Summary status report on our facilities needs, 2026 (Speculation)

NEARING THE END of this fiscal year, with newly elected officers and directors, let me take stock of where we stand. From this vantage point, our recent accomplishments and imminent projects are taken as givens. What matters most are the challenges that we have yet to address.

The focus in this post is not on making improvements per se, but more simply on attending to what we currently have, beyond routine maintenance. I further restrict my focus here to items that are not obvious.

Below the jump, this post sums up the needs of our facilities’ major areas of concern. The list is not exhaustive. 

Arresting deterioration

Certain aspects of buildings become continually more expensive to repair if they are not dealt with promptly. Many of these issues are invisible to casual observers, which is why they can be allowed to go on too long. In our case, they include: the remaining water intrusion (upon rainfall) and the deteriorating stained-glass windows. 

Water intrusion

(This topic matters because it is a threat to the building’s structural integrity and can ruin interior finishes. If not addressed timely, repair costs balloon quickly.) This issue involves the 8 operable windows in the sanctuary: due to metal corrosion, warped frames, and broken hardware, none of them are capable of being closed tightly. Typically there is a one-inch gap between the center frame and each window edge. Therefore in a driving rain with the wind coming from certain directions, water can penetrate into the sanctuary. For details, see here. This issue is related to the next item.…

Stained-glass windows

Of the 12 rectangular window panes on the sanctuary’s south wall, 5 need to be rebuilt because they are significantly sagging. Logistically speaking, it makes sense to do this work at the same time that the metal frames are addressed (see above). The longer we wait, the more expensive the job will be. We have applied for a matching grant—and are waiting to hear next month whether we made the first cut. 

Assuring structural integrity

In one of the sanctuary roof trusses, a tie-rod connection has been exposed to water intrusion. It needs to be opened up and inspected, to ensure that it is still capable of doing its job. This requires coordination with our northerly neighbor. For details, see here and here.

Reducing operating expenses

We are considering projects that would have significant energy impacts and have a suitably long lead time for proper planning. One is to replace the west windows of our school/office building, which is described HERE. 

Improving the preschool building layout

Our preschool director has asked us to provide a back door to one of the restrooms in the school building, as described here. Earlier this month, after I asked whether she still considers this to be a high priority, she reiterated: 

“This would absolutely make a huge difference.… The creation of a Jack-and-Jill bathroom will help our internal staffing coverage and day-to-day functionality.”