The Master Plan includes recommended reorganization of the space use within the existing building, added square footage to accommodate the vision of the church, improvements in the general condition of the existing building, and site modifications to address storm water, parking and barrier-free accessibility.

Overview

Modifications to the site to improve accessibility and parking are crucial to better welcome families and seniors. A new addition on the north side of the Kuizenga Wing (Scope Package 1) provides a covered drop-off and new entry on Level 200 as well as a circular drive loop so that dropping people off does not congest traffic through the rest of the site. This entry will tie into the centrally-located Welcome Center, contributing to one’s sense of arrival and greeting upon entering the church. A new building as part of the Scope Package 2 addition will provide a direct sense of entry into the new Welcome Center as well. The addition onto the Narthex (Scope Package 3) and new circular drive will also provide a drop-off space and a greater sense of entry with an enlarged Narthex. The additions outlined in Scope Packages 4 and 5 will provide much-needed interior space and create a third side to an enclosed courtyard. This outdoor space can now serve as a more intimate outdoor patio for coffee and cookies after services or space for outdoor weddings and activities.

Floor Plans

Reorganization and remodeling of existing interior spaces as well as new additions will bring the functions of the church together as a more cohesive whole.

The new addition to the north and remodeling of the interior spaces at the center of the existing building will create an expansive new Welcome Center, located at the physical center of the existing building wings (level 200). This space will form a hub for congregational assembly and improve access and way-finding to the key functional areas of the church, i.e. Administration, Adult Education, Children’s Education, Music and Worship. By locating Administration Offices on this level, a receptionist sitting at the front desk of these offices can greet people as they enter the building and Welcome Center. Multi-purpose spaces on this level (Kuizenga Wing) may serve the Administration Offices and provide meeting spaces that are easy to find near the central entrance and Welcome Center. Campus Ministry at the south end of the Lemon Wing, and in the new addition of Scope Package 4, will be adjacent to student path of travel through the grounds and have a private entrance. Multi-purpose and Education spaces for Triangle Nursery on the ground floor of Scope Package 5 would also have a private entrance.

The new Welcome Center on level 300 provides a much larger space just outside the Sanctuary for people to gather after services, and an additional set of doors leading from the Sanctuary. The new addition on the north side provides Education spaces, such as a Crib Room and Cry Room that require close proximity to the Sanctuary. A new large Multi-Purpose space on this level (Scope Package 5) is ideally located. For instance, a wedding party could exit the Sanctuary, walk down a wide corridor (east side of Lemon Wing) to the new banquet hall without changing levels.

The new north addition (Scope Package 1) provides additional classroom spaces on level 400. Music will expand on this level into the new addition (Scope Package 4) just south of the Lemon Wing. A larger adult choir practice space is proposed within this addition.

Exterior Elevations

The Scope Package 1 addition is intended to match the character of the existing Neo-Gothic (1937) building with a steeply pitched roof covered with slate tiles. The gable end wall extends beyond the roof height to create a similar parapet condition, clad in a limestone ashlar veneer to match the existing facades. Window openings scaled to the interior rooms and proportional to the exterior walls and structural bays complete the volume that is slightly subordinate to the major volume of the Sanctuary Wing.

The Welcome Center addition of Scope Package 2 is made up of a small gable-roofed volume that is also intended to be subordinate to the Sanctuary building. It will be clad with limestone ashlar veneer and small windows to keep the scale of the building proportionate. This petite version of the new larger-gabled volumes will match those on the Scope Package 5 addition, so that all the small volumes within the newly-created courtyard match each other.

Scope Package 3 includes remodeling the Sanctuary and an addition onto the Narthex end of the building. It is intended that the façade of the new addition replicate the existing Washtenaw Avenue façade. The new roof and walls behind this façade will be clad in materials that match the existing building, with the addition of new windows and/or skylights to brighten the space within.

In Scope Package 4 an addition on the south side of the Lemon Wing is intended blend with the existing building. A slate roof and limestone cladding on the facades are intended to tie seamlessly with the architectural character of the existing building.

The location and architectural character of Scope Package 5 are seen as an extension of the Lemon Wing and define the lush outdoor courtyard. The steeply-pitched roof matches that of the Lemon Wing, yet not as steep as the Sanctuary volume to minimize its height. Materials will match those of the existing buildings and window openings will take advantage of the beautiful view into the landscaped courtyard and northern light. Small gabled volumes match that of Scope Package 2 while providing a richly-articulated space within. A covered walkway (loggia) along the east edge of the Lemon Wing will connect the south covered space (between Scope Packages 4 and 5) with the entry doors of Scope Package 2. This loggia will give people a protected walk from a south drop off point to the entry of the building, while opening up to the landscaped courtyard on one side.

Sketch Views

Views of the computer-generated 3-dimensional model allow us to visualize the volumes of the existing building and phased additions as a whole. It is possible to view the Scope Packages from many different perspectives and ensure they tie favorably into the existing building, the site and the context beyond the property limits. Selected views are included in this report.

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