Design Update: Gymnasium

A new vision is unfolding for the Redeemer gymnasium. The cinderblock and tile gym completed in the early 1970’s is currently used for a variety of events, from athletics to fellowship to theater. The new vision includes all the existing uses, and the addition of a mid-week family worship program that combines inventive bible studies, teen programs and newly-formatted confirmation classes.

In order to bring this multi-media, multi-dimensional vision to life we will be giving the 1970 gymnasium a major face-lift, including a new floor, new acoustic treatments, new lighting and sound capability, and the cornerstone -- a new worship and performance stage. The elevated stage will be placed on the north wall of the gymnasium. Additional double doors will smooth the movement of visitors and members to and from the gym. New storage and prop rooms will speed the ‘change over’ time as we switch between basketball, worship, coffee hour and theater.

Join us January 19, 2010 when Pastor Mark will offer a “Glimpse of the Future” night to launch the new mid-week family worship program.

Design Update: Town Square

Visitor impact starts the moment they enter our parking lot and find their way from our entrance to the sanctuary, and then again after worship service, as they navigate our hallways to join in member fellowship. The new Town Square is focused on improving this visitor impact and member fellowship.

The scope of work includes a new “main entrance” off our west parking lot, including a covered canopy for drop-off. One enters through two sets of double doors into a large lobby atrium. The sanctuary, now on the same level as the entry lobby, will be more readily apparent and accessible to visitors, as will other guest services such as the all-new nursery, and all-new women’s and men’s restrooms. The wood-paneled lobby, which includes views to our existing courtyard, will transition the visitor to a comfortable seating area around a fireplace which is adjacent to a new café equipped for coffee service and fellowship. Our hope is that this Town Square becomes a magnet for visitor and member alike, not just on Sunday mornings, but throughout the week.

Design Update: Westmaple

Westmaple has unfortunately turned away families for many years. This year’s waiting list is already at 46 families and growing. Fortunately, Sacred Space will add two additional classrooms to the three existing rooms. With alternate day scheduling, we hope to bring as many as 50 new families to Westmaple and perhaps Redeemer.

The two new rooms will be built on the north end of the existing Westmaple wing. The new rooms will be similar in size to the existing rooms, and have the same amenities, including carpeting, built-in toy cabinets, 25 child cubbies, and child-sized fixtures in the new restrooms. The existing rooms will also see upgrades, like new room-controlled heating and cooling. Finally, much needed storage will be added for the Westmaple staff.

Design Update: Site Improvements

In order to support the first phase of Sacred Space, as well as accommodate the future growth outlined in our master facility plan, several improvements are being made to the Redeemer site. Highlights include:

• West parking lot expansion close to sanctuary and main entrance


• Fire protection in all new areas and existing hallways


• Water upgrade to accommodate new fire suppression sprinklers


• Electrical upgrade to accommodate current and future growth


• Phone and wireless upgrade in all new areas


• Fire exit from children’s lower level classrooms to outside


• Air conditioning in the gymnasium

Design Update: Project Scope

At the June 2009 annual congregation meeting, the Sacred Space project scope was approved as presented. The project scope spans four major areas:

• Westmaple Nursery expansion and renovation
• Gymnasium renovation and worship stage addition
• Town Square entrance and lobby addition with café
• Site plan improvements for current and future growth.

Since June of 2009 these four areas have been detailed in the architect’s design and construction drawings. The final cost for all four areas will be estimated and then finalized in a competitive bid process conducted by our construction management firm. The final project scope will then be presented to the congregation in the first quarter of 2010.

Project Schedule Update

Construction manager, Frank Rewold and Son, has prepared the initial project schedule for Sacred Space. While the schedule is subject to revision, these dates provide the first exciting glimpse into the construction schedule for Sacred Space.

• Work will begin just after Easter, in early April 2010. The initial effort will include new construction outside the north wall of the gymnasium and demolition work around the west entrance and adjoining areas. Work inside the gym will start in mid May 2010. For the Westmaple wing, work will begin in early June after school is finished.


• These start dates will allow us to complete work in the gymnasium and Westmaple before the end of August, in time for the new school year. The new Town Square, which includes more extensive demolition and excavation work, is scheduled for completion in November 2010.


