Are we on track with the new building & renovation schedule?

A quick message from Jim Highsmith our Building Committee Co-Chair:

Recent word from the city is that permit reviews are taking about a month, about the timing we estimated.

Construction drawings will be submitted to the city for review the middle of next week (August 22). 

Start of construction depends on finalizing things like our bank loan and final bid and contract with Faurot (our general contractor). 

We are still on track to begin construction in late September or early October.

A Design Team...The Next Logical Step

Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is a work in progress these days. We have an architect, we have drawings, elevations, a plan, and we exceeded our fund raising goal. 

The Building Committee is working tirelessly with the architect, the builder, acoustician, landscaper and many other entities to bring our long sought expansion into reality. 

 Wall coverings, colors, counters, flooring, and lighting are just some of the basics of what needs to come together in an integrated way. 

 To do this and more, a DESIGN TEAM was created. We consist of two members of the Building Committee, an Aesthetics Team representative, Rev. Lydia, and four others who add gender and age diversity, including 2 parents with young children.

We have met several times, including a 3 hour charrette (intensive session) with the architect to begin hammering out how we work together, make basic decisions, and how to interface with the congregation.

A design vision for our building project was drafted and approved by the Building Committee and Board:

DESIGN VISION

Making Room for Our Future

The Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

envisions a renovated existing building, new sanctuary, and education wing and outdoor environment that:

+Welcomes all ages, abilities and backgrounds, provides warmth of spirit, beauty, and hospitality, through our interior and exterior design;

+Embodies our UU Principles, SOURCES and our mission to be a

Center for Spiritual Exploration and Justice Making:

+Exemplifies the integration of voices of our Fellowship community;

+Encourages clear communication and beautiful music through good

acoustic design;

+Uses environmentally friendly design and materials and employs energy efficient technology.

+Maintains fiduciary responsibility to the congregation, keeping in mind,

“Smart design can overcome humble materials;”

+Is user-friendly, easily cared for, durable and safe; and

+Is an example to our community in our processes, our design and

construction.

Towards this end, we take pride and joy in ownership of this building. 

Here’s what’s coming: Advisory Groups for comment on specific areas of the project such as the sanctuary, the kitchen, the Religious Education wing, and the entry ways. 

Let us know of your interest by emailing designteam@bvuuf.org.   Listening Sessions are being scheduled in September to provide opportunities for your general input.

We are excited about what is unfolding at 1241Ceres Drive and know you are, too. 

Opportunities are coming for adding your voice. Watch Connections and the Building Committee blog for dates and times.

THE DESIGN TEAM

Diana Forest, Wendie Highsmith, Jon Holmberg, Jess Kent, Debbie Lane, Rev. Lydia, Robin Churchill Rathweg, and Eric Williams.

Building Committee Re-Organization

Your Building Committee (BC) is hard at work as we begin the transition to move out of the building.  As a result, we've re-organized the BC to be more efficient so that we are sure to get all the work done.

In addition to our responsibilities to the BC, each of us serves on one or more of these sub-committees.

Speaking of transition, please be advised that both Thoreau and Barnum are being used for storage and packing.  You won't be able to have committee meetings in either of these rooms during the transition.

Thanks for your understanding.

Congregational Vote: Yes! + Two Generous Gifts!

A Congregational Meeting was held at the Fellowship on Saturday, June 2, 2018. 

At this meeting, the following motion was made:

BVUUF shall proceed with the construction phase of the building project.  The budget shall not exceed $3.95 million, which includes a construction loan that converts to a long term loan.  Effective July 1, 2021, related loan payments will become part of the BVUUF annual operating budget.

A vote was taken and it passed unanimously!  There were no "nays" or "abstentions".

Additional good news:  Both our contractor, Faurot Construction and our architectural firm, Barrett Studios, have made substantial monetary gifts to our building project.  We appreciate their generous support.