Where are we in the renovation process? Carrie Quinn has provided the following insight as to the things the architects have to do before actual physical building can proceed. A meeting with financial officials has been planned.
Q-DESIGN has been working on Stage II. They have requested and received waivers on the City site plan and design review processes. This saves considerable time and money. They also submitted a code modification request to the City officially asking for permission to use the parish hall unisex toilet room in lieu of a church unisex toilet room. Permission has been granted based on the parish hall upgrades previously presented and discussed.
Proposals from engineering firms (MEP, civil, structural, and fire protection) have been solicited and consultants hired. During construction, the City will require special inspections by an independent engineering firm. Proposals are now being solicited for this work as well.
A meeting with Dominion Virginia Power was conducted on site last week to start the process for determining how the new electrical service will be brought into the church building. A private utility survey will be conducted on site to determine and map where our current utilities (power, water, gas, communications) run and these lines will then be added to the topographic map previously commissioned. This information will then be used by the civil and MEP engineers to prepare a utilities plan. We hope to work on the utility upgrades this fall as part of the MWT funding.
A fire protection engineering survey is currently being prepared to determine the best system for our church and how to prepare for same. Architectural and MEP drawings and specs for 2013 Phase II work are also being prepared.
Originally published in St. John’s Epistle, October 2012.