Building News Archive
Arizona Entrance Renovation Project Explained
FIXING OUR FOUNDATION, WINDOWS, AND DOORS
We will soon be starting construction at the Arizona Avenue lobby area. There are five factors that require the extensive repairs to the Arizona Avenue entryway.
- The foundation has sunk to the point where the doors cannot be opened. We have exhausted all the temporary repair options and need to do the engineer-determined work to rebuild the foundation on that part of the building and replace the doors.
- The windows next to the doors have not been maintained properly. They are wooden-framed and need to be scraped, sanded, and painted annually, which is costly and therefore has not been done. The window frames have deteriorated beyond repair. We are replacing them with a metal-framed unit that will not require as much maintenance. The new windows will be double-glazed which will meet current environmental standards for maintaining a consistent temperature.
- We have invested in a beautiful Garden of Eternity but it is under-used and not visible to people who come to our church. While we have the area under construction, we are adding a glass doorway into the Garden so it becomes a used and loved quiet place for our members to use.
- By doing the foundation and door work we are now required to make the Arizona entrance accessible to current legal standards for those living with disabilities; of course we want to be fully accessible and we gladly want to meet current standards so that people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices have full access to at least the ground floor of Forbes Hall, like abled-bodied people do.
- Income from rentals of Forbes Hall and the upstairs classrooms has become an important component of our annual budget. These rentals are also an important part of our service to the community. It is not safe to use the upstairs rooms when the Arizona exit is not operable, according to fire codes.
We have close to $1 million in savings, some of which is designated for capital repairs exactly such as this.
We have waited several years past when we knew we needed to do these repairs, and during that time the costs of materials and labor have gone up significantly, and are rising monthly. We are now waiting to see when we can anticipate receiving the materials that we need to complete the job. If all goes well, the project should be finished by our in-gathering this fall.
-- Abby Arnold
November Update on the Arizona Lobby Repair Project
PLANS ARE UNDER REVIEW BY THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
Plans for the renovation and improvement of the Arizona entrance and lobby are now under review by the City of Santa Monica.
The foundation under the lobby has shifted over time causing the exterior doors to stick and stop opening. At the same time, the windows next to the exterior doors are in poor repair and starting to fail and the floor is cracked.
This is also a good time to install a glass door into the Garden of Eternity. The city is requiring us to make the Arizona entrance fully compliant with current accessibility standards.
Project components include:
- Replacement of the building foundation under the Arizona lobby
- Replacement of the flooring
- Replacement of the double doors onto Arizona
- Realignment of the pathway to the Arizona doors to meet accessibility standards
- Replacement of the windows facing Arizona with double-glazed, energy efficient windows
- Installation of glass door into the Garden of Eternity
In the interim, a temporary door has been installed at the Arizona entrance so the entrance can be used to enter Forbes Hall.
We expect to start construction in January 2022.
The project is led by Nurit Gordon, our church administrator, with support from Bryan Oakes from the Facilities Committee and Abby Arnold from the church Board of Trustees. Funding for the project was authorized by congregational vote in June, 2021, with money allocated from our reserves.
UUSM Arizona Avenue Lobby and Doors to be Repaired
You may have noticed before the pandemic that our double doors at the Arizona Ave. entrance were having trouble, with only one door operational. Over the past year of hiatus, the problem has worsened. Now neither of the doors opens. The ground is shifting slightly, and some cracks have developed in the floor.
It is time to act.
Your Facilities Development and Maintenance Committee (FDMC) is working on the problem. We have met with our architect and engineers, who have gathered data and will prepare recommendations and will develop drawings. They have plans in the works to submit to the City of Santa Monica.
In addition to restoring safe access to Forbes that is wheelchair accessible, the project will include replacement of the doors into the Garden of Eternity with new, code-compliant glass doors.
The new doors will provide views into the Garden, as well as alternative access to the memorial garden on Sundays for family and friends who want to remember those who have died and are memorialized with engraved bricks or benches there.
We plan to have work completed over the summer so that the doors will be operational by In-Gathering in mid-September.
At the Annual Meeting on June 27, 2021, the UUSM Congregation will vote on a Resolution to Repair / Replace the Forbes Hall Entrance. Details will be provided in your packet for the Annual Meeting.
After that, contractor bids will be accepted, and work will begin as soon as possible.
We will keep you informed progress is made on the project.
