Designing Inviting Spaces
For the most recent information (September 16, 2008), proceed to the end of the page!(If you were unable to attend any of the working group meetings on June 1, June 15, & June 22, or otherwise want to send comments, you can send them by clicking here).
“What message does our church buildings give to us and our guests? We need to re-present our buildings in such a way that people first notice them, and then are prompted to pop their heads inside.” from Richard Gile’s Re-pitching the Tent.
Proceed to end of page to view Schedule (updated October 7, 2008).
Background
It seemed appropriate that on the 5th anniversary of Tony’s leadership in this parish, at the April 6, 2008 Forum, we reviewed the long-term planning process that Tony began with us:- April 1, 2003. Year one - getting to know us
- Micro/macro view of the church today (2004) and 5 year vision
- Appreciative Inquiry, All Parish Meeting (4/10/05) in which we started the process of “discerning the future directions that we want to work toward as a parish” and asked:
- What are we best at? (Assessing the present)
- What do we want Trinity to be in the future? (Envisioning the future)
- The small group workshops in which we imagined our church in twenty years
- On the basis of the Parish responses, a new Mission Statement was written by the Vestry (it’s in the bulletin every Sunday)
- The Vestry instituted Planning For Ministry (PFM), which studied many of the issues raised by the Parish making recommendations for change where necessary
- Spring ’07. Tony announced the end of the PFM process and listed all of the changes that had been made based on the information gathered during PFM
- Summer – Fall ’07. Building Welcoming Spaces Committee (18 to 25 people) reviewed the issues raised by PFM regarding the ways in which the facility impeded our Mission goals.
- April ’08. Planner (Taylor & Burns Architects) hired to start process of developing Master Plan.
Based on a list compiled by a selection committee, Rod asked a group of people to become members of the Building Welcoming Spaces Committee. Over 40 people responded positively. In weekly meetings over the Summer and Fall, a group of 18 to 25 people reviewed the issues raised by PFM regarding the ways in which the facility impeded our Mission goals, organizing them under the following spaces: worship, education, fellowship, exterior, and office. The committee, having gathered the information on the parish’s issues with the facility as of four years ago, then sought advice on those issues from within and outside the parish. As examples, Brett Donham (Donham and Sweeney Inc. Architects) talked about the history of church architecture, and we were treated to a fascinating history of the Main Church by Al Ehrenfried, one of the original members of the 1960’s building committee.
Finally, it was time to find a planner to help us design a Master Plan for the facility. After an initial screening by a small sub-committee, two final candidates made presentations to the full Committee. After conducting interviews, reference checks and visits, a Steering Committee unanimously chose the architectural firm of Taylor & Burns Architects in Boston to assist Trinity with the Master Plan.
The Steering Committee was formed to act as a clearinghouse for information between the parish and the architects. Members of the larger committee continue to be asked to work on specific issues. Also, the name of the committee was transformed to Designing Inviting Spaces (DIS) to reflect its function: Designing is now (Building will come after the Master Plan); Inviting is a reflection of our Mission Statement and looking outward, as opposed to welcoming, which is what we do once someone enters the building (e.g., Newcomers Committee). The DIS committee name opens new opportunities for DIScussion and DIScourse about our spaces, for visual DISplays to illustrate ideas. As an example, a Worship DIScussion group, led by John Lewis, has gathered to discuss the Main Church with respect to flexibility of the space for worship and other uses (e.g., music events).
Robert Taylor and Carol Burns are excited to have this opportunity to work with us, starting with a meeting following the May 18 Worship Service, which engaged all of the members of Trinity Episcopal Church. This meeting focused on the buildings and grounds for the “entire” facility and designing inviting spaces to assist us in carrying out our mission.
Three Sundays were set aside, following the May 18 meeting, on June 1, 15 and 22 when small group DIScussions were held to augment and validate the information gathered during PFM. The DIScussions were organized by “use” (many spaces have multiple uses) in the following areas:
- Worship Spaces: Church, Chapel, Undercroft
- Fellowship Spaces: Parish Hall, Undercroft, Teen Rooms, Kitchen
- Education Spaces: Nursery, Classrooms, Library
- Pastoral Care/Mission Spaces: Kitchen, Food/Clothing Collection Areas, Other
- Office, Meeting Spaces: Clergy, Administration, Reception, Library, Classrooms
- Music/Community Spaces: Church, Choir Stalls, Choir Room, Vesting Room
- Exterior Spaces: Gardens, Grounds, Entrances, Signage, Parking Lots
This information will be used by the planners to help us develop our Master Plan. The process going forward has three phases:
- Develop a Master Plan (and perform a feasibility study). Timing: 6 to 8 months.
