIT Co-Leader)