Creating Sanctuary

December 31, 2011: Day 560: PERMIT PROGRESS 8 MONTHS IN

2011-12-31T10:17:00.002-05:00

An update on the Building Permit-

Yesterday after eight months, we received approval from the Structural Department at DCRA for the new Sanctuary. This is a big deal because Structural oversees all the other departments and has final review before a Building Permit is issued.

Now all that remains to do is to submit a Traffic Control Plan to DDOT. Once DDOT approves the plan for how traffic will be managed while the new building is under construction, we'll be finished with permitting. Because the church isn't yet ready to bid the drawings to potential contractors, who would normally make the traffic plan, our office is working with a traffic consultant to develop one.

The Structural approval is great news, has been a long time coming, and is a major milestone. We expect the Building Permit will be approved in early 2012.

Happy New Year from Auraform Architects!

November 3, 2011: Day 502: DCPL EVENT A SUCCESS DESPITE THE WEATHER

2011-11-03T13:04:00.014-04:00

The Parish and I hosted a few people from the DC Preservation League at the church on October 13th for a presentation we called "A Civil Union: Marrying the Historic and the Modern".

Despite tornadoes and severe weather that Thursday night, we had a few people come engaged and leave excited.

The Parish presented a document chronicling the last hundred years at St. Thomas, displayed artifacts of the original building, and archival documents that included attendance lists with signatures of persons who had attended services over half a century ago.

Then we toured the Ruins despite the weather and opened the gate to get a closer look at the state of the deteriorating sandstone. It was a behind the scenes opportunity for neighbors and interested people to see what is usually gated off.

Finally, I showed images of the geotechnical expeditions we conducted last year and remnants of the original collapsed Gothic building we exhumed from under the park. I presented the new structure and gave everyone a DVD of the fly-through animation as a gift for their time and interest.

Although turnout was low the night was a success. One person at a time we're sharing this incredible story of what it is to build a church in the midst of the Great Recession.

October 26, 2011: Day 494: PERMIT PROGRESS SIX MONTHS IN

2011-10-26T20:01:00.012-04:00

This week marks six months since last April when we submitted for a Building Permit and I'm happy to report we're almost there. We're working with the City to wrap it up and expect to have the approved Building Permit soon.

We have final approvals from:

Zoning
Historic Preservation
Mechanical
Electrical
Plumbing
Fire and Life Safety
Elevator Review
District Department of the Environment

Final approvals are pending from:

Structural
District Department of Transportation

October 23, 2011: Day 491: WHY I STARTED

2011-10-23T21:41:00.035-04:00

It's good to remember why we do things; at the start, in the middle of doing them, when you're done, and long after you're done.

Why did I start this church job four years ago? I started to contribute to the story.

"Arsonists burned down something beautiful," is an insufficient end to the story. "Nothing was ever built there again", is an insufficient end. The place deserves more. The place remembers being more than a park to walk dogs in. The ground still remembers holding up stone towers into the sky. The soil still remains holy, nobody ever un-blessed it.

One time a reporter asked me if I felt "called" to do the work I took on. I said, yes but not in the way you're asking. I said I felt called by the ground in its place.

What is going to be there has always been there, and it will always be there, just like the soaring Gothic structure that used to be there will always be there, in a memory and a vision.

The vision is just the seeing of a form already present in a piece of marble not yet chiseled. The architect is just the man with the tool and a decent ear. The marble knows what it wants.

Cities have souls. Stories have souls, people have souls, and if there's thought and there's care and there's passion for making something mean something, buildings that are architecture can have souls made up of all those things.

This City is not a place where dreams go to die. It's a place where they can be made with hard collective work. To contribute to that is my dream. To leave things better than how I found them. More beautiful and more significant. To do it for a far off day.

September 26, Day 464: St. Thomas' Parish Announces Sanctuary Will Be the Home of the BISHOP V. GENE ROBINSON CHAPEL

2011-09-25T22:37:00.002-04:00

On Thursday September 15th, the Rector and two Wardens and I took the early morning train to New York City.

We had a 1:30 meeting scheduled with Bishop Gene Robinson to ask if St. Thomas’ Parish could honor his vocation and legacy by naming the planned “Ruins Chapel" after him, and to ask for his direct involvement in raising the remaining funding needed to finish the new Sanctuary.

Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Bishop in the Episcopal Church, gave a resounding “yes” to our invitation and is now a primary partner in building this church.

I sat next to the Bishop as we made our formal ask, walked him through the design, and presented the fly-through animation to him. He was overwhelmed with excitement and humility. It was a profound moment for us all.

Bishop Robinson committed to personally helping St. Thomas in fundraising for the new building, and to helping create the complementary programming that will embody St. Thomas' commitment to the ideals of his ministry in the U.S. and beyond.

In his words he said, “The things we could do, and the difference we could make!"

At the announcement to the Parish last weekend that the chapel will be named in Gene Robinson's honor, St. Thomas also announced that nearly $1 million dollars has already been raised in gifts and pledges.

This past weekend, Parish leaders, invited guests, and the Bishop's right hand, the Reverend Canon Charles LaFond, gathered for a summit at the Human Rights Campaign Headquarters in Washington, DC to discuss the Gene Robinson Chapel Project and the fundraising effort. The fruits of that meeting will be forthcoming in October.

Stay tuned, it's getting exciting around here.

September 25, 2011: Day 463: NEW INTERIOR RENDERINGS RELEASED!

2011-09-19T10:26:00.000-04:00

All images are by Auraform Architects.

View of the Sanctuary Looking North

View of the Sanctuary Looking Southwest

View of the Small Chapel (and Sacristy Beyond), Original Artwork "Madonna and Child" Donated by the Artist, Yorgos Papadopoulos

View of the Sanctuary Looking Northeast

Sectional View of the Bishop V. Gene Robinson Chapel

View Looking Up Inside the Bishop V. Gene Robinson Chapel

View of the Altar Wall Inside the Bishop V. Gene Robinson Chapel

View of the Altar Wall Inside the Bishop V. Gene Robinson Chapel

September 18, 2011: Day 456: ANIMATION BRINGS THE SANCTUARY TO LIFE!

2011-09-18T16:21:00.001-04:00

This video was made by Auraform Architects and 3D StormStudio (sound by Christopher Richmond) for St. Thomas' Parish Church in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. Please donate today! Go here to be a part of this effort.

September 7, 2011: Day 445: EARTHQUAKE DESTROYS ST. THOMAS' CROSS

2011-09-07T11:57:00.001-04:00

We have some sad news. The cross at the top of the ruins was destroyed last week during the hurricane, most likely having been weakened by last month's earthquake.

We made a visual observation of the ruins and found additional damage to the masonry chimney, the granite spires, and to the roof membrane where the cross fell and hit.

The Parish is in the process of having the damage professionally assessed. The good news is that St. Thomas’ remains structurally sound and the mortar joints in the granite block on visual observation seems to be intact.

The cross is a shame.

It had stood on top of the granite gable wall since 1896, survived the fire in 1970, and endured the forty-one years the wall has been freestanding. It's a symbol to the church and to the Dupont Community. We're committed to working with the church to restore or replace it in a way respectful to the original as soon as possible.

(The ruins wall without the cross.)

(The cross was shattered when it fell during the earthquake.)

September 5, 2011: Day 443: PERMIT PROGRESS 18 WEEKS IN

2011-09-04T10:22:00.000-04:00

We've spent the summer coordinating the building permit review process with DCRA. It's been 18 weeks since we submitted April 29th, and we're now in our fifth month of city reviews. The short update is: We're on track and the process is progressing as expected.

At this point the drawings are finished, and our focus is on two main areas: 1) the Specification Manual, and 2) getting the building permit.

Six weeks ago we were through our initial zoning, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire and life safety reviews, but still had to go through our initial structural, Historic Preservation, DDOT and DDOE reviews (District Department of Transportation and District Department of the Environment).

Now eighteen weeks after submittal, all departments have completed their initial reviews and we have compiled our responses to their comments into a response package. The process from here is to submit the response package and the drawing set back to the city for (an) additional review(s). This is usual and every project goes through it.

Next week, we'll re-submit the drawing set titled "Revision Set" on the title block back to the city. The Revision Set addresses all the points touched on by the reviewers' comments. The primary function of the Revision Set is to iterate in a narrative, tables, schedules or on drawings where we have demonstrated our code conformance path.

While we're right on track, there are a several reasons why this process isn't as efficient as it could be.

First, none of the reviewers we met and worked with in Preliminary Design Review Meetings throughout the year prior to submitting are reviewing our project. This isn't unusual but it could be a smoother more fluid process if they were. Because the building code requires interpretation, the people assigned a project and reviewing a project should be the people familiar with the project.

Second, the sequencing of the reviews is important. Departmental reviews are a linear process, meaning a project can only be reviewed by one department at a time and can't proceed to the next until the current's is complete.

For example, the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) typically reviews a project first. In our case they were given it last. This isn't the HPO's fault. They don't have anything to do with the sequence of reviews. However, had we not been proactive about engaging them on Day 1 and established an excellent working relationship with them, we wouldn't have received final approval from Historic Preservation now. The project would now be at its initial review with HPO. The result could have been a re-working of the design and time lost simply because the drawing set did not sequence properly through the other DCRA departments.

Third, reviews are taking longer than usual because several departments are understaffed. The structural department has three reviewers to evaluate every project in the city (from deck additions to developer projects). Their time is limited and it creates a backlog.

But this is the process. We know it, understand it, and work inside it effectively. What the process is going forward from here is to submit the Revision Set and continue to cooperate with each department's reviewer until the permit is approved.

As of today, we have final approval from Zoning, Historic Preservation, and DDOE.

July 27, 2011: Day 403: NEW RENDERINGS AND ANIMATION COMING SOON

2011-07-27T13:31:00.000-04:00

It's been since last winter that we released new renderings of the building so it's about time for something new.

Over the next several weeks the Capital Campaign will be rolling out five newly finished interior renderings to compliment last January's three exterior renderings of the building at dusk. The interior renderings will show the space of the Sanctuary and the two chapels in daylight.

The Capital Campaign will also be releasing a (really cool) video animation that flies through the building so you can experience moving from one space to another. We're teaming with 3D StormStudio on the animation. Early edits are very exciting! More to come on this, look for the animation in the coming weeks.

July 23, 2011: Day 399: THE CASE STATEMENT

2011-07-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

The Capital Campaign Case Statement is now available to view and download on the St. Thomas Parish Growth Website. You can also click here to download the Case Statement.

St. Thomas has begun the process of engaging donors and partnering with organizations to support the effort to build the new community center and Sanctuary. Please download the Case Statement and visit the Growth Website to read about this important, bold, and progressive mission.

July 20, 2011: Day 396: PERMIT STATUS 12 WEEKS IN

2011-07-18T15:59:00.001-04:00

No news is (not always) good news.

It's been 12 weeks since we submitted for a building permit. Six weeks ago I posted that we were through our initial zoning, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire and life safety reviews, but still had to go through initial structural, Historic Preservation, and Ddot reviews. There has not been any progress.

The hold up is in structural. The department is understaffed with only three reviewers, so while a delay is understandable, the project has been there for nearly seven weeks. At this point our review is a priority for structural and they will be completing it soon. When it's finished the permit can move on to Historic Preservation and Ddot. We're there several times a week checking on the status.

Better news is that our Civil Engineer's drawings have initial approval from DC Water. We've worked with them to respond to their comments. The drawings are currently at DC Water's Blue Plains office for fee assessment which we expect to be completed by mid-August.

More on the permit soon. We're on it.

July 1, 2011: Day 377: DCPL EVENT

2011-07-01T09:39:00.001-04:00

The Washington DC Preservation League is partnering with us and the Parish to co-host an event for their members on July 14th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the church. For more information on the event and to RSVP with the DCPL, visit their website at www.dcpreservation.org. Availability is limited.

The title of the Event is "Marrying the Historic and the Modern" in Dupont Circle. The Parish archivists and historians will give a tour of the remnants of the destroyed Gothic building and its artifacts, followed by the architect's presentation of the new structure, and a discussion of how each building enhances and preserves the other.

Hope to see you there, it promises to be a nice evening!

Official Poster for the DCPL Event

June 30, 2011: Day 376: THE EXCELSIOR

2011-06-30T09:53:00.000-04:00

Our little Enterprise received a helping hand from its big sister this week.

Foundry United Methodist down the street on 16th and P Street has taken up a collection in support of St. Thomas' Capital Campaign to build a new community center and Sanctuary. Her Senior Minister, Dean Synder presented a gift of $6,000 to St. Thomas' Senior Warden, John Johnson this past Sunday at both churches' services.

The gesture is jawdropping.

Foundry has a two-hundred year history of excellence, having had members that included presidents, members of Congress, and others in public service such as Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Rutherford Hayes, and having been a church home to President Bill Clinton and his family. But the culture of stalwart support to their community and their City and their values, to service and social justice, is evidenced by their actions; this the latest example. The message a neighbor church two blocks away of a different denomination sends in making a pledge of support like this is that we're all in this together; that the community both churches are a part of is important; that we build it together; that no one can get to where they're going alone and when something's worth supporting you support it, even when times are tough and every dollar counts for everybody.

As the architect I can say receiving the news of this gift is one of the highlights of this whole three and a half year building effort. It's heartwarming and tremendously generous. Support like this is why St. Thomas will succeed in raising the money they need to build their bigger ship. Of that I have no doubt.

Thank you Foundry. Way to go!

Foundry United Methodist, 1500 16th St NW, Washington DC

St. Thomas Parish Episcopal, 1772 Church St NW, Washington DC

June 13, 2011: Day 359: PERMIT PROGRESS SIX WEEKS IN

2011-06-13T08:20:00.001-04:00

(Senior Warden, John Johnson signing Covenant forms and Maintenance Agreements for DDOE and DC WASA)

It's been six weeks since we submitted for a building permit and we're more than half way through our initial reviews. Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire/ Life Safety and Zoning have all reviewed the drawings. Structural, Historic Preservation, DDOT and DDOE still have to review the plans. It should take 30 days but the permit office is short-staffed so it's taking longer. (Structural has three reviewers to look at every project in the city that's not a third-party review.)

Each department that reviews the drawings comes back with comments. In the last weeks, we've been spending a lot of time at the permit office clarifying the comments that are questions, or are things that have already been resolved in the past year in our various preliminary design review meetings or department interpretations. The comments that remain are minor ones which we can easily address in a report and in addenda drawings, which we'll enter into the set when all the initial reviews are in.

We except within 30 - 45 days to have the initial reviews completed. Then we'll insert our report responses and addenda drawings into the permit set and each reviewer will evaluate them to make sure we've addressed their comments. In August we should have the permit approved. We're not expecting any major speed bumps at this point.

June 5, 2011: Day 351: ART AND ENTHALPY

2011-06-05T13:19:00.000-04:00

The St. Thomas' Parish Community Center and Sanctuary project is undergoing a phase change.

We're leaving the design phase and transitioning to the fundraising phase. At the moment enormous energy is being absorbed from everyone involved and every effort surrounding the project to make the phase change. In science it's called enthalpy. In art it's animation. In theology it could be called, calling something into being.

