Construction offically starts Monday, May 5!  The preliminary schedule follows, recognizing that things can change as construction progresses

April 30 – May 4:  We clear everything out of the construction area.  COMPLETED

May 5 – 8:  Contractor mobilizes, erects temporary enclosures  COMPLETED

May 9 – 22:  Demolition  IN PROCESS

May 23 – July 3: Construction, framing, infills, windows, etc.

July 4 – 7:  Inspections

July 8 – September 8:  drywall, paint, ceiling, fire rated glass wall, flooring, etc.  All finishing work

September 9 – 22:  Punchlist

September 22:  Final Completion

We have asked them to do their best to have major completion by Sunday, September 7, so it will be ready to be used for our first Sunday fo the fall, and expecially for the Jeff Chu event the following weekend.  They promised to do their best!

• Access to the Sancutary?  Cheever Construction will be cleaning up their work area on Fridays, so that we can still access the sanctuary with minimal or no inconvenience on Sundays.  There will most likely be temporary partitians to keep the work areas off limits.  There may be the occasional Sunday when we might need to access the sanctuary through the West Sanctuary doors off of 17th Street or the ramp that leads to the SouthEast door to the sanctuary, which is still accessible from the 18th Street parking lot.
• Acccess to the Sanctuary for those who need a ramp or elevator?  The SouthEast door to the sanctuary will be open on Sunday mornings, so anyone needing a ramp will be able to use the ramp outside the East Entrance to access the sanctuary.  You can also use the ramp at the main office entrance (park in the G Street Parking Lot) and then you'll weave your way through the hallways to the sanctuary.  There may be occasional Sundays when that access isn 't available due to construction.  We'll have signs posted and will let people know on Fridays via email what the access will be on Sundays.
• Fellowship After Worship?  We're still figuring that out, and it may shift locations Sunday to Sunday based on the construction schedule.  So we'll announce it on Sundays.  Most likey it will be in Fellowship Hall, Great Hall, or if the weather is nice, maybe even in Courtyard!  It might even be at the back of the sanctuary and West Narthex on occasion.  
• Access to the Elevator?  The elevator for the main building outside the sanctuary we expect to have access to on Sunday mornings, although there may be a week or so where it is not available due to construction.  During the week we may not have access to it due to the fact that the wall right next to it is part of the construction area.  We wil always be able to use it to go from the lower level to the 2nd floor, but we may not always be able to use it for the first floor.
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The schematic budget we recieved from Cheever Construction gives a cost estimate of $400,000-465,000. The Session has $500,,000, recognizing that there are additional costs (furniture, multimedia, etc.) that still needs to be covered.   We received a generous gift of $200,000 toward the project, and the additional $300,000 will be funded from gains made in our FPC Foundation investements.  

Our hundred-year-old building has limitations that can make some people feel disconnected or excluded. We want to create a more welcoming and accommodating space, ensuring that no one feels left out or unable to participate fully in our services and events. Planned improvements include better accessibility in the East Enterance, Library, and Courtyard (e.g., ramps, wider doorways), enhanced acoustics, and improved climate control.