"Greetings from Beacon Street West" June 13, 2007
.jpg)
It has been a very active week here at the Meeting House. They have been
pulling down trees around the property with a big back hoe the last two days,
and then grinding them up for wood chips. Excruciating to watch, very noisy
too. I guess it is faster than cutting it up with a chain saw... The destruction
phase of the project is especially hard to witness. There must be a good
phrase to use here - something like "The pain of building-birth." Please
e-mail me your much better words of description. And now, here is the (pretty)
pithy news; have a great rest of the week!
- Harry Carnes, Publications Czar
Building Project
Project Update: Reality Strikes!
So, you go to meetings, stare at plans, ask questions, explain and discuss for
months, and yet it is still a shock to see fences go up and walls come down.
By the time you read this, the part of the “C” Wing that we talked
about demolishing is in bins marked “Metal”, “Wood”,
and “Trash”.
.jpg)
The Budget
On the financial side, we are transitioning from the budget we had in February,
which was based on estimates, to a budget based on actual bids.
It turns out that estimates provided by our previous contractor, The Bentley
Corp., are not consistent with reality. The bids are averaging 20-25% higher
than the estimates. These bids are based on the original contractor’s specifications
for the Project; the situation would be exactly the same even if we had not changed
contractors.It is difficult to pin down the source(s) of the discrepancy. While
we can only speculate on the motives of others, we do know that we are a community
of high ideals and expectations, and we have always intended to build a structure
worthy of sharing the FUS campus with the Meeting House. Architectural “gems” can
be expensive.
What we are doing
The best news is that our Board and financial advisors are not shocked or discouraged.
We are looking at both lowering the cost and finding more money.
Lowering the Cost
Value engineering is the first line strategy for lowering cost. This does not
mean eliminating anything. Rather it means discussions with the architects and
subcontractors to look for cheaper ways to create this gorgeous building. Are
there simpler ways to achieve the same effect? Does a bid contain an extra
charge for complexity that can be pared? All while we strive to achieve our goals
of creating a building that is a compliment to our Meeting House, enhances our
campus, and is sustainable.
.jpg)
Finding Money
At this point, we are very proud of the architects’ design and we are moving
forward with the project. We think that we will be able to save some significant
dollars through the value engineering process—making changes that will
save us money, yet retaining the most important values in the project. We think
there is significant potential in the congregation to raise more dollars. We
plan to revitalize the Capital Campaign; exploring some new strategies and target
groups. We also think we will be able to carry more debt than we had originally
predicted.
Excellent buildings and financial challenges are nothing new to the FUS community. Every
challenge brings opportunities and rewards, and we are finding that this project
is bringing us together in ways we had never imagined.
We are moving forward with confidence and excitement.
- David Weber
Preservation
We are awaiting the return of competitive bids for rewiring the lights in the Lobby, Auditorium and Loggia. The paint expert has taken samples to determine the original wall colors. A structural engineer is evaluating the Loggia. Improved insulation will increase the snow load, and the new drywall weighs more than Historic Transite. Thus far he was impressed at the stability of the structure. The office walls are still down, allowing a rare view of our unique framing.- David Weber
Parking
Well the construction fence is up, and as expected, the parking lot has shrunk for the duration of our construction period. We are putting into action our alternate parking plan as of Sunday, June 17. If you have Department of Motor Vehicles handicapped tag on your car/van, you may automatically park anywhere in the FUS lot. If you have received a FUS worship service parking permit you may park in the FUS lot. You may drop passengers off at the front entrance of the church and park your vehicle in the VA lot or in Doctor's Park. Please remember that an adult needs to be with kids who are dropped off at the door. All others coming by car to worship on Sunday are asked to park your vehicles in the VA lot or on Doctor's Park. Volunteers will be available to direct parkers into the VA lot. Wendy Cooper will be available in the FUS lot to answer questions.- Wendy Cooper
Connections
Parking CrewThanks to all the Members that have stepped forward to assist on our parking crews we’re in good shape for this weekend, but there are open parking crew spots starting next Sunday, June 24. Please e-mail Alice at aliced@fusmadison.org to volunteer to be on a Sunday crew. 8:30 to 9:15 or 10:30 to 11:15. Lovely orange attire provided. For more details on the parking lot proper, see Parking section above.
Mulch for the taking
This Sunday, June 17, from 1 to 2 p.m., David Weber will open the construction gates so members of the FUS community may help themselves to mulch, made from the trees removed from the parking lot islands and perimeter. Please bring shovels, etc. from home to scoop the mulch into your trunk.
- Alice Delaquess
