Building Project update — June 2025
At a meeting after church on June 8, capital campaign leaders shared information with the congregation about the status of our building project.
watch the recording of the meeting here.
The financial update is that we now have $5.56 million in pledges and donations. At the same time, the estimated total cost of the project is now $5.75 million. That represents a 7% increase from the estimate last fall due to rising construction costs and reassessments by subcontractors after viewing the detailed renovation designs created over the past few months.
Capital campaign and building project leaders, including members of the Session, have had a series of meetings to strategize about the best way to proceed given a shortfall of just under $200,000. We have unanimously agreed that we need to complete all elements of the current project scope by raising the additional needed income or pledges. Failure to do so would leave undone essential elements of the project, which would cause major disruptions if completed later. We currently have 97% of the estimated project cost covered by pledges and donations, and feel confident we can raise the additional 3%.
The project we have designed will enable us to achieve almost all of our top priorities for the renovation:
Elevator and its facade
HVAC system (using heat pumps)
Fire suppression system
Two new, ADA accessible, single-user bathrooms
Electrical upgrades
Removal of the boiler and room radiators
New flooring and finishes throughout the building
To stay within our available income and city requirements, we had to leave a number of things out of the project, all of which remain in our long-term plans. These include:
Installation of new windows in the Community Life Center
Renovation of the narthex bathrooms and six existing bathrooms in the Community Life Center
Removal of the ramp and creation of a grand hall alongside Shep
Installation of solar panels
If you are new and have not yet had a chance to participate in our campaign, we welcome your participation. And if you are among the 200 households that have already pledged or given to the campaign and would like to help us eliminate the shortfall with an additional contribution, we welcome that. If you wish to be a part of ‘closing the gap,’ all you need to do is email our Operations Manager, Margaret Van Vliet, with your new or additional pledge or send a check indicating it is for the capital campaign and whether it is a new or additional pledge/donation.
What we are able to do reflects the goodness of God and your generosity. We will have a great building to serve for decades to come. Construction work is expected to begin in July.
If you have questions, contact Dave Campbell or Walt Schuchmann.