Forbes Hall Entrance Repair Project Town Hall on May 30
FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Dear UU Santa Monica Community,
The Forbes Hall entrance on Arizona Avenue is in need of repair! Problems started back in 2007 when Forbes was renovated. The ground has been shifting and as a result — cracks developed on the floor, and the Arizona entrance doors do not work properly.
Please join us on Sunday, May 30th, 2021, at 11:30 AM to discuss this important work in our…
Forbes Hall/Arizona Entrance Fire/Safety Repair Project Town Hall
Zoom Meeting Info: Email admin@uusm.org for Zoom link
This meeting is to inform the Congregation prior to voting at the June 27th Annual Meeting on this resolution:
“The congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica authorizes an expenditure of up to $150,000 from the Catastrophe Reserve and Emergency Reserve for the structural repair and improvement of the Arizona Lobby.”
See you this Sunday,
Facilities Development and Maintenance Committee (FDMC)
- For project questions, please call Brad Hutchinson, Beth Brownlie, Abby Arnold, or Bryan Oakes.
- For Zoom questions, please email admin@uusm.org.
Courtyard Fountain Removed
PHYSICAL PLANT MAINTENANCE UPDATE
The Facilities committee decided to remove the crumbling courtyard fountain in Anderson courtyard because of the exposed metal rebar. The plan is to replace it with a chalice shaped planter. UUSM member Karl Lisovsky took the lead on the demolition and also spent time painting the stucco planter walls and stucco benches. Thanks, Karl, for all you do for UUSM!
UUSM Featured on Santa Monica Conservancy’s “Sacred Places” Tour
Saturday, Oct. 7, 1 to 5 pm
The Sacred Places tour will explore the architectural beauty, history, and culture of Santa Monica’s churches, chapels, and a synagogue. Selected for their historical significance and cultural diversity, these sites are located in different parts of the city. Tickets for the tour are $25 for conservancy members, and $30 for the public, and may be purchased online at smconservancy.org. Visitors will be provided with a map and detailed brochure. Some of the other 15 places featured include Iglesia el Sermon del Monte, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Temple Beth Shir Shalom, Phillips Chapel, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, and Calvary Baptist Church. Check-in locations are First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St.; Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard; and St. Anne Church and Shrine, 2011 Colorado Ave. Dwight Flowers and John Zinner, who are active with the Conservancy, are UUSM’s liaisons for the tour.
Let There Be Light at UU Santa Monica: SoUL Lighting Project Update
Appearances may be that we are done, but we are not quite there. We met with our lighting control people in August. The control system is not fully operational yet but will be soon. We are still adding more theatrical capabilities, adding lighting back into the “jungle” (the planted area behind the pulpit) and adding our LED lighting for the entry of the Sanctuary. In addition, we need to connect and replace the Sanctuary exterior and perimeter lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting. All our perimeter/exterior lighting was disconnected when the Arizona Courtyard was constructed. We have been without that lighting for a long time. Bringing this lighting back on line will add safety to our campus (so we don’t trip!). Then, as planned, we will provide training and list protocols for lighting system interface to the appropriate people.
This is all getting to completion in stages, as we are relying on volunteer effort and many folks have been away on vacation during the summer, including our technical advisors. Our project continues to be well under budget. Thank you, thank you, our dedicated volunteers.
— Our Electrical and Lighting Task Force: Brad Hutchinson, Nurit Gordon, Beth Brownlie, Bryan Oakes, and Karl Lisovsky.
UUSM Sanctuary Upgrade & Lighting (SoUL)Project
SoUL Lighting Project Update: We have completed a major step in our transformation of the Sanctuary Lighting system - which allows us more control over our energy use to be sure, and also gives us extensive freedom of expression of our services, musical performances and all things in-between. Truly theatrical capabilities nestled within our architecture. Buttons on the stations are set, as before. #3 is for Sunday Service. #4 is for Sunday Service with choir. #1 and #2 are for lower light level sitting/meeting or pass through. #5 is All Off. Check it out!
Next week we will have a few folks from the lighting crew back to set up additional lighting scenes, do a few tweaks here and there, get ourselves used to our new capabilities. Per our plan, more lighting equipment will come in to round it all out, across the next weeks.
Our project continues to be well under our budget. As you all know, this is a volunteer effort. Thank you! Thank you, our dedicated volunteers.
Our Project Binder, detailing our expenses and project details, is always available for Member review. Please schedule an appointment with Nurit Gordon if you would like to review this detailed Project Binder.
If you see something that needs attention, please tell us. Thank you all for your help and understanding during our electrical upgrade.