(Elevation of the Side Chapel; Original Artwork- Madonna and Child by Yorgos Papadopoulos)

In March, Rector Jose's mother Harriet passed away. In lieu of flowers her family requested people make a contribution to the Grow With Us capital campaign. Several weeks later, a parishioner was talking about the project at a Parish-wide meeting and spontaneously doubled his pledge in a public plea for people to join him. Yesterday, a couple was married in the park and asked people on the their honeymoon fund web page to contribute to the building. I've witnessed the desire and commitment to build the new building become so personal and necessary for many people at St. Thomas that its become a need. It's inspiring and moving.

A few people are leading the capital campaign: Marhall Ginn, Chris Norman, and Nathan Mesaros.

We're working with them closely as they push the huge fundraising effort forward; creating images, engaging partners, sitting down with interested donors and discussing the project, and developing creative solutions for how contributors will be recognized in integral-parts of the architecture.

This is the team that is out there building bridges in order to build a church:

Marshall H. Ginn, CFRE, is the Founder and Managing Director of Capital Development Strategies LLC, a fundraising consulting firm based in Arlington. A 20+ year veteran and leader in the nonprofit management and fundraising fields, Marshall works with organizations of all sizes serving local, regional, national and international constituencies. He serves on the national board of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and as chair of the Selection Committee for The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management.

Chris Norman is the former Director of Development at Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington. Chris is currently a management consultant who advises large organizations on how best to execute their strategies. He has an MBA and Masters in Urban Planning. Chris currently serves on the Vestry.

Nathan Mesaros has a long history of fundraising. Over the past five years he has worked at World Vision, most recently as Campaign Manager on the Major Gifts Team. The current campaign has secured over $160 million in pledges in the past 12 months towards a goal of $500 million to benefit children and families around the world.

May 19, 2011: Day 334: AIA ARTICLE ON CATHOLIC LECTURE

2011-05-19T11:41:00.001-04:00

We made the local AIA NOVA (American Institute of Architects Northern Virginia Chapter) newsletter. The brief write-up is about our Lecture Series Pin-Up at Catholic University in March. They included a nice rendering of the Sanctuary.

Check it out!

May 9, 2011: Day 324: "MAKE IT HAPPEN" BANNER

2011-05-09T18:27:00.000-04:00

Thanks to a lot of in-house talent at St. Thomas, namely Brad Latham and Christopher Richmond and Chris Norman, the announcement banner for the Capital Campaign was put up on the gates of the Ruins on Easter Sunday. Good job!

April 28, 2011: Day 313: SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED

2011-04-28T20:12:00.000-04:00

Today we submitted for our Building Permit!

April 27, 2011: Day 312: THE VESTRY VOTES TO PERMIT

2011-04-27T09:20:00.001-04:00

PERMITTING

On April 17th, St. Thomas voted to proceed with permitting the design using the current architectural drawings...

...And this is a big deal. (Go ahead, get excited!)

Applying for the Building Permit is a benchmark representing the cumulative success of working with the Building Committee on the design for the New St. Thomas very diligently for nearly two years. The Building Committee has met with us every other Monday night since August 2009.

Our house is in order. Now it's time to build one.

We've received the signed and sealed sets of structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil construction drawings from our consultants, bringing to a close our coordination in the design phase with those companies. (They'll each stay committed to the job during the bidding and construction phases through completion.) Success in coordination is due to the tremendous effort and attention of the Project Architect, Scott McGhee, who we have been very fortunate to have on this job. Scott is responsible for the excellent set of drawings we have.

The construction document set is over 130 pages. Mark Wherry, a parishioner on the Building Committee who is also an architect, has signed off on each page on behalf of the committee.

The paperwork's done. We're printing and binding the sets today, we're meeting with the permit expediter in the morning, and we'll submit tomorrow. We'll work with the DCRA on their comments and will continue to refine details, and add a stray few here and there into the set. But this marks the end of the design process.

PRICING

Six weeks ago we received our third estimated cost of the design in sixteen months. The most recent is the first estimate by a builder, Scott Long Construction. The previous two were by independent cost estimators.

At each major benchmark we stop and take stock of the cost. (Who wouldn't!)

The third most recent estimate came in at $5.9M, which is somewhat high. In the last six weeks, our office has value-engineered the estimated cost of the building down by a half a million dollars. From approximately $5.9M to approximately $5.4M. We have changed all of the drawings to be consistent with the lower number, using the cost estimator's recommendations for "moderate value-engineering" as a guide. That is where the current construction documents are presently.

The cost estimator also gave the Parish an option of more "significant value engineering", a step beyond the "moderate value-engineering" that we've re-worked the design to. That's what we've been busy with.

In the last six weeks, we've developed and put forward several options for how to further lower the estimated cost of the building from $5.4M to $5.0M. (But a word of warning... not without some chest pain and some heartburn because doing so cuts into "bone not fat"!) The drawings have not been changed to reflect the lowest number, but they could be modified to be in the future with some re-designing and re-engineering. We've provided the Vestry with these options, and they've indicated these conversations on cost will be on-going throughout the year as fund-raising progresses.

Meanwhile, over the course of the next 12 months, the people at St. Thomas will be full-steam ahead in their fund-raising efforts. Once the permit is in hand, all the doors fly open. Nothing stops the project from becoming a built Work in the City, and the big vision of this small Christian community from spreading like fire.

When the money has been raised, the Parish will make the decision to either invite several builders to submit bids for construction, or to negotiate a contract with one. The ultimate cost of the building will be based on the market conditions at that time. (The sooner you join the effort and help make this vision real the better, because nothing's ever cheaper than it is right now!)

Contribute by pledging now at the St. Thomas website: www.Growth.StThomasDC.org

April 22, 2011: Day 307: THE SOUTHWEST ORACLE

2011-04-22T13:20:00.000-04:00

Someone special's over at the permit office.

I've been working on this church job for over three years now, and one of the most rewarding things is occasionally getting to know people I wouldn't have otherwise met.

Ms. Taylor works at the permit office. She's a liaison in the Development Ambassador Program department, and it's her job to help architects and planners and developers navigate the permitting process and work with the City. Sounds pretty straightforward except I find myself looking forward to dropping in and saying hi when I'm over there, and sometimes finding an excuse to. Now this is the permit office we're talking about. But every time I talk to Ms. Taylor she makes it into the highlight reel of my day's events when I get home.

She does a very good job, and deserves some recognition from the people she helps. I'm sure she's respected by her coworkers. So, this blog's for you Ms. Taylor.

* * *

This week I was at the permit office and sat down with her to talk about business, and half way through a discussion about scheduling a preliminary design review meeting, she stopped me and looked out the window behind me (she has a nice view of an un-built grassy patch of land from her desk) and told me to turn around and look at a young mother in the field flying a kite alone with her little boy, who couldn't have been more than five or six. She said, "Look at that. She is such a good mother, that is so important." She marveled at the scene like it was a miracle. Now, I know nothing about Ms. Taylor except for our professional interactions. All of her emails are direct and professional to a T. But the look of utter amazement and approval on her face made my day.

Ms. Taylor has a slow, calm, trust-engendering was of speaking. She's a woman small in stature who exudes huge kindness, and some inner, I don't know, something, and you know it when you're in it.

It's this architect's gut she's tailor made for her position, a liaison for the City to developers, and a liaison for peace to people too fast paced to slow down.

April 21, 2011: Day 306: REVIT CHECK MODEL

2011-04-21T16:37:00.000-04:00

Before we permit, we made the decision with our structural engineer to construct a new Revit model as a check that the roof structure is absolutely precise. The new model allows us to refine complex details at the inch-scale. Here are a few cool images.

Detail at the apex of the Ruins Gable Wall

Underside of the roof structure

Revit check model under construction

April 15, 2011: Day 300: PETER IN THE TIMES

2011-04-15T10:29:00.000-04:00

It's been a very busy few weeks working towards this Sunday's Vestry decision whether to move forward with permitting the project, and at what budget, scope, and level of quality.

So, I thought I'd post something fun completely unrelated.

My old teacher, Peter Zumthor was recently in an interesting NY Times article. Enjoy learning about him and the inspiring work he makes.

Bruder Klaus Chapel, Mechernich Germany

April 3, 2011: Day 288: VALUE ENGINEERING

2011-04-03T19:25:00.001-04:00

While the Vestry is considering the range of cost estimates these last weeks, we're providing the Building Committee with tiers of project scope and project quality reductions, which are essentially value-engineering of the architectural finishes.

We have provided the Building Committee with several recommendations between the estimated $5.0M and $5.9M costs that would not trigger significant re-design or re-engineering costs, or re-visiting the Historic Preservation Review Board or community associations with exterior changes.

Our recommendations identify specific architectural changes that have the least impact on the overall design intent, atmosphere, and experience of the building.

Discussions regarding our recommendations for reducing combinations of the scope and quality of the project are on-going as the Vestry and Building Committee consider amending the budget to meet the number that will eventually be agreed upon on April 17th.

March 31, 2011: Day 285: CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY PRESENTATION

2011-03-31T10:08:00.000-04:00

Last night I presented the design for St. Thomas Parish to faculty and students at the Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies at Catholic University. I had not been to Catholic's architecture school before, although I understand it to be a very good program.

It was a lovely evening.

The students were thoughtful and engaged, and following the presentation of the project, we spent the better part of 45 minutes discussing the construction drawing set and material samples we'd brought. They were interested in the details.

Thank you to Jennifer Byl, and Professors Michelle Rinehart and Julio Bermudez... Looking forward to my next opportunity to visit the school.

March 22, 2011: Day 276: POSTCARD AVAILABLE AT THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

2011-03-22T08:41:00.000-04:00

This postcard of images is available at a display stand at the rear of the Nave at the National Cathedral. Please visit the Cathedral and take one, or, click on the images below to enlarge them, then right-click to save both images on your computer, and print your own postcard (double-sided in color) and give it away!

(front)

(back)

March 21, 2011: Day 275: AIA LECTURE SERIES AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

2011-03-21T14:05:00.000-04:00

We're participating in the 2011 Firm Pin-Up Lecture Series, sponsored by the AIA (American Institute of Architects).

Scott and I will host a discussion about the St. Thomas' Parish project to faculty and students at Catholic University on Wednesday, March 30th at 6:30pm.

Below is the official poster for the event. (Click on the image to enlarge!)

March 18, 2011 Day 272: VESTRY CONSIDERS FINAL COST ESTIMATE

2011-03-18T13:07:00.000-04:00

St. Thomas' Parish sent out this update in a blast email to all parishioners today:

At the March 13 (Special Vestry) meeting, Auraform Architects presented the cost estimates from builder, Scott Long Construction. Estimates ranged from $5.0 to $5.9m for hard costs (does not include architect, engineering or legal fees).

Given that this estimated cost is higher than originally budgeted, the Vestry moved to postpone the vote on permitting until the next Vestry meeting (April 17) so that the mix of funding sources as well as design scope can be revisited.

The Building Committee began this task on Monday night this week, and the Vestry looks forward to considering their findings at its meeting next month.

March 13, 2011: Day 267: JOHN JOHNSON and NANCY LEE JOSE

2011-03-13T19:52:00.001-04:00

No one builds a building by themselves.

The Reverend Dr. Nancy Lee Jose and Senior Warden John Johnson are the reason this sanctuary building will get built.

John Johnson is brave. He's got the courage of his convictions. He stands by them against the grain and under fire. He has vision and trusts in it. He acts from it with authority, in small decisions and in great ones. Mr. Johnson does what great leaders do. He doesn't talk about faith. He stands up in front of you and says, "Let me show you what faith looks like."

Nancy Lee Jose could go twenty-seven rounds with Mike Tyson and still be standing. She has strength enough for everyone. She cements it with compassion and exudes it and it shimmers. She's brings everyone along with her. Like a tugboat for the soul. She's sees the best in everyone and puts our bests to use. Reverend Jose is the spiritual heart of the Parish and will succeed to confirm St. Thomas as the spiritual heart of the City.

As the architect, I could not have better clients.

Their tenure at St. Thomas will be one for the history books.

March 5, 2011: Day 259: THE PERMIT SET

2011-03-05T14:24:00.001-05:00

The design phase of the project is almost done.

In a couple of weeks we'll submit the document set to the city for a building permit, and while it's being reviewed we'll continue to work on the details. By summer, the design phase will be complete, and the Parish will be able to concentrate fully on the fundraising phase of the project that's already off and running with success.

At the moment, we're focused on consolidating the work that all our engineers and professionals have done designing the building into the Permit Set. We've received the structural and civil engineers' signed and sealed drawings, and the MEP's are almost finished. But there are always 11th-hour coordination details to work out... For example, this past week our acoustical engineer performed a final evaluation of the mechanical system design and discovered that our rooftop unit is too loud in the Sanctuary. So at the last minute we've been working with both consultants to substitute the 25-ton Carrier unit for a quieter 25-ton Aaon unit, which has quieter backward-curving fan blades as opposed to the Carrier's forward-curving fan blades, and to design sound attenuators into the supply and return ducts to reduce the overall noise. Remember that changing rooftop mechanical units is no east feat at this point, because we're restrained by an inflexible amount of space for a mechanical well within the depth of the roof, and because the unit itself can't get taller because we are respecting the Dupont Conservancy and Historic Preservation Review Board's preference to not see the units from the street. So there's always something. (Actually there are always 10 or so somethings but that's why there's never a dull moment!)

At the same time,

During the last six weeks we've had Scott-Long Construction perform a cost analysis of the design, and concurrently have had Mark Wherry, an architect on the St. Thomas' Parish Building Committee, review our drawings.

After a few changes the Parish wanted us to incorporate into the drawing set, such as including a piscina sink at the Sacristy, and adding and changing several locations for power and data outlets throughout the building, Mark has signed off on the drawing set on behalf of the Building Committee.

Next Sunday, a special session of the Vestry will be called to discuss the cost estimate (which we'll get next week). Once the estimated cost of the building and the drawings are approved by the Vestry we'll proceed with permitting.

We've come a long way...

And we're not quite there yet, so it's not a good idea to put the cart before the horse, but obtaining the building permit is a success in and of itself, and the Parish should be very proud of that success. In 40 years the neighborhood has never been closer to enjoying a community and spiritual center. In many ways it's much more difficult to decide "what" to build than actually building. The "what" of it is subject of a lot of opinions, and in the case of a church is subject to a lot of passionate opinions. St. Thomas has come through the design process a Parish unified within itself, and unified within the Dupont Circle community as to the appropriateness of the "what." And now the future has a form. And that's a significant feat. It's one everyone should be immensely proud of.

Feb 19, 2011: Day 245: TEAM PHOENIX

2011-02-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

Joseph Mallord William Turner, Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 1834

After the fire in the 70's, the Parish conducted a study called, "Project Phoenix," aptly named to investigate what form whatever it was that would spring out of the ground would eventually take.

