Mission Possible: Fulfilling Our Call
Our Statement of Call
We at Foundry are called by God:
• To DEEPEN FAITH through transcendent worship and challenging study
• To CREATE ENGAGED COMMUNITY through inclusion and caring, and
• To TRANSFORM THE WORLD through active service and prophetic leadership
Heeding Foundry’s Statement of Call requires constantly deepening and expanding our capacities for fulfilling our mission. The challenge is to increase the capacity and capabilities of Foundry’s facilities. How does Foundry’s Statement of Call directly relate to our Mission Possible challenges and opportunities? Take a look below at how the first phase of our building renovation plan will enable us to better fulfill our statement of call.
With our Mission Possible building renovation plan, Foundry will be moving to fulfill God's call to:
• Taking down the walls of Fellowship Hall to create the new Informal Worship Space
• Removing the stage and the brick from the window space on the back wall and replacing it with stained glass to let in the light.
• Ascending easily from the Main Bell Tower entrance up a new fully accessible elevator
• Meeting the need to reconfigure the space as the spirit moves by using portable staging
• Providing the proper acoustics and lighting for the dynamic music and worship that is the hallmark of the 5:30 service
• Making a wide expanse available for large fellowship meals, meetings and service by those within and outside of our congregations
• Preserving the ability to break off into smaller spaces through movable walls
• Providing a larger number and accessible restrooms outside the Informal Worship Space/Fellowship Hall that are more energy efficient and respect the environment
• Creating Two Large Meeting Spaces by Taking down the walls in the Fellowship Hall, Chapel, Parlor and Laws Gallery to create two large meeting areas for:
• Large Bible Studies with space for break-out groups
• Lectures
• Youth and Children activities
• Seminars with fellowship meals
These spaces will be equipped with:
• Effective lighting for multiple settings
• Environmental controls that moderate room temperature for the capacity of the room with energy efficiency and comfort
• Sound System with hearing assist built in for quality sound to enhance effective learning opportunities
• Latest technologies for WiFi connection and video projection including live streaming from the Sanctuary for overflow capacity and other applications
• Convenient access on the main level and upper level for multiple learning opportunities at the same time.
• Creating a spacious new welcoming reception area on Foundry’s main floor inside the front doors, visually connected to the Sanctuary and a new Fellowship Hall.
• Providing a beautiful and accessible new Fellowship Hall adjacent to and on the same level as the sanctuary to facilitate the flow of people from the Sanctuary into an area where they can greet old friends and meet new ones.
• Combining fragmented space now housing the chapel, parlor, gallery and offices into a large versatile area by removing existing walls and columns.
• Providing versatile lighting and acoustical systems to facilitate use of the new Fellowship Hall for wedding receptions, memorial services, overflow congregation, and other special events.
• Installing a refreshment service area and new audio-visual system to enable live streaming from the Sanctuary into the new Fellowship Hall.
• Providing Increased seating capacity of combined space for over 400 allowing for larger gatherings for fellowship, meals, seminars and receptions along with the versatility of converting the space to smaller group breakout areas or Chapel / Holy space.
• Improving the exterior approach with new landscaping that is inviting and helps usher the visitor to the appropriate entrance in a pleasant welcome environment.
• Improving safety by installing modern sprinkler systems and a concealed / re-wired fire alarm system along with energy efficient HVAC with fresh air intake throughout the entire renovated areas.
• Installing a new elevator that is fully compliant with the Americans with Disability Act and is spacious enough to allow multiple wheelchairs to maneuver
• Providing a beautiful and accessible new Fellowship Hall on the ground floor adjacent to the sanctuary that obviates the need to go “upstairs” for coffee hour and other ministry activities
• Renovating the bathrooms to make them larger, more accessible and more inviting – giving Foundry worshipers an option other than waiting until they get home or to a restaurant to visit the facilities
• Improving audio assistance technology in the sanctuary so that everyone can hear better, providing for a more transcendent worship experience
• Installing a new air handling system in the newly renovated areas that will allow Foundry rooms to be heated and cooled at different levels depending on usage and current weather conditions.
• Installing new lighting and A/V systems in both the main level and upper level Fellowship spaces to enable people to see better under a variety of settings and conditions.
• Taking down walls to create open and flexible spaces, like the new main-floor Fellowship Hall, that can host service projects large and small.
• Being able to quickly change the staging, walls and lighting in the Informal Worship/Fellowship area and configure them for future needs and initiatives.
• Providing larger more flexible space to better minister to the needs of current outreach services such as the Friday Walk-in ministry which assists folks with obtaining their birth certificate and/or ID as well as new and exciting future ministries on the horizon.
• Right-sizing of the main kitchen for more efficient workflow and for better use of needed equipment and storage to enable a variety of cooking ministries to more effectively serve their constituencies, whether it is Sandwich 1,000 or a cater meal.
• Enabling easier access to those providing and receiving services--whether directly from the street through a new main entrance, across the building through wider, simpler hallways, or to the second floor via a new ADA-compliant elevator.
• Improving bathroom and other facilities to support larger gatherings, so we can focus more on the logistics of delivering services and less on the logistics of hosting them.
• Repurposing and revitalizing the 16th Street entry spaces (both outside and inside the entry) so that the Tower Lobby entrance (served by our accessible ADA-complaint ramp) becomes the main “entrance” for visitors during the week and for non-worship events.
• Improving external signage along 16th Street and entrance security systems that tastefully yet more dynamically proclaim to the world our message and welcomes all to our revitalized entry locales.
• Integrating the new Tower Lobby entry into a new reception space with a more comfortable and impressive receiving area for visitors and space that can function as a receiving area for events and meetings
• Connecting the new entrance spaces directly into a new ADA-complaint elevator serving all three floors of the building.
• Creating a more efficient kitchen for catering large meetings and conferences
• Expanding non-sanctuary meeting space to accommodate up to 300 attendees for large scale meetings and conferences that can utilize varying seating arrangements (lecture, classroom, theatre seating)
For more detailed explanations of different aspects of Foundry's renovation, check out these links:
Master Plan: Main Level, Upper Level, Lower Level, Exterior & Site, Systems
Phase I
Financing Strategy
Interior Design
Supporting Foundry’s Statement of Call & Info