Our Electrical and Lighting Task Force:
Brad Hutchinson, Nurit Gordon, Beth Brownlie, Bryan Oakes, and Karl Lisovsky.
UUSM Sanctuary Upgrade & Lighting (SoUL)Project
AV Update: The last piece of the AV system is about to be completed. We have received all our parts that will make the connection from the pulpit to the soundboard and to the projector. We hope to be making the final connections soon. After doing some research and talking to Alex, our AV consultant, we expect these new parts and connections to work. We will be testing the new connections and equipment in the next few weeks.
SoUL Lighting Project Update: We have ordered and received our additional lighting fixtures and will be installing the additional Upper Sanctuary Lighting, Sanctuary Entry and Exterior Lighting to add to our lighting that we have now. Our light and control levels will increase over the next few weeks!
Our project continues to be well under our budget of $80,000. As you all know, this is a volunteer effort. Thank you! Thank you, our dedicated volunteers. Our lighting project has taken an extended amount of time because we are relying on a lot of volunteer effort by volunteers who are full-time working professionals with young families.
Our Project Binder, detailing our expenses and project details is always available for Member review. Please schedule and appointment with Nurit Gordon if you would like to review this detailed Project Binder.
If you see something that needs attention, please tell us. Thank you all for your help and understanding during our electrical upgrade.
Our Electrical and Lighting Task Force:
Brad Hutchinson, Nurit Gordon, Beth Brownlie, Bryan Oakes, and Karl Lisovsky. Our
AV Task Force:
Steven DePaul, Bob Dietz, Karl Lisovsky, and Greg Wood.
FROM THE FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
What’s Happening in our UU Santa Monica Facilities?
Our Sanctuary Upgrade and Lighting Project (SoUL Project) is progressing. Here’s a joke: “How many UUs does it take to replace light bulbs in our Sconces? Answer: All of them!”
Actually, just one of them — Brad Hutchinson accomplished this task on September 12.
We are spending some time and funds on improving our classrooms. We recently purchased new stackable chairs for the classrooms in Forbes Hall. They are easily cleaned keeping us all healthy. Please be sure to keep the blue chairs in Classrooms 1 and 3 and the grey chairs in Classroom 4. We are trying our best to keep our classrooms clean and healthy. Please help us. If you see something that needs attention, tell us. And, please do your part to keep all our spaces clean. Our Community thanks you for your help.
We hear you! We are researching getting some lightweight and stackable chairs to replace the brown folding ones in Forbes Hall. Stackable chairs allow us to have more chairs stored in a small space. We will have some samples for you to check out and lift in the coming months.
The Garden of Eternity project should be commencing soon. We are currently receiving three bids for review. The Board will review these and select a winning contractor and we will be on our way! Hooray for the Garden of Eternity Task Force: Alison Kendall, Helen Brown, Ernie Pipes, Ray Goodman, and The Green Living Committee.
We are doing our yearly maintenance items in September, like washing windows and trimming trees. We are also seeking bids to repaint the exterior of the Cottage. It has been more than 10 years since the Cottage was completed, so now it’s time to maintain it. We do not want to defer this maintenance, especially this year, with rain predicted.
— Beth Brownlie Oakes
Sanctuary Upgrade & Lighting (SoUL) Project
Our Sanctuary Upgrade and Lighting Project (SoUL Project) is progressing with great ease due to the diligent work by all the members of our team. We have not had to vacate the Sanctuary at any time and there has been no disruption of events in the Sanctuary. We even put up some temporary lights for the D4$ concert held on June 13, due to great efforts by Brad Hutchinson. Our next phase of work in the Sanctuary will be procuring the permanent LED lights and a control system to manage the lighting. We are still on track with our budget of $80,000. At this time we do not anticipate any overages in regards to our budget. This phase of work is not expected to disrupt any activities in the Sanctuary. We are making sure our system meets the highest standard and the California Energy code, Title 24.
We have held three Town Hall meetings providing detailed information on the design of the lighting and other important information about the project. The meetings were on May 25, June 7 and June 21. If you have questions, please ask a member of our Task Force. Thank you for your kind consideration as we honor our seventh UU principle and move our congregation towards energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint on our lovely Mother Earth. Thank you for your help and understanding during our electrical upgrade.
Our Electrical and Lighting Task Force is Brad Hutchinson, Beth Brownlie, Bryan Oakes and Karl Lisovsky.
—Beth Brownlie