Forty years later we're ready to Permit. And at this point we have a lot more than recent renderings. Dozens of professionals are coordinating the finishing touches on a full year's worth of work designing the building's circulatory, nervous and skeletal systems. Tremendous effort has gone into taking this project from a design concept to a living breathing build-able building. And at this point it is. It's on paper but it's real.

This is the team of professionals we rely on like St. Thomas relies on us. "Team Phoenix". And this is what they're up to:

Linton Engineering: Our cost estimator gave us a great compliment when we were reviewing the trusses with him. He said, "A structure like this is why these guys (the truss manufacturers) get into this business in the first place. They're going to love to price this." Linton is doing some heavy-lifting at the moment, working closely with us on some very tricky details, such as: 1) The knife-edge roof that points to the cross on 18th Street. We want a roof thickness of just a few inches! and 2) The point at which all five trusses converge at the apex of the existing gable wall right above the circle in the stone under the St. Thomas cross. I'm telling you, trust me, this is tough!

Summit Engineers: Integrating Summit's MEP schematics with the architecture has been no small feat. We resolved the issue of how to conceal the rooftop units in a recessed well so you don't see them from 18th Street, and so the roof can continue out to be a visible element at the street, but it was difficult from a space-planning perspective to get all three units into the well with the required clearances. Summit's tweaking duct sizing here and there for us but for all intents and purposes they're just about done.

Acoustical Design Collaborative: We began working with ADC again more in the last several weeks to bring the last facet of an acoustically successful space, the low-bass ratio level, into an acceptable range. We changed the finishes and wall assemblies in the sanctuary to accommodate their recommendations and brought the low-bass ratio within the acceptable range. ADC is currently coordinating with Summit to make sure the mechanical system's noise level isn't disruptive in the sanctuary.

Wiles Mensch: Our Civil has been outstanding. Civil permits will go in first. We're wrapping up coordinating their work. They're double checking calculations for area drains and sloping sidewalks to them.

Geo-Concepts: The foundation system has been revised following our test pit subsurface investigation in the park in January. They've issued a report recommending a micro-pile foundation system; a 7"-diameter steel pile deep foundation system that takes the place of our previously assumed 14"-diameter concrete augured pile system. The structural engineer concurs with the recommendation, and the builder we've engaged for pre-construction consultations has confirmed it's the most cost/time/risk-efficient foundation solution. The Building Committee has approved the recommendation. The test pit proved to be one of the wisest things we've done.

Scott-Long Construction: We're having a builder prepare a detailed cost estimate for us prior to permitting. They're currently reviewing the drawing set and putting together pricing. They have been instrumental in pre-construction consultations regarding the foundation.

CM Kling: The bulk of the lighting design is done. They've worked very closely with us to develop the lighting concept, fixture package, and lighting control system. Space is very tight in between floors, and it's been challenging to find a light fixture that is true to the design concept but doesn't have a housing that conflicts with the ducts!

Heller & Metzger: Our specification consultants are currently reviewing the drawing set and construction assemblies. They're our spec-writer and we're working with them on making the Project Manual.

RWay: We've had our pre-permitting meeting with our permit expediter. He's familiar with the drawing set and our code-compliance permitting path. We've identified the sequencing for applying for each permit. Yesterday we filed our platt with the office of the DC Surveyor.

This was Step-1.

Feb 12, 2011: Day 238: MOCK-UP WALL (...six months later)

2011-02-12T11:31:00.001-05:00

We paid a visit to our friends Manny Seara and Michael Lizarraga at Lorton Stone yesterday, the guys who built the mock-up wall for us last September, to check on it and see how it's been weathering the winter.

We built the wall next to a dumpster in a loading area where Manny's trucks park, directly under a group of pine trees that have a tendency to drip a lot of sap. We put it in the place most likely to get roughed up. We painted the CMU back-up black but we didn't waterproof it or insulate it like we will in the actual building facade. We wanted to see how the freeze-thaw cycle affected it.

It's been six months since we constructed the wall and we were pleased to see it's as perfect as the day we made it. There hasn't been any movement in the backup wall or in the clipping system for the porcelain. The porcelain panels themselves are still pristine, no cracks, no scrapes, no dirt and no dis-coloring.

We'll leave the mock-up wall up through at least the Spring. Manny's guys want to see if it passes the graffiti and projectile test. We might have to see that one for ourselves.

Feb 3, 2011: Day 229: NEW RENDERING III (NightLight)

2011-02-03T14:55:00.000-05:00

View at the Corner of 18th and Church Streets Looking South

We have been working for three years re-visioning and re-making a new sanctuary for St. Thomas' Parish Episcopal Church one block from Dupont Circle, just blocks from the White House.

These three recent renderings are what the new building will look like in its context. The facade on 18th Street, where the building slows the fast pace of the busy city as people enter, is a sea wall against the loud squall of urban demands. The glowing side you see is the tall glass wall of the sanctuary which opens to Church Street, and is an expression of the progressive outward-looking congregation. There are twelve large pyramidal skylights, each for the twelve apostles, which adorn the roof that slopes to the apex of the old Altar wall. After forty years, the old Altar will be brought back inside the interior space and re-enveloped by the sanctuary, once again facilitating worship at St Thomas.

This is our hope.

Feb 1, 2011: Day 227: NEW RENDERING II (This Is Our Hope)

2011-01-31T17:34:00.000-05:00

View of the Sanctuary from Church Street

THIS IS OUR HOPE. Come and see.

* * *

Jan 30, 2011: Day 225: The Reverend Canon Charles LaFond (of New Hampshire)

2011-01-30T18:19:00.000-05:00

This is a link to my new friend, the Rev Canon Charles LaFond's, blog post about his visit to St Thomas this weekend. He talks about undertaking the faith and effort of making the new sanctuary, and about the necessity for it to be.

View of the Building from P and 18th Street

He says,

"The congregation seems... to be coming out of a renewed calling to co-create with God as God “makes all things new.” They are catching a vision of a Church which blazes with light in the night and welcomes the light in the day. They have designs (a virtual artist’s rendering of a building on what is currently a park – design seen above) which remind me what the Prologue of John’s Gospel means when dragged out of liturgies and put into action. They have plans which make my knees go weak when I pray for them. The courage and the hope are disfiguring to the challenge. They have very little money and need $5 million. But that is just the kind of challenge God seems to love! Anything easier would not be worthy of the Ruler of the Universe. And the fear that it can’t be done or that it will take time? Well, they seem to be running through that like a runner running through a side stitch...

If they articulate the vision and find the money to build this stunning expression of civic center-cultural center-hospital-dance hall-sanctuary-outreach center-feeding center- meeting center- disaster gathering and aid center …well the darkness will not overcome it for the night will be as bright as the day!"

Jan 27, 2011: Day 222: NEW RENDERING (The Lamppost)

2011-01-27T10:10:00.000-05:00

View of the Building from P and 18th Street

By Rev. Canon Charles LaFond:

"The word “disaster” comes from two words: “Dis” (without) and “astron”(A star) and was formed in the middle ages out of the Epiphany story. The idea was that the wilderness John was talking about was the dis-astron – the wilderness of being without a star to guide us. What is your wilderness? Can you spare part of a day to find the star?"

* * *

Last October, Reverend LaFond conducted a workshop for the Building Committee and the Parish Leadership. Two hours into the workshop Charles suggested we take a break, and he led the Committee into the park at night and asked each person present to go off on their own and find a place in silence, and to contemplate what they hear and what they see.

This image came from the discussion that followed.

This Saturday, January 29, 2011, St. Thomas' Parish is thrilled to host an all-Parish retreat led by the Rev. Canon Charles LaFond from the diocese of New Hampshire from 10 AM to 2 PM.

(Other new renderings will be released at an upcoming event. So stay tuned!)

Jan 15, 2011: Day 210: THREE YEARS AS THE ARCHITECT FOR ST. THOMAS

2011-01-15T11:53:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe but this month marks the three year anniversary of when I came on as the architect for St Thomas.

It was daunting interviewing against bigger and more experienced firms who do churches almost exclusively. There was no reason to think I would get this job. When I interviewed, Nancy Lee asked me what I could bring that the other firms couldn't? I said,

"If you hire me, you will be taking a chance on me, and I will be taking a chance on you. Other architects will come to the site once in a while, and they'll have maybe a handful of other churches they're designing at any one time. I will be here every day. This will be my one project, and I'll be involved in every decision and will work with you from the beginning to the end until it's perfect. Some of these people you'll meet in these interviews you'll never see again... I'll take the time to listen, and the design that comes will be unique because it'll come from our relationship, and from my understanding St. Thomas, and not from how I'm used to making churches."

In the three years since,

It's been a lot of hard work and a lot of diligent effort on the part of a lot of people. The remarkable thing is how amazingly well the Parish has maintained its endurance and its enthusiasm, hanging in there. It's a long time to go without a building to show for the effort. It's my job, so I'm accustomed to non-immediate gratification like a painter might enjoy, or a potter, but the Parish isn't and they have walked the long road well. It will pay off. I'm very sure. When Bishop Robinson and Bishop Chane and Nancy Lee and perhaps the mayor and perhaps the President are there the day of the ribbon cutting, and the first newcomer walks through the door that christens her, sometime in 2013, we'll be glad our little miracles met.

Jan 13, 2011: Day 208: PIT PICS!

2011-01-13T17:04:00.000-05:00

The geo-technical engineer dug the test pit today. It proved to be an invaluable exercise. The geo-tech will report on their findings, but for now, here's an exciting picture-story of the archeological experiment!

Jan 12, 2011: Day 207: THE BUSINESS OF HOPE

2011-01-12T09:31:00.000-05:00

John Carter, the former Senior Warden of St Thomas and I, have breakfast every so often at IHOP on Route-1. Sometimes we talk about the building but mostly we talk about the hard business of Faith. By chance I happened to go to the 5:00 Taize service last Sunday where John gave this Homily. It was about both.

John is a mentor and a friend and a deeply spiritual man. Reading his Homily over a few times, I found a message in the last words each of his paragraphs. Taken out of context and strung together they tell a story of their own. (I believe John is maybe more spiritual than he even knows. Spiritual to the very core.)

These are the last words of each paragraph:

"Hope? No way. Enough disappointment. Slide, expectations for anything. Fill the new space in the hope business, Scripture. Long, the one who seeks him. Hope, nations! Deliver us, to faith itself, verified. Christ's sacrifice, here at St Thomas, is St Thomas. Earth, not hope-filled. The present and future, her life, eternal life. His name, our expectations. Hope!"

* * *

The Business of Hope

It’s easy to be disappointed isn’t it? Think back to just two weeks ago and Christmas morning. Can any day so filled with expectations ever measure up? No way.

The big things: career, income, relationships, families . . . you must feel that some, if not all, of these aspects of your life aren’t quite enough.

The English writer Samuel Johnson said that “. . . (in) the completion of almost every wish is found a disappointment. “

I’m willing to bet that disappointment is second nature to most of us. Mostly what I feel is personal disappointment. I’m forever wondering about where I’ve fallen short. Have I loved Louie well enough? Have I given my all to this parish? Am I letting work slide?

Disappointment is so common in our lives that it shapes our outlook on the world. We become “realists.” Realism is just the codification of disappointment I think; it’s the structure from which we hang our low expectations.

To avoid a feeling of perpetual disappointment we allow ourselves to hope for very little. This has always been my stumbling block to meaningful prayer. I can’t bear the disappointment of God being silent in the face of my earnest plea, so I rarely ask her for anything.

I see lots of “realists” around me in this congregation, particularly when the subject of the new sanctuary arises. The “realists” talk about our plans being too ambitious and not feasible. There are those who believe the congregation can’t raise the money. There were those who said that neighborhood objections would stop the project. There are those who doubt we could ever fill the new space.

I find the “realistic” objections somewhat ironic in a Christian congregation. Is there any institution more founded on hope than a church? Aren’t we as faithful Episcopalians executives in the hope business?

Let me share just a selection of hope references from Scripture.

*Psalm 25: “. . . (you are) God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long. “

*Lamentations: “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

*Second Acts: “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope.”

*Romans: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations.”

*Second Corinthians: “On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.”

In a quick search, I found 180 Biblical references to hope. It’s clear that as Christians we live a life predicated on hope, which is really a close cousin to faith itself.

We routinely take a leap of faith when we repeat the words of the Nicene Creed. There is nothing in our faith that can be “realistically” verified.

“We believe in One God, the Father Almighty.” “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God.” “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.” Not one of these statements can be proven. We believe they are true. More importantly, we hope they are true, just as we have hope in our eternal salvation, the ultimate gift of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice.

As professed Christians, we are called to subvert our realism in favor of God’s hope. I don’t know anyone who does this better than our rector Nancy Lee. She is the CEO of hope here at St. Thomas’.

Nancy Lee sees possibilities everywhere she looks. She sees each parishioner for everything they have been and can be. She looks at our park and sees a bright, welcoming, radically hospitable home for the beacon of progressive Christianity that is St. Thomas’.

Is that vision anymore unlikely than what we answered today in the renewal of our Baptismal vows? We were asked: “Do you believe in God the Father?” We responded: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.”

Is the vision of a new sanctuary any more unlikely than the savior of mankind becoming incarnate in the form of an infant child born to a poor couple living in an obscure corner of the Middle East? Certainly not!

If you think that this much hope is farfetched, then you only have to look at today’s readings to find a solid foundation for reaching for the unrealistic. Isaiah says “he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed . . . (the Lord has) taken you by the hand and kept you.” We have the ultimate power behind us each and every step we take. This kind of support can only make us hope-filled.

If you struggle to hold on to hope, however, you’ll find lots of company. I’m helping mentor an Education for Ministry group in the parish. We’re in the first year of a four-year program and our focus has been on the Old Testament. We’ve spent several sessions reviewing Exodus. Those who followed Moses out of Egypt were forever losing their hope. In their time of fear, Moses’ followers preferred a past which was familiar, though unpleasant, to the unknown dangers of the present and future.

When the Israelites complained about thirst and hunger, however, God delivered water from a rock and bread from Heaven. Time and again, the nation of Israel despaired. Time and again God responded. The message in Exodus is that God provides for Israel whatever is necessary for her life.

Like those early Israelites, we will find that God is always there to provide what is necessary for our hope. The greatest sign of this commitment is Jesus. John writes “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In today’s reading from Acts, Peter testifies that Jesus is “the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Matthew says God called down from Heaven at Jesus’ baptism to say “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We’ve got the all-powerful Father, his well-pleasing Son and the life-sustaining Holy Ghost to remind us of the limits of realism and the power of hope of raise our expectations.

The incarnation of Jesus at Christmas gives us present-day Christians our Moses. This Epiphany season honors the three wise men for recognizing the power of our new Moses. Let our prayer today be that we share in the Magi’s recognition and use God’s power to kindle and enflame our hope.

John Carter
January 9, 2011

Jan 11, 2011: Day 206: IT'S THE PITS

2011-01-11T08:17:00.000-05:00

Over the last month our structural engineer, our geo-technical engineer, ourselves, and Scott-Long Construction (as a part of pre-construction services) have been collectively discussing the foundation system for the new building. To this point, we have assumed a structured concrete slab will sit on concrete grade beams, which will span from deep augured pile to deep augured pile.