- Raise funds (Capital Campaign). Timing: 4 to 5 months.
- Implement the plan (design & remodel/build). Timing: to be determined.
What is a Master Plan?
- A Master Plan sets goals, describes overall concepts, delineates areas for physical change, and sets out costs, so that priorities can be established and can be implemented, perhaps in phases, to make best use of resources over time.
- A Master Plan for a church includes analysis of long-term visions and strategies for ministry in relation to physical change.
- A Master Plan does not determine the form or appearance of an eventual design.
- A Master Plan serves as the guidelines for capital expenditures and for fundraising.
Steering Committee: Beverley Baxter, Walter Birge, Tony Buquor, Rod Hossfeld (Chair), Jay Luby, Greta Morgan, Sally Myers, Jay Powers, Brian Rosborough, Ernie Steward
Designing Inviting Spaces Committee: Beverley Baxter, Walter Birge, Ardis Bordman, Tony Buquor, Susie Buttrick, George Dallas, Sally Dallas, Scott Doig, Al Ehrenfried, Buck Grace, June Grace, Tom Harwood, Andrew Hawes, Sandra Henderson, Linda Hossfeld, Rod Hossfeld (Chair), Jared Keyes, Bob Krumme, John Lewis, Carolynn Luby, Jay Luby, John Mandler, Greta Morgan, Barbara Morse, Sally Myers, Chuck Niessen, Tom Phillips, Jay Powers, April Prewitt, Brian Rosborough, Deborah Scarff, Larry Scarff, Sandy Smith, Deborah Stoessel, Jim Stoessel, Ernie Steward, Elliot Wilbur, Libby Wilson, Anne Winslow, Jim Wood, John Woodward (Worship Subcommittee includes Colby Anderson, Beth Gies, Anne Winslow, Jim Wood, and John Woodward, led by John Lewis) .
Taylor & Burns Architects
Robert Taylor and Carol Burns have worked together since 1980 as partners and as colleagues at the Yale School of Architecture. In 1993 they founded Taylor & Burns. Previously Robert was an associate of Cesar Pelli for ten years with responsibility for campus buildings. Carol has been a faculty member at architecture schools including Harvard, MIT, and Yale University.Taylor & Burns Architects designs beautiful, practical buildings that connect to their surroundings—natural, social, and architectural. Each is specific to its place, contributing to landscape and context, connecting to other buildings and the spaces between buildings. They have a reputation for being responsive to clients, and they work in a range of styles and method, shaping projects that fit specific priorities and resources.
As an example of their work with churches, TBA just completed the Master Plan for one of our neighbors, First Parish in Concord. Also, they were the architects for the Founders’ Hall addition to Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City, MO.
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Parishioner Interest Card - Summary
Have you been wondering what happened to the information you provided on the yellow Parishioner Interest Card on Sunday, May 18?You were asked to:
- List your favorite spaces at Trinity.
- List the spaces that need improvement.
Individual comments are posted in the Parish Hall.
Summer DIScussion Groups
In June parishioners gathered in small facilitated discussion groups organized by space use: Worship, Mission/Pastoral Care/Fellowship, Music/Community Use, Exterior and Office.We elicited information from specific groups who use the spaces differently from the general parish in a variety of ways. There was a small facilitated discussion group with the parish Youth and one with Parents of Young Children. Members of the Steering Committee met with the Altar Guild, Choir, and Staff. Groups that use the kitchen area for Mission, Pastoral Care and Fellowship were interviewed. Parishioners who are members of other organizations which use the facility were asked to contribute their organization’s feedback.
Finally, we asked for and have received comments from parishioners through emails and deposits in the suggestion boxes.
All of these comments have been painstakingly gathered, organized and sent in “unfiltered” form to the architects. They are summarized below (alphabetically) and also on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. This information will be evaluated and become an important part in prioritizing the list of changes in the Masterplan. The Committee needs to know that we have heard you correctly. Please read through the comments. As always you can email us by clicking here.
