Building Renovations

 Class Rooms

Our 40-year old classrooms need to be updated! Six classrooms for religious education were built in 1969 for a parish religious education program. A few years later a small preschool program began. Today the preschool has 78 enrollees with a waiting list, and the parish school of religion has 307 children. Today’s Small Wonder Preschool and the parish school of religion use the same classrooms. So what is the problem? The building committee found that the classrooms weren’t designed for a preschool. There are no bathrooms and lavatories sized for small children.

At the end of the preschool day, the equipment is moved to one-third of the room behind a curtain so grades one through five can use the rooms for religious classes in the evening. The elementary school children must use preschool size chairs and small tables. There is little wall space for elementary school exhibits and no audio/visual equipment is available.

Religion teachers must take education materials home because there is no space to store them. We need to update our 40-year old classrooms to provide appropriate learning space for our children -- who are the future of our church.

 Youth Ministry

We lack appropriate meeting space for Youth Ministry. Youth Ministry (Grades 6-12) serves 150 teenagers in forming their faith. Faith formation includes: learning about the faith, sharing their faith journeys with others, preparing for sacraments, planning and preparing for mission trips and national conferences, planning and participating in prayer and worship, and planning social activities. The youth meet with adult volunteers on Sunday using a large meeting space and smaller breakout areas. They meet at other times during the week using smaller meeting rooms.

So what is the problem? Meeting space is difficult to find when needed. The upper room and basement lack flexibility and appropriate audio/visual technology. Our Youth Ministry needs a large room and 8 – 10 areas or nearby rooms which contain audio/visual technology, are free of distractions and allow them to focus on targeted topics.

Better meeting space will enhance the provision of faith formation programs to our teens.

 Adult Ministries

We lack appropriate meeting space for adult ministries! For adult meetings we have the upper room, old cry room, one-half of the quilt room and the basement.

So what is the problem? St. Mark’s has many committees, ministries and adult study groups. The building committee learned that during peak times there is a need for seven small, two medium sized and one large meeting room. The rooms should be sound proof, have good lighting, have reliable heating and air conditioning and be equipped with appropriate furniture and audio/visual equipment. The current meeting rooms lack many of these features. Adult meeting rooms should be located outside of the area secured for youth classes and activities.

Contrary to the present situation, meeting rooms should have access to rest rooms.

 Kitchen

There is a need for a new kitchen and improved seating area for dinners and receptions. Currently the basement kitchen and seating area is used for 60 funeral dinners, 2 spaghetti dinners, Knights of Columbus breakfasts, Scouts’ pancake breakfasts, Scouts’ blue and gold dinners, Lenten soup and salads, Missions taco dinner, Retrouvaille, Hispanic ministry, family ministry, and catered functions. The St. Joseph’s Table uses the kitchen daily for ten weeks.

So what is the problem? The Building Committee discovered the layout of the kitchen is inefficient. Some of the equipment is over 40 years old. It was used before St. Mark’s purchased it. Some equipment doesn’t work well and electrical wiring needs upgrading. There are occasional safety issues, and it is getting more difficult to pass health inspections.

The basement is unattractive and the layout is poor. Temperature in the small hall is controlled by a thermostat in one of the upstairs preschool rooms. The lighting is poor. The basement is difficult for strangers to find and it presents a poor image of St. Mark’s. An architect should advise us on an appropriate design and location for a kitchen and area for seating and receptions.

 Church Property

Improvements to church property would add safety and convenience. The exterior of the new church, the St. Mark’s sign and beautiful landscaping present an attractive image to our community. We have parking on both the north and south sides of the church.

So what is the problem? The building committee was reminded that a covered drop off at the north church entrance was not built in order to keep the new church within budget. If the south entrance is redesigned a covered drop off could be considered there too. Improved on-site signage would help strangers find their way to appropriate entrances. Drainage and other site issues should be reviewed.

Will church property need to be enlarged some day? A new master plan is needed to account for new growth and expansion of parish ministries.

 Security and Safety

Today’s security and safety issues should be addressed. St. Mark’s complies with diocesan policies to protect children by securing the portion of the building used for preschool, parish school of religion and youth activities.

So what is the problem? The building committee found youth classrooms and activities are located in the center of the building. Since this area must be secure from unauthorized adults it is difficult for parishioners to get from one part of the building to another. Restrooms are within the secured areas so they are not accessible to users of the upper room or Father Coleman room.

There is no fire suppression system in the preschool, office areas, basement or upper room. Cameras, improved security alarms and lighting are recommended for all outside entrances of our facilities.

 Going Green

Renovation could address storage needs and achieve energy savings. A lot of space is required to store flowers, vases, banners, nativity scenes, and Christmas trees for various liturgical seasons. Many ministries and education programs require storage space.

So what is the problem? All available areas (two sheds, the old confessionals, old vesting room, offices, and closets in the basement large and small halls) are full. Religion teachers must take classroom materials home. There is no central area where music equipment, instruments and music files can be stored securely or set up for practice. Estimates are that storage space should be doubled and located in more accessible areas.

 Heating and Cooling

Other than the new church, our parish facilities are heated and cooled with 40-year-old technology. Some rooftop heating and air conditioning units are old and in constant need of repair. A small practice area for choir, bell choir, flute circle and other music ministries would prevent heating and cooling the new church for practice. According to the Building Committee renovation will permit installing energy saving equipment and features.