We've done our homework and laid out where the augured piles would go, finding and overlaying the 1893 Gothic plan over the park and boring numerous air-track probe holes to verify the existing foundation walls are where we think they are. That investigation was successful.

But at this point, everything gets real.

Prior to permitting, the foundation system has to be engineered, and we brought Scott-Long into the conversation to make sure that the system we engineer is the one we'll build. No one wants change orders in the field that cause unexpected cost or delays. We are having the conversation again, this time with a builder, to make sure that what we are proposing is the most "time-economical" solution. That is, that it's not only economical from an initial cost perspective, but also economical in that it minimizes or eliminates the potential for change orders in the field. Change orders in the field could come about from an augured pile location being required to be moved or offset because the auger hit an obstruction and was not able to go through it, thereby causing unexpected engineering costs and delays during construction.

One alternative to the augured piles we are investigating is a system of micro-piles, similar to the augured piles, but instead of auguring and filling in the hole with reinforced concrete, these piles are smaller-diameter steel. They cause minimal vibration, which is appropriate for the sensitive nature of the work in close proximity to the Ruins, and can go through stone. Although more expensive per pile, the potential for change orders would be reduced, as would the contingency for unforeseen conditions. The potential for savings could be more than the cost increase per pile.

But before a definitive decision is made, everyone at the table thinks we need more information. The geo-tech, the structural engineer, ourselves, and Scott-Long all agreed and made the recommendation to the Parish that we dig two test pits in the park to know as much as we can about what's under it before we design around it.

This Thursday we'll dig the two pits. Each will be 13'-0" to 15'-0" deep, and roughly 3'-0" wide by about 8'-0" long. The geo-technical engineer will be on site observing and logging the findings, along with us, and at the end of the day the holes will be filled back in with the same soil spoils taken out. The filled-in pits will be safe, however the grass at these two locations will be disturbed. There will be a mess, but we'll be there with tarps and rakes to help clean it up and try to minimize the mess.

One pit will be located outside the administration office, and one pit will be in the center of the grassy area in the middle of the park. If weather doesn't cooperate we'll reschedule for next week.

Jan 10, 2011: Day 205: PAST PROLOGUE

2011-01-10T11:45:00.000-05:00

I gave an interview recently on how the computer is used in Peter Zumthor's office, in Switzerland, where I worked in 2001 and 2002. It's relevant here because it's insight to how Scott and I like to work and think of architecture. And once in a while it's nice to change up the blog.

* * *

1. Describe, in words or with a diagram, the basic structure and size of Zumthor's studio (number of people and projects), and the distribution of types of work between the different positions (the principal, the project architect, the intern, etc). How would you describe the level of discussion and exchange of ideas between these positions?

Peter is the heart, the mind and the source of the work. The project architects are the organs; like the kidneys they filter and edit. The interns are the worker bees; the fingers that make models. There is only one Peter. There are approximately 5-6 project architects. And there are 10 or so interns and model makers. I was one of these lowly people. I don't know about every project or how the structure for every project works, but I can tell a story about one experience I had. One time when a new project started, Peter pulled everyone into his office, both project architects and interns, and presented the job and said some things about it and explained in words his concept for it. Then he asked if everyone liked the concept. There were early concept models to help him convey the explanation. At that moment it was very much a studio atmosphere, everyone giving their opinions and ideas. The project had already enjoyed its genesis, but not yet its exodus. Afterward, that project was given to one project architect to develop and evolve. There were three or four interns the project architect used to make models. Depending on the size of the project, one or two project architects run the job. In this one, the Dia Cener extension, there was one. In the Kolumba Museum, there were two. The project always returns to Peter for his input and judgment.

2. How is the computer used for each of these positions (to what end, and which software)?

Keep in mind I worked there nearly a decade ago. Things may have changed, although somehow I don't think so. His way of working is not dependent on the latest release of Revit. It is rooted in a philosophy of making. I think he would approve of me saying so. Peter never uses the computer. He makes watercolors. Every job has series of watercolors, from beginning to end. Some of them are very detailed and accurate in terms of scale. They are working drawings. The project architects use the computer to make the construction drawing sets because it's efficient to work this way, but many working drawings are done by hand. While most models are made by hand, some are also made with the computer. I's important to know that the computer is evaluated in Peter's office as a tool; by what it can do. And there is a understanding of what it shouldn't do. He uses it for what it can do better than any other tools and doesn't use it by default. For example, he uses it to micro-refine the texture of a material on a facade, because you can tweak the texture and the color at a very precise level, which you couldn't with colored pencils. Everything is done in Photoshop because everything is deliberate.

3. While working on a project (during day to day exchanges between the team members, project architects, and office principals) is the computer screen ever used directly as a mode of presentation or is a printout always necessary?

Never. Always a print out. Which is difficult because every printer and computer affects the visualization differently. Peter needs to see things in front of him to make determinations. There is considerable effort put into printing out the representative thing.

4. Using what medium is the first drawing or model for a project generated?

Always a watercolor from Peter. Then a physical conceptual model. The computer is introduced later, when renderings must be made for proposals, or for working drawings. This is me speaking and not me speaking for Peter, so please make that clear, but to me the design process in its entirely is truly a start to finish process of translating that initial watercolor that comes from his mind and heart and unutterable source, to the construction drawings. The computer has a role in that process, but for him, it certainly is in no way the genesis for anything.

5. To what extent is manual drawing used for each project phase, from the initial idea, to the technical drawing to the presentation? Who produces these drawings?

Manual drawings are used early in the process. When he knows a little about the design, more than a watercolor, but not enough for definite computer drawings. There is always the right pairing of the medium-used to things-known. Always the medium reflects what is known about the project at the time.

6. To what extent is the manually crafted model used during each project phase, from the study model to the presentation model? Who produces these models?

The interns produce these models most of the time. The project architects make models to test ideas they have, and to convey their ideas to the interns. Peter doesn't make models. Some models are made by others outside the office if they are very large. Model-making is a part of the project-making that is never confined to a stage in the making-process. There are always physical models being made, more-so even in the construction drawings phase. He is always testing everything; the testing does not have a term limit. He has the fundamental belief that you need to experience something as accurately as possible to judge it. So there are foam-core models of rooms made, often very large ones that you can go inside and experience, because the experience is also a part of the model. That's important- The physical model allows for an interaction between the person and the space. The computer is only one-way. And Architecture is never one-way.

7. How does the firm study the site and its particular identity? How long does this take with respect to the whole process of the project?

Again, I can only speak about my limited experience, but I can tell you about one model I made. Peter had the idea for a house in NY and he wanted see the site modeled in Fall, because he felt that a large part of the identity of the site came from experiencing it when the leaves were on the ground. So I made a model of the site in a way that reflected that understanding. I made it out of pear contours that I cut clamped and glued together, and then chiseled to create a texture of leaves. The variation of the colors in the wood looked like Fall. The model came from his understanding and what he wanted to evoke about the site. It took me four months to make. He said, "Nice. It's expensive, no?!"

8. Feel free to add anything else.

I'd only add what Peter has said in interviews; that for him there is only the making of a building. The initial thoughts and computer models and physical models and construction of the building and experience of the building are all part of the making. There are simply different tools for different things.

Jan 8, 2011: Day 203: THE ONCE AND FUTURE CHURCH (EDOW Article)

2011-01-08T09:13:00.000-05:00

The lovely Lucy Chumbley, reporter for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC, has a nice story about St. Thomas' re-building effort in the current issue of "Windows", the Diocesan newsletter. Follow the link or read the article below.

December 27, Day 191: EVERYTHING IS INFRASTRUCTURE

2010-12-27T12:06:00.000-05:00

in·fra·struc·ture
/ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃər/ Show Spelled[in-fruh-struhk-cher] –noun
1. the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization.

Anchor bolts are nodes in systems. Buildings are nodes in systems. Cities are nodes in systems. Countries are nodes in systems. Planets are nodes in systems... And so are people. And so are our organs. And so are our cells.

Nothing's independent and everything is infrastructure. It's another way to think about what we're making.

The new St. Thomas will be a significant node in Washington DC's urban system. In the United States' cultural belief system. In the Episcopal Church's global mission system... And in every parishioner's daily routines. And in their synapses that will transmit the sensation of rest when they hear and are inspired by a Sermon.

(But no pressure.)

December 21, Day 185: FIELD TRIP

2010-12-21T18:07:00.001-05:00

Scott-Long Construction took us on a field trip today to see examples of their work. We visited New Hope Church in Lorton, and the Congregation Olam Tikvah Synagogue in Fairfax.

Beyond an obvious passion for the work, Scott-Long is service-oriented and values their relationships with their clients and their architects. The people we met were thrilled with their buildings and had only good things to say about the experience.

December 19, Day 183: COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING

2010-12-19T13:24:00.000-05:00

It's the, "It's-Sunday work-free non-building-related inspiration-post." Today's comes from Sufjan Stevens.

The first two comments on YouTube say, "This is the kind of song that makes an atheist like me see the beauty in Christianity." And, "I am moved by this and I don't even go to church."

If it took a lifetime in pursuit of evoking such a response it would be a life well spent.

Enjoy. Happy Sunday.

December 17, Day 181: New Renderings Coming Soon

2010-12-19T08:47:00.000-05:00

Look for new renderings soon! We've been going back and forth with the renderer refining the final versions. The images look great! True to the purpose.

December 15, Day 179: Environmental Impact Statement (Process Completed)

2010-12-15T10:23:00.000-05:00

(From Wikipedia)

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment."

To determine if building this church would "significantly affect the quality of the human environment," DC requires a very detailed Environmental Impact Screening Form (EISF) be submitted to various City agencies for their review.

(Department of the Environment, District Dept of Transportation, DC Water and Sewer Authority, the Office of Planning, and the Solid Waste Management Administration of the Dept of Public Works).

The process can be lengthy because the reviews are thorough. It takes about six months, and the EISF must be evaluated before Civil or Building permits can be issued. In anticipation of submitting for our Permits in January or February, we submitted our EISF last summer. The complete submittal entailed 19 copies of a detailed site plan, the project summary, vicinity maps, geo-technical reports, an environmental site assessment conducted by a licensed engineer, soil erosion and sedimentation control plans, and stormwater management measures.

Yesterday we received the letter that determines our project does not significantly affect the quality of the human environment, and no EIS is required. We'll include the letter with our plans when we permit.

December 14, Day 178: Gray Anatomy

2010-12-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning we met with Linton Engineering, our structural engineer.

Linton has made a REVIT computer model of St. Thomas that they are using to test gravity and lateral loads, and to size members in a program called RISA.

Below is an in-progress image of the REVIT model. The computer model is an exact representation of the real-life anatomy of the building, under actually represented forces. A physical model could never be so precise. The physical models we build are illustrative of the concept design, useful to make design decisions, but this model greatly helps facilitate coordination and is useful in developing structural details.

It's our scalpel tool in precision operations.

December 12, Day 176: 75%

2010-12-12T21:09:00.001-05:00

Friday our consultants submitted their 75% complete construction documents. The last two weeks of December we'll we reviewing them, coordinating and incorporating them into our set; detailing the design of the building systems with a fine-toothed-comb.

I am not sure when it changed from an idea into a real thing, but at this point it has. It's a building. At this point we are imaging if the etched glass pivot doors in the hallway leading to the small chapel will hit the glass-pyramid surface-mounted light fixtures on the ceiling when they swing.

We're looking at every scale of detail for every thing.

For example, we'll be reviewing the 75% drawings from the structural engineer to make sure we have enough floor depth for the framing and also for the mechanical engineer's duct trunks that run below it. And we'll be reviewing his drawings to make sure his duct trunks not only fit, but leave enough space for the housings of the light fixtures. And we'll be reviewing the lighting consultant's drawings to make sure the light fixtures not only fit, but relate back to the design as a whole, like the way the upside-down glass-pyramids in the hallway do to the glass pyramid skylights in the sanctuary. It all goes together.

At 75% there, the most fun this Christmas will be putting it together.

December 8, Day 172: There and Back Again

2010-12-08T20:01:00.000-05:00

Last time we went to the Permit office to sit down with the reviewers we hadn't yet been through zoning and the historic preservation folks. The Parish hadn't yet had what is to date the most enchanted evening in the life of the project, the night when Bishop Robinson attended the reception for honored guests in support of the fundraising campaign. And we hadn't yet completely redesigned the roof.

A lot's happened in four months.

Today was our second Preliminary Design Review Meeting. The PDRM process is designed to head off any surprises for the architects. Clarify any ambiguities in the code interpretation, and to familiarize the reviewers with the project so once it's submitted its approved quickly.

When we sat down this afternoon with the DC staff to review it it was all positive.

The substance of what we discussed may or may not be of interest... we talked about in what way our plans comply with egress codes, paths of common travel, dead end hallways, the required widths of exit doors and their locations, how we calculated the occupancies for the various spaces according to their uses, and options for potentially sprinklering the building in phases, etc.

But what was exciting though and unexpected was their enthusiasm for the project. The reviews remembered us presenting in August and even remembered their initial comments although they said that they typically review over 300 projects a month. When I asked them how they can remember ours they said that they remember the special ones and said ours when built will be a building they'll go out of their way to drive by.

What a compliment.

These are folks who are passionate about their City. We stayed after the meeting and talked with them for some time about our collective work being contributions to the City, and the legacy buildings leave.

I think everyone felt reasonably confidant that when we permit in February we'll all have the prologue understood and will be able to immediately begin reading the book.

November 28, Day 162: SHARPENED SAW

2010-11-28T14:09:00.000-05:00

I worked for David Jameson Architect for six years. David has a good philosophy about work. He used to say that you can't cut all the time. Once in a while you have to stop and sharpen the saw.

His office works hard during the week and spends the weekends with their families. "Sharpening the saw." It's a good philosophy. Who could disagree with taking care of your tools?

Our office adopted that thinking. Work hard, rest hard, but work first.

. . . . .

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas will be the busiest for us this year. A lot has to be done, and the five days off we've had for holiday will have to carry us through to the New Year. In 2011 we should see a shovel in the ground.

This is what the lay of the land looks like in December.

12/01 - CM Kling Lighting specification package to Summit
12/06 - Building Committee meeting
12/07 - Linton Engineering 30% complete CD submittal
12/08 - DCRA PDRM II
12/10 - Summit and Wiles Mensch 75% complete CD submittal
12/15 - Specification submittal and narrative to Heller & Metzger
12/17 - New renderings
12/20 - Building Committee meeting
12/30 - Linton Engineering 75% complete CD submittal

November 23, Day 157: PDRM II

2010-11-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

Update on where we are with the City:

On December 8th we'll have our second Preliminary Design Review Meeting with DCRA (the structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire and life safety reviewers who will be reviewing the project. Our first PDRM was on August 11th.) The purpose of the meetings is to familiarize the reviewers with the project in sufficient detail so that we can head-off any unexpected issues that otherwise might cause delays. Gearing up for the meeting, we'll be putting together our life safety plans: Egress Plans showing emergency lighting, egress paths and exit signage, etc.