• The expansion to the west parking lot is scheduled for May and June of 2010, or as soon as weather conditions permit digging and paving.

Sacred Space Giving Report

Total gifts given and pledged to the Sacred Space capital stewardship campaign totalled $3,732,000 as of October 31, 2009. This total of $3.7 million can be broken down as follows:

• Pledged Gifts, $2,452,000 from 225 families


• Unpledged Gifts, $1,252,000 from 58 families


• Interest Income, $28,000.

We are all so grateful for the generous sacrifices made by so many families.

Of the total $3.7m in gifts, $1,767,000 has been collected to date. The difference, a little less than $2 million, represents outstanding pledges. The capital stewardship campaign runs over three years, from April 2009 to March 2012.

New gifts, pledged and unpledged, continue to be made each month. We still hope to top $4 million before the campaign is completed.

Ten percent of the outstanding pledges (currently $197,000 as of 10-31-09) will be set aside in the project budget as a contingency against pledge receivables. This contingency helps assure that we only spend what we can conservatively plan to collect at the end of the three year campaign. As pledges are collected over the remainder of the three year campaign, the contingency will be reduced and the monies will be made available for construction spending.

City Planning Board Says OK

The Planning Board for the City of Birmingham gave their approval of the Sacred Space project at a September 23, 2009 meeting. Prior to this meeting Redeemer had been required to file a comprehensive site plan and amendment to the Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) that governs Redeemer's operation in the neighborhood. The site plan and SLUP amendment were reviewed by members of the city planning department prior to the Planning Board meeting. Redeemer also invited neighbors, prior to the Planning Board meeting, to visit the church and review the building plans, including any impact to parking and landscaping.

The next step in the city review process is a meeting on December 7, 2009 before the entire City Commission. After approval, Sacred Space will move to the permit application process.

Construction Manager Selected

A construction manager has been selected for Sacred Space: Frank Rewold and Son, Inc., Rochester, Michigan. Their selection was the culmination of a thorough process that started with a formal Request for Proposal (RFP.) Thirteen firms submitted written proposals that covered a range of required topics, including customer references, financial statements, project team members, proposed fee structure, etc. A selection committee comprised of ten individuals (staff, lay members, architect) narrowed the list to six firms. The selection committee then phoned pastors and congregation presidents at churches that had previously selected each of the finalists. These final firms were then required to bring their proposed project team to Redeemer for oral presentations including a discussion of the Sacred Space drawings they had been supplied and a Q&A on their proposed construction approach.

The process yielded several highly qualified firms in terms of skills, experience, financial strength and references. The selection committee was ultimately able to select from this final group and create a favorable fee structure for the construction management services (2% of construction spend) and the general conditions (superintendent, etc.) required by Redeemer.

We are very pleased to have Frank Rewold and Son join the Sacred Space team.

Architect Status Report

The architectural services firm selected to design phase one of Sacred Space, Merritt McPherson Cieslak, P.C., is currently completing construction drawings. The firm has already completed the site plan and design development drawings. Principal Ron Cieslak and his team have been involved since the initial inception of the project. Ron's partner, Mark McPherson, is heavily involved with the project as well, including work with the City of Birmingham and with our various engineering partners.

MMC is located in Northville, Michigan. They were also the architect of choice for Redeemer's long-range master facility plan completed in 2006.

November Town Hall Update

Over 90 Redeemer members attended one of two Town Hall meetings on November 15 and 22. The previous update was provided at the annual meeting in June. The Town Hall covered the following topics:

o Architectural plan status
o Construction manager status
o Update on City of Birmingham
o Project scope
o Project schedule
o Project budget
o Next steps and key dates
o Communication to congregation

There were dozens of great questions at the two meetings which were answered in full. Plan to join us at a future Town Hall update.

Welcome to Sacred Space

Welcome to Redeemer's Sacred Space blog. This is just one of many ways we'll be communicating to all those interested in the progress and results of our capital project: Sacred Space: That all may find a place at His table.

Other ways we will be communicating include congregational letters, town hall meetings, notices in the weekly worship bulletin, occasional emails, messages via our automated phone tree and postings on the Sacred Space bulletin board at Redeemer. Other ideas on how best to communicate with you? Just let us know.