In other news, the City arborist has visited the site and verified our application for tree removal. Once the fee for removing trees over 55" is paid we can check off that box.

Status update on our EISF (Environmental Impact Screening Form):

Our DCRA liaison confirmed today our EISF has been reviewed by all departments except for DDOT. DDOT is usually the last to review the form. Once approved, we'll be clear to submit for Civil and Building Permits.

November 22, Day 156: The Parish Gets Its Big Gun

2010-11-22T09:47:00.000-05:00

Saturday the St Thomas Vestry approved retention of an external consultant for the capital fundraising efforts, Marshall Ginn of Capital Development Strategies.

November 19, day 153: MODEL BUSINESS

2010-11-19T09:36:00.000-05:00

Architects are planners. The fact that we're anachronisms is a hazard of the profession. Exist in the future (and the past) to understand the now.

Professionally, I plan my day like I plan my life. I get up and imagine the sequence of the day, what has to happen and in what order, I plot my driving routes through the city to get from one meeting to the next in the most efficient way, insert where calls can be placed in all the in-between spaces, construct the hierarchy of must-do's-immediately and the do's that can wait till tomorrow. Work hard, rest hard, but work first.

There are only two of of us here at the office, Scott McGhee and I. We're working on the St. Thomas' Parish project as our one "big project." We also have several smaller projects, a condo at Bleeker and Broadway in Greenwich Village, an outdoor memorial pavilion for a Methodist church, a gut renovation in the city. We don't take on more than we can handle. We push it to the edge but stay behind the guardrails. It's the ideal business model as I see it (and others will disagree), but I like the idea of doing one major project at a time and taking a long time to do it right while taking a few smaller ones to stay fresh and keep passionate. The office can stay small, we can retain total control of the project and not let it get away from us like so often happens to the work of "name" architects. Keep overhead low, stay versatile, stay agile.

At the Howard University lecture Wednesday evening, I was talking with a student afterward and giving him advice on what to do when he graduates in May. I said, "Identify what you want and go after it. Be deliberate and stay agile. If I were you at your age I'd do whatever I had to do to get on a team working on the new Museum for African American History that's about to be constructed on the Mall. In my opinion that's the best new building about to be built in the city. Find a contact in one of the associate firms, Freelon, or Adjaye's himself, and go after it. Forever after have that under your belt."

In my opinion, next to judgment it's agility that's our best asset. In architecture school I had a professor, Jay Stoeckel, who said when you've become a good architect you'll be making a decision about your design every two to three seconds. That seemed incomprehensible at the time. What I didn't understand then was that it takes thirteen years to develop your own architecture well enough to trust it and yourself and be comfortable enough to sense the right decision when it presents itself to work that fast. Agility... jumping fast from one thing to the next, half forming and half being formed. That's the key. I never want to do two projects that are the same. After the church is done I want to do something completely different; a foundry, a sweat lodge, a vertical farm.

Jump.

November 17, Day 151: HOWARD UNIVERSITY FORUM

2010-11-17T13:58:00.000-05:00

I'll be part of a panel of architects giving a talk tonight at 6:00 at Howard University's Architecture school (other architects are from SOM, Kerns Group, Dewberry, among others). I'll talk briefly about my experience as an architect, the church project, and what it's like to start a business in these economic conditions. It's a free-form moderated discussion, should be interesting.

In Updates:

Scott is on site all day today working with Wiles Mensch, the Civil Engineer, surveying the ruins to make an accurate analysis of the existing High Altar and gable wall elevations. The ruins need to be precisely measured by instrument because a great deal will depend on the accuracy of our drawings when meeting the new building to the old building.

Also this week, we're revising our MEP drawings based on consultations with our lighting consultant, as well as constructing the Reflected Ceiling Plan, which is a drawing of what you'd see on each ceiling of the building if you were laying on your back. It shows every light fixture and mechanical supply, bath fan and sprinkler, etc. That drawing is usually one of the last ones started, because a lot has to be known beforehand, decisions about specific fixtures, etc. This week we sent the initial RCP out to our consultants.

On December 10th, Summit will submit their 75% complete construction drawings. This Friday we'll discuss where we are on unresolved questions, and the revised backgrounds we gave them this week.

Also Friday, Linton, our structural team, will have the new Revit model ready to marvel at. Looking forward to that! Afterward we'll begin working with them on structural details... we'll be there a while.

November 12, Day 146: LIGHT

2010-11-12T19:36:00.000-05:00

Light at night can make or break a building. For example:

GOOD

Mario Botta: Wellness Center, Arosa, Switzerland

NOT GOOD

The Grizwold House: Christmas Vacation

Yesterday, we met for two hours with our lighting consultant from C.M. Kling & Associates and made great headway with the lighting design. Artificial lighting in recent weeks has become a central issue for the Parish as they are currently doing the hard work of defining the role the future sanctuary will play in the future City. During the day that role is largely program-based, but at night the role becomes symbolic, and central to the symbolism is the idea of the building as a candle.

Dozens of cast-glass globes will be suspended from the ceiling at different heights to create a dim field of lights like fireflies. And the twelve skylights, each for an apostle, will be illuminated by LEDs so that above the cast-glass globes and above depth of the dark roof framing, you'll see twelve lit triangles hovering high above in space. And outside, landscape lights will be placed in the stone planters to uplight the tall bronze cross and the trees.

We won't overdo it, the building won't be a Grizwold House. It will have a presence like a wood kiln in a potter's backyard. With that kind of intimacy... A small controlled signal-fire tended deliberately and with a purpose through the night. It will be something people will adjust their walking paths home from a show to see. The walls of the building will dissolve, and what will come to the forefront will be quiet, patient, comforting light.

November 10, Day 144: SCOTT-LONG CONSTRUCTION

2010-11-10T21:51:00.000-05:00

Today was an exciting day. We met with a contractor for the first time to discuss the project. Brent Cato and John Scott from Scott-Long Construction came to the office and took us to lunch to discuss pre-construction services.

We showed them a slideshow of the latest and greatest images, and described the narrative... telling the story of the gothic building and its destruction, and how we began this process by going to the National Archives to find the original 1893 plan so we could locate the original foundations under the park. We told them that we'd drilled a total of 51 holes with core-borings and the air-track probe to verify the foundation locations, and John said, "Well, you should have just augured the piles while you were at it."

We like the way these guys think.

At the end of every phase of the project, we've hired an independent cost estimator to evaluate the cost of the design compared to the budget in detail. This is because we weren't yet ready to engage a contractor in pre-construction services. Now we are. We're at the point in the construction documents phase when we need a local contractor to look at the drawings with a superintendent and put some real-life numbers to a real-life job. In December Scott-Long will do just that for us.

This isn't bidding the job, and shouldn't be confused with that phase which will happen later, when the Parish is ready. Right now all we're doing is taking the exciting step of engaging a builder to help us make as accurate an estimate as we're able to at this point, just ahead of permitting while there is still time to make changes if we need to.

Scott-Long's got an impressive resume of work, primarily churches and hospitals, and are a team-oriented intelligent builder. Their website reiterates what we heard at lunch, which is that they are interested in doing mission-focused work, such as for non-profits and worship houses. They're a good fit for the church as construction estimate consultants, and we're happy to have them on board.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Burke, Virginia

November 9, Day 143: HISTORIC APPROVAL

2010-11-09T07:51:00.000-05:00

The HRRB posted the official document recoding their consent for the project on the Office of Planning's website. It's a one-liner.

November 5, Day 139: SITE SPECIFIC

2010-11-05T13:22:00.000-04:00

Special Tree Removal Permit

Any tree removed over 55" in diameter in the District requires a Special Tree Removal Permit. We're removing two trees, one 56" and one 77" in diameter. We filed our application for each tree a few weeks ago, and next week an arborist from the Urban Forestry Administration will come out to the site and verify our application is correct.

This permit needs to be approved before the building permit.

New Renderings in December

In December, we'll release four new renderings of the final (finally) revised design. We're working with a professional rendering office to produce them. Below are several site-study collages we made at the perspectives chosen for each shot.

The images will be used for press releases and fundraising brochures going forward. Look for those in the months ahead.

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November 4, Day 138: WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS

2010-11-04T16:47:00.000-04:00

While the Parish is taking the deep breath post-HPRB approval prior to the fundraising plunge, we remain at warp speed down the construction documents path towards permitting.

The presentation-intense period of the project is over for now, and Scott and I are in the cave working away on the construction drawings.

The structural engineer has constructed a new second 3D Revit model of the revised design and is working on initial sizing and framing.

The MEP and Civil engineers are working on their documents post 35% coordination.

We have hired a lighting Consultant, C.M. Kling & Associates, Inc, to assist us in specifying the right light fixtures for the quality of artificial light we want in the sanctuary, and the science behind it.

We're working on a package for the specification consultant, Heller and Metzger, so we can begin to construct the Project Manual in December.

We also continue to coordinate closely with the acoustic engineer, tweaking reverberation time and low-frequency absorption levels, by looking at material selections for wall surfaces in the sanctuary and the rood screen assembly. Below are drawings we typically use to communicate the questions/issues.

October 31, Day 133: THE INEFFABLE (Joseph Mallord William Turner)

2010-10-31T16:10:00.000-04:00

Sundays are reserved for inspiration.

Spotlight on my favorite artist, Joseph Mallord William Turner. If paintings are translations of the artist's mind's eye, Turner's are ineffable.

Eighty years before Impressionism, Turner's work would be like designing the Freedom Tower before the Empire State Building was finished. He is a painter of light and a master of atmospheres. He gives form to them, immeasurable measures of the mood of action. They are unbounded as architecture is.

Before he died Turner's last words were, "The sun is God." I think it may take me the rest of my life to understand the depth of what that means.

Norham Castle: Sunrise 1835

Sunrise With Sea Monsters, 1845

Burial: Peace At Sea, 1842

Snowstorm: Hannibal and His Army Crossing the Alps, 1812

The Fighting Teméraire Tugged To Her Last Berth To Be Broken Up 1839

Yacht Approaching the Coast 1845

October 28, Day 130: A Million Uninteresting Things

2010-10-28T17:31:00.001-04:00

We had the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil engineers in to our office this morning for a three-hour sit-down coordination meeting of their 35% sets. Most of this stuff most everyone would walk right by in a building without ever even noticing. But all the background noise decisions have to add up to a building that works. Otherwise it's cold or wet or there's condensation on the windows.

Where does the FACP (fire alarm control panel) go?

Will the existing underground transformer vault be sufficient?

How much clearance does our roof top unit require?

What's a compact side-discharge unit we could spec to get the height down?

How far out from the building can our cleanout be?

Can we customize the stormwater management sandfilter so the manholes are on the centers of our landscape paths?

How does under-slab insulation affect grounding?

How much space do we need for the backflow preventer?

What's up with the mop sink.

There are a million little decisions being discussed that will never get any air time in a committee meeting that all need to be carefully thought through to make a building work. It's the nitty gritty of coordinating with experts who know this stuff backwards and forwards. St Thomas, rest assured Summit Engineers and Wiles Mensch are on it.

Truth be told, I love this part.

October 25, Day 127: HPRB Waives Hearing; Approves Project

2010-10-25T15:59:00.000-04:00

Today the HPRB approved the design of the project and waived our second hearing which was scheduled for this Thursday.

This morning they gave their consent to the HPO Staff Report's recommendation that the design be approved, with final approval being delegated to the staff upon permitting.

This is a big deal.

We're officially through the looking glass and out the other side. A lot of thanks should go to the St Thomas Building Committee for all their hard work. Not only did they succeed in working with a very meticulous and particular architect, they allowed the community and the City a say in the final design, and it benefited greatly from the effort. This version of the design is the best by far, the best and the last. Thank you to everyone.

St. Thomas' Parish Building Committee:
Matt Cloniger
Clinton Anderson
Dave Vanneman
Ivan Santos
Mark Wherry
Christopher Richmond
Jean Holman

Onward and upward...

October 22, Day 124: The HPO Staff Report Recommendation Is Out (And We Love It)

2010-10-22T12:58:00.000-04:00

The HPO has released it's official report ahead of next Thursday's HPRB hearing, where we'll ask for approval for our design.

We love it. It's below, or you can find it here on the DC Office of Planning's website.

October 21, Day 123: Thank You Chris Dore (YOUR NAME HERE)

2010-10-21T09:14:00.001-04:00

I got this note from Chris Dore from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, this morning. It was so touching and sincere, and I'm so grateful to Chris for it, that I want to thank him on this blog. I'll be the first in line to thank anyone on this blog for a note or a gift as inspiring as Chris's.

Chris, I'm humbled. Thank you very much.!

* * *

Matthew,

In my experience, tracking inspiration is pretty elusive. I occasionally have an affirming alumnus come up to me at a soccer game and tell me that something I said made them decide to go for an MA. in this or that, but for the most part I find you just throw your best into the world and hope that it does some good. You are doing some amazing things in the middle of a horrific recession - just as we are going into the heating season no less. It would seem you have a lot of people committed to the project, and to you as well. I'm not a particular fan of organized religion, but I am a fan of what you are trying to do.. and I've been inspired by how much you are taking on and the grace with which you are going about your calling. When this is done, and it will be done, I look forward to coming down seeing your dream dedicated. I'll even throw on my Sunday best for the occasion, which normally only comes out for Easter, weddings and parent conferences. Stay strong Matthew.. You're already inspiring people.

Chris

PS. You're $25 closer to a finished building this morning.. I wish it could be more.

* * *

You can donate on the link to the St Thomas Growth Site in the right margin. You can also email me directly at matthew@auraformarchitects.com

October 20, Day 122: HAMMER TIME

2010-10-20T13:48:00.000-04:00

We are beginning the process of engaging contractors for pre-construction discussions.

In January, before we permit, we'll have another independent cost estimate prepared. But this time as we approach the Bidding and Negotiation phase of the project, we'll compare the independent estimate to one or more we have prepared by a local contractor. In anticipation of that, we're beginning now to look at who we think we might ultimately ask to bid the job. Bidding could happen as soon as April 2011.

Some contractors have what's called pre-construction departments, where we can discuss our plans for building and receive input from the builder. Over the next months as we draw the construction documents set for permitting, we'll talk to builders and fabricators and solicit their input so our costs estimates come in as accuratly as possible.

At the same time, we're working diligently this week to review the 35% submittals from our Civil and MEP engineers, and prepare new plans the structural and acoustical engineers can work from following last month's design changes.

October 19, Day 121: ANC MOTION

2010-10-19T08:50:00.000-04:00

Next Thursday we'll go back to the Historic Preservation Review Board for final design approval.

At our HPRB hearing in September, Commissioner Mike Silverstein presented the ANC2B's motion (Advisory Neighborhood Commission for Ward 2B) supporting the Parish and this effort, however the Board requested that the ANC pass a motion specific to the design concept of the building.

Commissioner Silverstein informed me yesterday that at last Tuesday's ANC meeting, the Commissioners unanimously passed the following motion:

Our gratitude to Commissioner Silverstein, Commissioner Carney, and their fellow Commissioners cannot be over expressed, for their support of the project, their support of St Thomas, and their committed cooperation with us as we've collectively worked to evolve a design the community and the City will be proud of.

October 17: Day 119: JUDGMENT AND PERSEVERANCE

2010-10-17T20:14:00.000-04:00

JUDGMENT AND PERSEVERANCE
by Matthew Jarvis
Taize Homily at St Thomas Parish 10-17-10

For me, this story is about judgment and perseverance. It's a strange pairing at first thought, and I have to admit, I don't often think about the two together; judgment and perseverance.

Timothy, in the Epistle for today (2 Tim 3:14-4:5), says, "In the presence of God and of Jesus Christ, who is to judge the living and the dead, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching."

Then in Luke, Jesus says, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. "Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming." Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them." ...And then he says, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the Earth?"

Judgment and perseverance. Tethered together.

In the story there are two kinds of judgment: judgment by people, and judgment by God. Judgment by people is an obstacle to overcome, an argument to make, some conflict so necessary to win that it elevates persistence to perseverance. There's also the other kind of judgment, judgment by God. Judgment by God is given in when prayer is sincere, and faith is true. And comes quickly. Perseverance isn't necessary except for grace and integrity.

But isn't it interesting that the Gospel begins saying, "Jesus told his disciples a parable about...." 1) "...their need to pray..." and 2) "...to not lose heart." For me, the first part is about God, and Jesus and saying: Pray and justice is given. Faith is a shortcut to grace, but faith is the hard part. For me the second part, to not lose heart, could mean two things. It could mean to not give up; to continue, to persevere. Or, it could mean when you lose, don't lose yourself. And that part's about people.

* * *

Now another story...

What is the most impossible thing you can imagine?

Think about it. I don't know about you but for me, I think maybe the idea of climbing Mount Everest is.. It's a bit cliche, climbing the tallest mountain, but what if you were blind? And what if you were a blind kid? What would you say? If you and I were judges and it was up to us to let a blind kid go climb Mount Everest or not, what would we say? I would say, "It's impossible. It is not, possible." I'd say, "It's dangerous, it's reckless, they don't have a prayer in hell of making it alive." I'd say, "It's suicide."

If I were the judge, I'd say no.

But, what if he persisted in his need to do it, one that transcended a want to do it. What if it had purpose in it? What would we say if he simply didn't stop persisting until he was allowed to show the world that he can do what we can do.? What if he got a blind guide to help him, and equipment, and state of the art technology and what if he had all the means and only needed the permission? Then what would we say?

See there's a difference here between saying and doing. Saying is judging and doing is faith. I would say no. I'd say it's too risky. I'd go even further than that and say if he died trying, it would destroy the faith of every other blind person on the planet who clutched onto the enduring belief that they can do what we can do; that there is no inequity between us.

And that risk is greater than dying.

But maybe, if there was enough pressure and persistence, and convincing and rebuking and encouraging and educating me on the merits of the safety precautions, I might bend. I might change my mind and let him do it, but it wouldn't be justice. It would be the submission of my judgment to his Will. Right or wrong, the only judgment I'd make would be in favor of his faith over mine.

The blind boy would have done exactly as Jesus instructed him to: to 1) pray always, and 2) to not lose heart. It's a kind of formula for accomplishing the impossible if you think about it. Jesus is kind of giving us the secret recipe for how to achieve the impossible.

I don't believe in impossibility. Nothing is impossible. Not if you have the heart. People who say something is impossible are judging a situation without knowing the purpose that drives the heart of the person trying to do it. You have to be brave, sure, and fight and lose and get back up, over and over again, until you finally start to wear down indifference or cynicism until all that's left is the fresh polished hard core of hope...but it's possible. It exhausts, and sometimes takes a tremendous toll, but wouldn't doing something impossible be worth it?

The story about the boy is true. It's a real-life modern-era parable! In fact they're were six... Six blind Tibetan teenagers climbed Lhakpi-Ri on the north face of Mount Everest in 2004 with no prior climbing training whatsoever. They were impoverished and outcasts, spit on in their village for being blind, and did what none of us could do; they couldn't see a rock in front of them but they climbed up the 23,000ft tall mountain, taller than any mountain in the world outside the Himalayas. This is extraordinary. It's unbelievable! There was a documentary made about it called "Blindsight." And I watched it a few months ago and sat on the edge of my couch just in awe of what they did. A blind German woman named Sabrinye Tenberken set up the first school for blind kids in Lhasa, and after getting to know the kids and their dreams, she contacted the only-ever blind climber to make it to the top of Everest, Eric Weihenmayer, and the two became their guides and put together the expedition.

It's an amazing story, it just shouldn't be possible. Except that it is possible. It's possible because it's about faith and it's about purpose. It's about judgment and it's about not giving up.

Getting to the top was never the kid's goal. They said they could imagine what the view would look like before they even left their village. They stopped just short of the summit. Not because they couldn't but because they didn't have to. The documentary ends with the kids playing in an ice formation at the base of the summit, feeling it with their hands and being kids and imaging what the ice shapes looked like.

They congealed their own unbreakable faith together. And as the rest of the world watched in awe, for a moment, they congealed ours. What we do matters. And when we do the impossible we do it only because of a purpose driven heart. Full of faith and perseverance. And when we do, we change the world.

If the Son of Man came to me tomorrow and ask me, "Where can I find faith on the Earth?" I'd say in the mountains and tell him this story.

And then I'd say here. That there's faith in St Thomas. Faith in action and not just words. That's why I come here, because it's real. For me as the architect, it's slowly become about struggling to build a sanctuary in this city against great odds and a lot of people who are saying it's impossible. That, "There's no money. It's too modern. Only a big corporate firms could do it." And no one is more aware than I am that there's a lot at risk, a lot more than just failing, so a lot of people are praying and a lot of people are persevering; praying to God and persevering in hard and deliberate and focused work. And when you think about it, that's not a bad recipe for doing the impossible: "praying to God and persevering in hard and deliberate and focused work."

Thanks be to God.

October 15, Day 117: 35%

2010-10-15T18:07:00.000-04:00

Today our Civil and MEP Engineers (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) submitted 35% complete construction drawings. We'll review the drawings and schedule coordination meetings over the next weeks as we get more deeply into the construction documents phase of the project.

We met with Linton, our Structural Engineer, again on Wednesday to discuss the timetable and methodology for re-engineering the building, post-new-roof. We had our second work session to think-through and develop a clear structural concept for the new geometry. We pushed him back by about a month; the time it has taken us to make the HPRB modifications.

We met with Neil Thompson Shade, our Acoustical Engineer, this afternoon to discuss how the recommendations we've implemented have enhanced the quality of sound in the space, and how it could be better. We're making structural, as well as material changes in order to achieve optimal reverberation and speech intelligibility.

All the engineers are concerned with the work of the others. It's our job to juggle them, coordinate them and balance the recommendations. For example, a major structural column in the space was casting an "acoustical shadow" when it came between the choir and the seats, so we eliminated it and discussed how to re-engineer the loading. The flip-side is that when we moved the organ to the Altar wall, we were afforded the opportunity to create a shear-wall that the structural engineer badly needed. So that's where we are, juggling smartly until all the working parts find their angle of repose.

The month delay means most likely we will apply for the Building Permit a month later than initially expected, closer to February 1 than January 3. Even so, because we had been conservative with the timeline, there is still sufficient time to bid contractors and mobilize before we anticipate starting construction in late summer 2011.

Images of the roof re-do will be coming in November, but here is a teaser image, apples-to-apples, comparing the old and new roofs.

October 12, Day 114: WHY I GIVE (By Jaye Lopez)

2010-10-12T18:35:00.000-04:00

We've turned the corner. So what's next?

We are working with the HPRB to finalize the design and we're very close. We'll go back to the Board on the 28th with a design in its final form. So the "if?" of this project is over.

So what's next?

Now that the project is real, Scott and I are already turning our attention to drawing the drawings, and specifying the materials, and developing the details. For us architects, it's time for us to get to work on the "how."

At the same time, from here on for the Parish it's all about fundraising. There's no building if there's no money.

Last Sunday, Jaye Lopez, a parishioner at St Thomas, delivered an outstandingly authentic reflection for why she gives to St Thomas' annual stewarship campaign (which is the Parish's annual operating budget). I thought her reflection was so appropriate to anything that you believe in and want to see thrive, that I asked her if I could post it here. Thank you Jaye... I think this is outstanding.

* * * * *

Why I Give
By Jaye Lopez

I’m going to let you in on a little secret - people give to people, not causes, not organizations, not institutions, but people. Whether it’s the person asking them to give – the person they can’t say no to - or the person that will ultimately benefit from the donation – it’s people that inspire giving. Broken down into it’s basic elements, it comes down to two things - saving and changing lives, that’s why people give. Whether it’s changing someone’s life by providing the funds for a scholarship to attend school, or saving lives by donating to clean water projects in Africa. Or helping to save lives by donating to The Trevor Project, which provides a national 24-hours a day, seven days a week, toll-free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth.

Saving and changing lives. It’s that simple.

That’s why I spend most of my time at work telling stories, stories about the students whose lives will be changed through our scholarship and fellowship programs. Stories about the low-income DC residents whose lives will be changed by the services we provide at our free legal clinics, such as the tenants in landlord-tenant disputes our law students advocate on behalf of. Or the truly heartbreaking stories of HIV positive mothers, seeking assistance in accessing public benefits, drafting and executing last wills and testaments, powers of attorney and advanced directives and help to plan for the future care of their children by transferring legal custody to another member of the family or a friend.

Saving and changing lives.

Look around you, look at the people around you. Look at those sitting here on the alter. Now, look back at me! These are the lives you’re changing, by your presence. This is whom you’re giving for. This is why I’m giving. This is the community your pledge supports. Our lives are all being changed by deciding to come here, to this place of worship, this place of hope. This is a place where we come together in communion, come together in celebration, come together to worship. This is our story, that unfolds a little bit more every time we’re together.

Why do I give? I give because I’ve found a place that inspires me, touches me, and engages me. There have been many times I’ve sat in that very chair and had tears well up because something someone said right here on this alter, touched me, moved me profoundly.

I give because this is the place where I met Gregory Mackmin, who always, always manages to make me laugh, and can trade quotes from Airplane! with me. Thank you, Gregory. This is the place I met Matt Jarvis, whose vision of what we can become has moved and inspired many. Thank you, Matt. This is the place where I met John Johnson, who on a regular basis, awes me with his unwavering commitment and dedication to St. Thomas’ and its members. Thank you, John. This is the place I met Sarah Stewart, whose ongoing journey serves as a constant reminder that change and uncertainty aren’t the enemy, our fear of them is the enemy. Thank you, Sarah. This is the place where I met Clinton Anderson, who without really saying or doing anything in particular, always manages to make be feel accepted for exactly who I am. Thank you, Clinton. I give because this is where I met Nancy Lee, who shares herself in ways big and small, in ways you may not even recognize, until later, when you’ve found a quite moment to reflect on her email, her sermon, her words of encouragement. Thank you, Nancy Lee.

I give because this is the place where Anne and I sometimes arrive at loose ends with one another, and leave having found one another again during the offering of peace. I give because this is the place I feel closest to my beloved grandmother. I give to Flower Guild the week of her birthday every year because her gravesite is thousands of miles away, and this place is the next best thing. And I get to share my love for her with you all.

I give because I’m selfish, because I want this place to be here for me. I give because I want to keep this place alive and vibrant, so that we all have the opportunity to change the life of the next newcomer that walks through our doors downstairs, and to in turn, be changed by that person. I give because it’s my turn to give back for all that I have received from the people of this church. I hope I affect change in the lives of others through my presence. I know I can affect change with my financial contributions.

At the end of the day, stewardship funds will go to pay the electricity bill, the paper for the Order of Service bulletin you’re holding in your hands, the lease on the copy machine in the parish office, the wine we share every Sunday. Now, I know paying for these things doesn’t seem very exciting, but look at it this way, none of those things would be necessary, if we weren’t all sitting here today, a community of Christians sharing a spiritual journey.

I’ve told you my story. It’s your turn now St. Thomas’.

October 10, Day 112: EXSULTATE JUSTI (John Williams)

2010-10-10T17:12:00.000-04:00

ENJOY YOUR SUNDAY

October 8, Day 110: DC ARTICLE

2010-10-08T13:12:00.000-04:00

This is a great article from last week's Current. I think everyone's beginning to catch on that this is a thing that is going to happen. Enjoy a good read!

October 6, Day 108: OFFICIAL HPRB MOTION, and POST-HEARING REVIEW

2010-10-06T23:11:00.000-04:00

The official motion from the HPRB from September 23rd's hearing has been posted to the Office of Planning's website. It reads:

DUPONT CIRCLE HISTORIC DISTRICT 1772 Church Street, NW, HPA #10-446, concept/construction of new sanctuary for St. Thomas Church.

The Board approved the overall concept design for the building’s height, mass and design direction, but asked that further study be given to the landscape plan and the form and intersection of the roof with the exterior walls. Board members Taylor and Casarella offered to meet with the HPO and the project architects to discuss modifications and possible solutions. Approved: 6-0.

* * * * *

(Two weeks later)

Maria Casarella and Joseph Eugene Taylor, both architects on the HPRB (Historic Preservation Review Board), met with Scott and I and Steve Callcott today at the Parish to review the modifications we showed Steve last week.

We illustrated the changes we implemented to the roof and wall, and discussed the changes to the overall geometry. We also described the consensus we'd come to on the landscaping with the HPO staff at last Thursday's precursory meeting.

The meeting was very constructive. Feedback from Maria and Joseph on the proposed modifications was positive and encouraging.

Maria, Joseph, and Steve asked us to focus on one remaining area of the design they felt could be strengthened, and offered constructive suggestions on how the we might re-consider it. We will examine their suggestion closely over the next week.

At the end of the meeting it was decided that we would return to the HPRB this month, on Thursday October 28th, and present the modifications we've made to the full Historic Preservation Review Board. Following that hearing, the Board will make an official motion on the design as presented.

In the meantime, we will continue to work in the direction we've laid out in the last two weeks, and we'll begin the process of making the necessary adjustments to the structural, mechanical, and electrical systems affected by the changes as we revise the construction documents.

It's all good news to report today. We see light at the end of the tunnel.

October 4, Day 106: DUPONT CURRENT ARTICLE

2010-10-04T18:58:00.000-04:00

The Dupont Current ran an article on our progress on September 15th, just after we received the support of the ANC-2B, and just before we presented to the HPRB. The article is below.

October 3, Day 105: NEW ROOF UPDATE

2010-10-03T15:04:00.000-04:00

There's been a small stampede of people asking me about the roof over the last couple of days.

"Did the HPO make you change the roof?"
"Why did you change it?"
"Will it still have skylights? Is it still a triangle?"
"What will the final roof design look like?."

We aren't ready to release any new images, and won't be for a few weeks until we've got consensus from the HPRB and the St Thomas Building Committee, but here's the deal:

Yes, we have changed the roof to address the HPO's concerns. We've also changed the exterior wall, and the interior space. They are both structural and spatial changes. It's the Domino Effect: In well designed buildings, if you change one thing, everything else has to change too.

But let me just say a few things to set everyone's mind at ease.

First, Scott and I look at every setback as an opportunity to make the design better. Second, I won't allow any changes unless they're changes that I believe make the project better, Period. Third, we're absolutely committed to honoring the design the ANC and the Conservancy have already approved and given their consent to. Any changes we make will only enhance the way in which we initially addressed their concerns.

So this is a good thing. It's just more work.

I'll also say that although the proposed changes are in some instances structural, that doesn't necessarily translate into additional costs to the Parish. Scott and I have worked hard at being very smart about what changes we make, so that we can simplify the design from a labor standpoint, and make a building that's easier to build. Easier is always cheaper... It's a constant in the universe.

So while we can't release images until we meet with the HPRB again this Wednesday, and the Building Committee soon, I can say that the triangular-shaped roof will remain. It will still have 12 skylights, each for the 12 apostles, and it will still have 1 large skylight window directly over the Ruins Chapel. The proposed roof re-do will be similar in shape, but will now extend over the edge of the 18th Street wall and will create a rain cover over the main entrance. The portion of the roof you'll see from 18th street will taper back to the SW corner (the alley and 18th), so that looking-up at it, it's triangular shaped as well, and will cast a very large triangular shadow across the face of the building.

More to come... But we're excited about it, and think others will be when they see it.

October 1, Day 103: FEARLESS

2010-10-01T11:57:00.001-04:00

As an Architect, this blog isn't the forum for personal commentary on social events.

But as the Architect for this church, I have to know who I'm designing for, and always keep that at the forefront of my mind, so designing doesn't become an academic exercise. It shouldn't be. It's experiential, and should be passionate.

I'm reminded this week of who we're building this church for, and why I took this job.

Asher Brown, 13, of Houston; Seth Walsh, 13, of Tehachapi, Calif.; Billy Lucas, 15, of Greensburg, Ind.; and Tyler Clementi, 18, of New Jersey.

All four were gay teens who committed suicide in the last two weeks in response to anti-gay bullying and harassment. These are precisely the people St. Thomas Parish is building this building for. These are the kids who require sanctuary.

These are my clients.

The embedding has been disabled, but click on the link to connect to YouTube.

September 30, Day 102: HPO STAFF REVIEWS REVISIONS

2010-09-30T17:58:00.000-04:00

This morning we met informally with Steve Callcott from the HPO (Historic Preservation Office) Staff to discuss the revisions to the church plans Scott and I have spent the week designing.

The meeting was very positive and productive.

We came to a consensus on design revisions to the landscaping on the 18th Street side, that 1) satisfy the concerns raised in the staff report, and 2) are consistent with what we have previously shown the Conservancy and the ANC.

Perhaps more significantly, we presented our proposed solution to the staff report's issue regarding the relationship between the roof and the exterior wall, and Mr. Callcott indicated that, in his opinion, the design revisions we've made successfully address the issue.

We'll meet with the two architect-members of the HBPB next Wednesday to review the design revisions with them. Following that meeting, we'll know where we stand.

This morning however was a very encouraging precursory meeting.

Before next Wednesday, we'll show the design revisions to the St. Thomas Building Committee and solicit their feedback as well.

September 28, Day 100: LEARN FROM ALABAMA

2010-09-28T14:26:00.000-04:00

Good ball clubs come back in football games in the last two minutes.

Just ask Greg McElroy from the Crimson Tide. Did anyone ever doubt they would come back last week against Arkansas in the last series of the game.? They're Alabama. That's just what they do.

The reason good teams can drive down the field in the last minute of the game and score a touchdown when they couldn't in the first minute is because they've adapted during the course of it and they know what to do.

* * *

We've been working hard since Thursday to revise the design of the sanctuary to address head-on the issues the HPO staff raised in the HPRB meeting, and also some we felt we could have addressed better from the Dupont Conservancy, although they haven't asked us to, and some of our own. We're taking the opportunity to simplify it, refine it, attempt to cut revision costs to a net zero despite the changes, and bring the concept together in a clearer way than before.

It's an ambitious thing to try to do when the stakes are high and money is real and it's late in the game. There's substantial pressure. But that's just part of the fun.

* * *

We'll meet with the HPO staff and two Architect-members of the HPRB this week to present the new design to them and see how they like it.

September 24, Day 96: GET REAL

2010-09-24T12:54:00.000-04:00

Last month I posted that we were constructing a mock-up wall off-site in Virginia to test what the porcelain cladding will look like. The mock-up is finished and we presented it yesterday at the HPRB hearing as evidence that this is a "real project" at this point.

With the mock-up we're testing two specific things:

1. We wanted to see what the pattern, colors, tile sizes, and textures of the three different porcelains we selected will look like together. This is the right-side of the wall. The tiles are half-size here so we can see a bigger swath.

2. We also wanted to test which construction application will be more labor intensive and difficult to build: the tiles bonded to a CMU backup, or hanging them on aluminum extrusions as a ventilated rain-screen. The rain-screen application is on the left-side of the wall. These are full-size so we can judge the size and detailing of the joints.

We'll take what we learned from the mock-up and use the info to inform our decisions on the wall detailing as we move forward over the next months. Pictures of the mock-up are below.

September 23, Day 95: HISTORIC PRESERVTION REVIEW BOARD

2010-09-23T20:01:00.000-04:00

Today we formally presented to the Historic Preservation Review Board at 441 4th Street, 1 Judiciary Square NW at 1:15. The presentation and subsequent discussion lasted a full hour, and was allowed to proceed thirty minutes longer than any other presentation on the agenda for the day, given its complexity, importance, and presence in a historic neighborhood as a contemporary building.

The HPRB's website states the official motion on St Thomas adopted by the Board today will be posted on their website by October 1, 2010.

* * *

This is how it went...

Mr. Mike Silverstein from the ANC (2B06) testified first. Mr. Silverstein conveyed the ANC-2B's ardent support for the design, for the Parish, and made a persuasive argument for why St Thomas should be permitted to proceed with it's plans to build.

Mr. Steve Calcott from the HPO (Historic Preservation office staff) then summarized his staff report, saying that while the staff supports the project, it defers it's consent for approval to the Review Board. Mr. Calcott praised the architects for their long (26 consecutive months) commitment to collaborating with the HPO and the community associations on the design, but reiterated his recommendation that the roof be re-designed to be more "harmonious" in the way it engages exterior wall. Mr. Calcott also reiterated his recommendation that the landscaping in the public space on 18th Street by revised by raising it up on a berm, or plinth.

Following Mr. Calcott's report, we gave our design presentation, which lasted approximately 25 minutes.

Ours was followed by a statement by Mr. Tom Bower, testifying on behalf of the Dupont Circle Conservancy. Mr. Bower conveyed the Conservancy's unanimous support for the project, and recounted specific instances of how the architects have consistently revised the design in response to the specific concerns of the community, citing as an example the complete revision to the landscaping on the 18th street side.

There were no objecting presentations against the design from the floor. Everyone who spoke did so in favor.

Rector Nancy lee Jose, and Senior Warden, John Johnson, then testified on behalf of the Parish.

Ms. Jose spoke on behalf of her congregation, citing the excellent, patient, and diligent work the parishioners of St Thomas have done since the first day of its discernment two and a half years ago regarding what a new sanctuary would look like. She thanked the Board for their service, and emphasized the spirit of inclusive collaboration with which this process has taken place is central to the values of the Parish.

Mr. Johnson spoke as the person in trust of the Parish's finances, and informed the Board that substantial changes to the design as currently presented would effectually impose a financial hardship on the Parish as we are in the Construction Documents Phase of this project, and that after 26 months of collaboration and 24 design meetings with the HPO staff and community associations, he was expecting all substantial design-related issues to have been resolved by today's Board meeting. In response to Mr. Calcott's criticism of the roof's engagement to the exterior wall, Mr. Johnson said, "We're designing a church, not a roof."

After all presenters had made their statements, the Board chair-woman worked to summarize their collective opinions into a motion.

While that motion is forthcoming, the Board conveyed essentially it likes the design. It supports the design of the building in concept as presented. It believes the new sanctuary has a very clear concept. It thinks the reconstruction is "long over-due." It appreciates the impressive presentation of the building, and it strongly supports St Thomas's endeavor to rebuild.

That's the good news.

However,

The Board also said that supports Mr. Calcott's recommendation to re-evaluate the roof's engagement with the exterior wall, and that the architects should endeavor to make any necessary design-relates changes that would resolve the HPO staff's concerns. The Board also stated that the architects should work to satisfy the HPO staff's recommendation to raise the landscaping in the public space on 18th Street on a plinth.

The Board then directly asked me how flexible I am to those changes.

I responded saying the landscaping concerns are easier to resolve than the point raised about the roof engaging the wall. I said we are happy to discuss the landscaping elements on 18th Street, but that the design as-presented represents many months of collaboration with DDOT, the HPO, the Parish, and the Conservancy, on what the design of the public space on 18th Street should be, and any changes to it must respect the assurances I have made to those interested parties, as well as the standards set by the 18th Street Reconstruction Project.

Regarding the roof re-design, I responded truthfully saying any changes implemented should attempt to be non-structural interventions, because the Parish cannot afford major engineering revisions to the proposed plans. I stated that while I am still unclear as to what the staff's concerns are, and what courses of action the staff is recommending, we are committed to a collaborative process and will work with Mr. Calcott and the three architects who serve on the Board (Maria Casarella, Joseph Eugene Taylor, and Christopher K. Landis), to identify them and to and resolve them.

That meeting will take place at the end of next week.

It will be more clear afterward whether or not it is necessary for us to return to the Historic Preservation Review Board for approval, or whether final approval will be delegated back to the HPO staff.

* * *

So, in short, the process continues... We keep doing what we've been doing... listening and siphoning edited opinions into a better design solution. And hope and pray we don't have to do it forever.

The support of the Historic Preservation Review Board can't be under-valued.

We thank every member of the Board, and extend our utmost sincere gratitude to ANC-2B Commissioner Mr. Mike Silverstein, and to Mr. Tom Bower of the Dupont Circle Conservancy, for their volunteered time, effort, and exemplary steadfast support.

September 22, Day 94: HPRB the HIGHEST HURDLE

2010-09-22T10:41:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow we'll give what's arguably the most important presentation of this entire 5-year project: the Historic Preservation Review Board approval...

When I sat down at my desk on Day 1, not Day 1 of this blog, but Day 1 of this project over two and a half years ago, I imagined myself in tomorrow's room at tomorrow's meeting in front of the HPRB.

The first thought, "What is it"? was always coupled with the counterpoint thought, "What must it be to get built?" And the two danced and never left each other's side.

How do you design a vision of a church bold enough to match the boldness of this Parish community? How do you give a shape to a "radical hospitality" that is boundless, but is also sensitive enough to have mass appeal and be accepted? Will people like it? Can it be done? Is the risk too great.

No one is more aware than I am that the decision of the Board tomorrow to a degree is a measure of our success. (Not to put on any undo pressure!) The Board may approve it, and they may not. But every edited thought I've imbued the design with was always tempered by that question, "Can this be approved?" And you never know until you're there...

And we're there.

We shall see.

September 20, Day 92: FAITH AT STAKE

2010-09-20T19:18:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, Rector Nancy Lee Jose held a ceremony in the park blessing the ground at the North East South and West corners of where the future baptismal font will go. The children drove in a stake, then the Senior and Junior Wardens. (The kids loved it.)

I know some people are tired of hearing about the building.

But it's more than making a building that we're doing here. It's the making with nothing, that's important. It's the trying when we're all tried out that matters. That's what people will remember. That we did it with nothing but sheer Will, and we didn't give up.

September 18, Day 90: OCTOBER SURPRISE

2010-09-18T18:22:00.000-04:00

The church has been dealt a disappointing setback in the few remaining days leading up to the Historic Preservation Review Board hearing this coming Thursday.

While the DCCA, the ANC, and the Duont Conservancy have endorsed the church design with their support, yesterday afternoon the HPO staff (Historic Preservation Office staff) released their official report to the Historic Preservation Review Board, and it falls short of giving their consent and recommendation that the Board approve the project. Instead, the report suggests that fundamental design decisions, such as the roof and the building geometry, be re-evaluated and re-considered.

The suggestions are decidedly disappointing and unexpected given the closeness with which we have worked with the staff on refining the design over the last eighteen months.

However,

We believe in our design. It has the stalwart support of the Parish, the Parish leadership, and the support of the Dupont community. As a sidebar: The volunteers who were working the DC primary polls at St Thomas last Tuesday made a point to tell us how delighted people had been all day with the final design and the changes we'd made to the roof (since it was all glass in a previous iteration of the design).

Our response to the report is we will continue to do what we have been doing from the beginning. That is, to continue to explain the project in detail to the best of our ability, to clarify the design, to clarify misconceptions, to explain the rationale for design decisions, and to persevere in the spirit of cooperation with what we believe is the right design for this place, for this Parish, and at this exact time.

SEPTEMBER 16:DAY 88: The Dupont Conservancy Supports St. Thomas' Design

2010-09-16T09:39:00.000-04:00

The President of the Dupont Conservancy, a community association whose mission is to promote preservation of the historic and architectural character of the Dupont Circle Historic District, forwarded us their official motion passed after we presented the latest designs to them Tuesday night. It read,

“We support the design as presented and appreciate improvements to the 18th Street landscaping and attention to the 18th Street wall coping. We look forward to seeing the project and its detailing as it progresses.”

Passed with one abstention and no nays.

* * *

We've worked closely with the Conservancy throughout the summer. We listened to their comments and found in them the opportunity to revisit aspects of the design, such as the landscaping and facade detailing, that required an external perspective to be successful because they are the interface to the city in which the building belongs.

In a sense, in a historic neighborhood such as Dupont under a watchful eye, I've come to think of the church as the client from the inside-out, and the city as the client from the outside-in, and the building enclosure and its treatment as where their interests meet; Not unlike skin has to mediate a body's systems and the environment they're in.

This is the essence of a building relating-to and being accepted-by its context. Style has little to do with it. The only and true test of its success is Time.

We thank the Conservancy for their support.

September 15, Day 87: WASHINGTON BLADE Article

2010-09-15T08:02:00.002-04:00

The Washington Blade ran an article yesterday covering the fund-raising event Bishop Robinson attended in support of St. Thomas' building plans last Saturday night.

Read the article, "Robinson Raising Money for Dupont Church," by Lou Chibbaro Jr. here.

SEPTEMBER 13: DAY 85: Bishop Robinson Takes the Capital Campaign National

2010-09-13T11:41:00.000-04:00

Saturday night, St. Thomas' Parish took a tremendous step forward towards building the new church. It was a hugely successful and exciting evening. The enthusiasm was palpable, and there was a real sense that the Capital Campaign to build the building just went national.

One parishioner at the end of the evening told me simply, "It's on!", and another said, "It feels like the plane just left the ground."

The Parish hosted its second Open House for the community, and this time they went all out; catered food, champagne. Keynote speaker- Honorary Capital Campaign Chair, Bishop Gene Robinson's (NH) presence in the room was larger than life. Our office presented recently released new design renderings, brought everyone up to speed on where we are, and where we're about to go. Rector Nancy Lee Jose never seemed more radiant, and as always graced the evening with an aura of enthusiasm and determination.

Please take the time to watch the YouTube video of Bishop Robinson's endorsement of the building project and his plea to support it with a contribution. Please post the video and send it to your friends and family, and please ask them visit the church Growth Site to pledge a donation.

September 13, Day 85: NEW RENDERINGS RELEASED

2010-09-13T10:29:00.000-04:00

Our office, AURAFORM Architects, has released several new images of the sanctuary, which we presented at the Capital Campaign Fundraising event with Bishop Gene Robinson on September 11th at St Thomas.

Hand rendering (Scott McGhee) overlooking the Church Street side. The perspective is from the roof of the Dupont East condominium building on 18th Street.

Hand rendering (Matthew Jarvis) of the building at the corner of 18th and Church Streets.

Computer rendering of the building at the Church Street side. The perspective is from the parking lot across the street.

September 9, Day 81: Here's To You, Bishop Robinson

2010-09-10T00:42:00.000-04:00

We're putting the finishing touches on a few new images of the new sanctuary we'll show this Saturday evening. I'll talk about how we approached the design in more depth than in recent informational presentations, and will answer questions from neighborhood residents and the larger DC/Dupont community. Bishop Gene Robinson, who is an Honorary Chair of the fundraising effort, will be attending and will speak as well.

The invitation from the Parish is below. Follow this link to RSVP.

The Parish welcomes you to a cocktail reception with Bishop Gene Robinson this upcoming Saturday, September 11th at 7pm. Join us at St. Thomas Episcopal at 18th and Church Streets, NW

September 7, day 79: ANC SUPPORTS PLANS TO BUILD

2010-09-08T08:17:00.000-04:00

Tuesday night the ANC-2B (Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission for the District Ward 2-B) voted unanimously, 9-0 with no abstentions, to support St. Thomas' application to build a new sanctuary. The ANC will issue a letter to the HPRB (Historic Preservation Review Board) ahead of their September meeting in support of the design.

We'd like to thank each ANC-2B Commissioner individually for their support. No one understands more than we do that this is a big project, it's an important project, and it's a bold project. The ANC offering their support is the spirit in which we began the collaborative process of reaching out to the Dupont community for neighborhood input seven months ago, and will continue to.

Thank you to:

Freddie Blicher
Mike Feldstein (2B01)
Bob Meehan (2B03)
Jack Jacobson (2B04)
Victor Wexler (2B05)
Mike Silverstein (2B06)
Phil Carney (2B07)
Will Stephens (2B08)
Ramon Estrada (2B09)

As we go forward with the Capital Campaign, St Thomas' will host a special reception this Saturday at 7 pm at 1772 Church Street, NW. Bishop Gene Robinson, who serves as an Honorary Chair for the Capital Campaign, will be a special guest of honor. There will be appetizers and champagne! Please RSVP by Thursday September 9.

September 2, Day 74: Blog Full Circle

2010-09-02T19:35:00.000-04:00

David Alpert's in the news today.

We've been working with him and fellow Conservancy members over the summer to assimilate the Dupont community's input as neighbors into the evolution of the design of St Thomas' Parish on Church Street. Last month David's blog, GreaterGreaterWashington.com, referenced this one. It seemed like an appropriate day to come full-circle.

August 31, Day 72: MANY MODELS

2010-08-31T18:01:00.000-04:00

Many models are under construction at the moment.

In the office, we're working on several hand-drawn renderings to show at the September 11th event at St Thomas. A special friend of the Parish's, Bishop Gene Robinson will be there Saturday night as a guest of honor, and we'd like to make something special to mark the occasion.

(St Thomas is encouraging anyone interested in attending to RSVP with their main office at 202-332-0607.)

At our structural engineer's office, they are working on constructing a 3D Revit model of the sanctuary structure. The Revit model will be used to analyze, size and design the framing.

At the acoustical engineer's office, they are working on a 3D Odeon model of the acoustic performance of the design. Their model evaluates the quality of the sound at strategic locations in the new sanctuary.

Off site, we are having a 10'-0" x 10'-0" full-scale mock-up wall of the porcelain facade made in the actual material with the actual attachment system. This will let us judge how the cladding looks, and will allow us to evaluate its performance as it weathers two full-year calendar cycles.

AUGUST 27: DAY 68: Dupont Current Newspaper

2010-08-27T12:53:00.000-04:00

The Dupont Current ran an article on St Thomas on Wednesday. Here's a link to the Current Newspapers for a direct PDF download. The issue is #35 August 25, 2010.

Or, jpeg's are below. You have to zoom in to read the text, so click on each image page.

AUGUST 26, DAY 67: All Green Lights Going Into September

2010-08-26T20:42:00.000-04:00

ZONING

We received our letter from the Zoning Administrator today confirming that our design is in full compliance with all municipal zoning codes and that no BZA (Board of Zoning Adjustment) relief, variances, or special exceptions are necessary to permit the project. Receiving the confirmation is important because next month the HPRB (Historic Preservation Review Board) will review our project and they need to know if any variances are being sought. We'll submit the letter in January 2011 when we apply for a building permit.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW BOARD

Tomorrow we'll submit our official application to the HPRB (Historic Preservation Review Board) for their consideration in September. The HPO staff will make a recommendation to the Board, as will the ANC 2B. We're scheduled to present to the ANC on September 7th, and again to the Dupont Conservancy on September 14th. The HPO will forward our application to the ANC ahead of their meeting and the HPRB review so the local community associations can make a recommendation to the Board. The ANC's recommendation is given "great weight," as is the Conservancy's to the ANC.

CONSULTANTS

Yesterday we released an abbreviated 52-page drawing set to our structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, civil and acoustical engineers so they can begin designing their systems and coordinating their construction documents with us. We're on track to review their progress at 35% complete CD's in mid-October, and 75% complete CD's in late November.

ACOUSTICAL ENGINEER

We've met with Acoustic Design Collaborative and were very impressed with the progress and input so far. They came to the table with their own 3D model of the church built from 2D material we sent them, solely for their own evaluations. They have some recommendations for how to improve the acoustic performance of the sanctuary significantly without changing the structural systems. We take their suggestions seriously and we'll discuss a few design options with the St Thomas Building Committee at our regular meeting next Monday night.

18TH STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Last week we met with several project managers of the 18th Street Reconstruction Project at their public meeting Tuesday evening. Our Civil engineer had been discussing our project with them since we became knowledgeable about the extent of the work they're doing on 18th Street, their timetable, and how it impacts us at our DDOT PDRM earlier in the month. There was some question then as to whether or not the Reconstruction Project would affect St Thomas' plans to begin construction next summer because of a moratorium in place on pulling utilities from the street, but we received confirmation Monday morning that the restrictions on disturbing recently improved streetwork applies to the utility companies only, and not to private residents, businesses, or property owners. Thankfully.

Now that the utility work is done, the next stage of their work involves replacing the curbs, gutters, and sidewalks from P Street to Dupont Circle, all the way from Mass Ave to S Street, and from S Street to Florida.

We had inquired into whether or not Phase-2 of the Reconstruction Project between the alley and Church Street could be omitted from their scope of work, because we'll have to replace what they do when we begin construction next summer and the equipment rolls in. It just seems logical that if you know it's going to get torn up, save the taxpayers the money and and the headache of streetwork. They explained to us that this work is beginning immediately (literally this week) and it had been submitted and approved for this year's budget long ago. That makes sense too and we understand it.

We tried.

We learned there are 8 Phases, which will be completed in two-block segments beginning with ours (between P and Church Streets), and move North throughout the Fall. Sorry everyone, 18th Street is one-way heading North until they're done.

AUGUST 25, DAY 66: The Washington Post Gets Interested

2010-08-25T20:19:00.000-04:00

I won't say I holistically agree with this opinion, or that it's mine. The purpose of this blog though is to record the process of making a church, and this is an important event in the life of that process.

This article was written by Richard Morgan, a freelance reporter, for various national newspapers and magazines including the NY Times and the Washington Post.

AUGUST 23, DAY 64: 40th Anniversary of the Fire

2010-08-23T08:03:00.000-04:00

Rock Paper Scissors used to be so easy. You knew what beat what.

Tomorrow will be 40 years since the day the High Gothic church was destroyed by arson. Yesterday the Parish remembered the event with a special service (with much hard work by the extraordinary Parish Archivist, Barbera Hayes). Instead of a Sermon, there were readings from local and national newspapers that covered the fire in 1970, some from papers that no longer exist. They invited Nick Bruel, a District law enforcement officer who is the son of the late Rector Henry Bruel, who presided at the time of the fire, to tell his story of the morning after the fire. They displayed the plaques and artifacts that survived. They put on a riveting morning that brought you back into the moment it happened. Several reporters attended. The entire service was filmed.

As I sat and listened to Nick I thought about Rock Paper Scissors. He described his memory of the morning after in such a vivid descriptive detail. He said,"I was tripping over a maze of fire hoses laid everywhere but nothing inside was recognizable. It was like a cave. Light was coming through the walls." He was 7 and he remembered, "the wet wood and ashes smelled like an extinguished campfire and it permeated the City for blocks."

I thought, what beats what?

Water can rout a canyon through a mountain, and I've seen it patiently begin to disassemble what's left of the original St Thomas stone by stone by chipping away at the mortar and expanding and contacting and freezing and thawing and spalling off the block faces inch by inch.

Its slow, but I thought, water beats stone.

I heard Nick tell the story about how the fire did the same thing to the same building in hours that it would take water hundreds of years to do. The fire exploded the granite blocks apart like they were mothballs.

So I thought, fire beats stone too, and it does it fast.

As architects, we design for the elements. It's really the essence of what we do. We design curtain walls against wind loads at the upper limits of hurricane force winds. We design against water infiltration with flashings and copings and drip edges and sealants. We design fire-rated assemblies and specify materials with flame spread ratings, design smoke proof enclosures and fire suppression systems. We design foundations that resist the pressure of the Earth. And we try to do it poetically and with purpose, but that's something else. Essentially, we make sanctuaries.

But what beats what? And for how long.

Some of the granite stones survived. The High Altar gable wall is still there, and it will be still there for years to come when we re-incorporate it into the inside of the new building as a chapel again. The structural evaluation we had done of them determined that some re-pointing is in order, but structurally, the wall is intact.

Listening to a newspaper article being read yesterday, one reporter in August 1970 wrote, "I'm not a mystic," but he described confounded how the reserve sacrament on the Altar wasn't touched by the fire as the Altar burned down around it.

So, something beats fire, something other than water. I hope it's the wind at our backs.

We're gonna need it.

AUGUST 18, DAY 59: FEAR

2010-08-18T17:50:00.000-04:00

I spent the winter of 2001-2002 in a woodshed in the Alps making a model.

It took me three months to make. The model was a site model for a family in New York called Williams. They wanted to put a new house on a wooded site and somehow peaked Peter Zumthor's interest to do the job. How they did that to this day remains a mystery to me. He has a lot of offers to do a lot of houses. Maybe it was the site.

I made it out of pear wood, commonly used for high quality woodwind instruments and furniture. Very expensive. I used a band saw to cut out strips of pear contours from a topography map. Then I cut and stacked foam blocks under the contours to get them to the right elevations, then I used vice grips to glue and clamp the contours together. Still clamped, I hand chiseled the tops of the contours into a continuous textured surface. I was doing this from December to February. It was really cold.

When I was done I was more than in love with what I'd made. I brought it to Peter and he liked it and he said, "It's expensive, no?" I laughed (more nervously than casually) and he told me to take it to the his office and shoot it and afterward to drill the holes for the trees. There were hundreds of trees. I walked up the mountain and hand picked fallen twigs that I could easily sculpt into trees and I brought them to the model but I couldn't bring myself to drill the holes. Peter came in and asked why I hadn't done what he told me to. I had the model all set up under photography lights and tarped, positioned just the way I wanted it, and I told him I couldn't do it. I said, " The trees will destroy it."

He looked directly at me and cocked his head in the way he does when he's thinking and somewhat surprised, and said the second most profound piece of advice I've ever been offered. He said, "Matthew, to be a great Architect you must never have any fear."

It was one of those moments you remember, that have the ability to burrow a divot in the turf of your brain and lodge in deep down and seed. Nine years later I still think about the statement. I think he meant more than to be bold when designing, and trusting your instincts above all else once your judgment is honed. I think he was talking about the necessity to let go, because fear will hold you back. It locks you up. It stagnates.

I drilled the holes and the model became ten times more beautiful. When it was done it was hard to image it without the trees.

AUGUST 12, DAY 53: DCRA PDRM

2010-08-12T19:26:00.000-04:00

Last one for a while.

Wednesday we had our Preliminary Design Review Meeting with the DCRA staff who will eventually review our project for structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life safety standards compliance.

Not much to report. We familiarized the reviewers with our design and discussed their input. We'll have another Preliminary Design Review with them in December just prior to submitting for a building permit in January.

AUGUST 11, DAY 52: Nif-T's

2010-08-11T22:24:00.000-04:00

Scott's designed this nifty T with the design of the Church Street facade of the new building.

There's also a "Grow With Us" logo T, designed by Nate West from Bizzynate.com. I'm sporting it in the picture with Bishop Chane three posts back.

Collect them all.

AUGUST 11, DAY 52: DDOT Update

2010-08-10T19:14:00.002-04:00

DDOT Update.

Yesterday we had a Preliminary Design Review Meeting with DDOT (the District Department of Transportation). They determined the design revisions we made to the landscaping and hardscaping along 18th Street in response to the Dupont Conservancy's comments are in keeping with the City's master plan for parking (as in "to make a park," not to be confused with car parking) in the public space, and that our design will not be reviewed by the Public Space Committee.

We will continue to work with DDOT when considering their input on a variety of issues as design development continues prior to permitting over the next several months. These include: tree removal and replanting, landscaping, sidewalk replacement/improvement, upgrading curbs to ADA standards, lighting requirements in the public space, and coordinating our work with the 18th Street Reconstruction project as our project progresses.

I know it's confusing. Bear with us...

All of these meetings are called PDRM's, Preliminary Design Review Meetings, and they are taking place now so that when we file for a Building Permit in early January the reviewers are already familiar with the project, and all the major issues have already been flushed out, thoroughly discussed, and determinations have been made. This will expedite the Permit process, saving the Parish money in heading off unexpected delays.

AUGUST 10, DAY 51: No Variances

2010-08-10T19:14:00.001-04:00

Good news.

We're pleased to report we've discussed all the zoning issues with the Office of Zoning in preliminary design reviews, and they have determined our design complies with all municipal zoning regulations, including the parking requirement.

Therefore no variances or special exceptions will be necessary to construct the new church.