CA P I TA L CA M PA I G N N EWS L E T T E R N O. 2
OCTOBER 2014
LIVING STONES BUILDING for MINISTRY
AND THE STONES KEPT PILING UP.... A pile of stones placed in front of the pulpit was the first, very visual notice that something was up—or rather, was falling down. Years of driving rain had rusted out the iron rebar, causing cement cladding to fall from the north and south exterior walls of the cathedral. This was in January 2013. We immediately fenced off the walls and instigated emergency repairs, but we realized the walls needed to be fixed permanently. Thus began the journey that has led us to our new capital campaign to make those repairs and much more.
We started by appointing a committee, which solicited proposals from six architectural firms. After a thorough bidding process, we selected Olson Kundig. The firm has designed major projects in the Pacific Northwest and worldwide. In addition, they designed our Century II renovations of the west wall and the cathedral infrastructure in the late 1990s. At the same time, a Design Committee was appointed to work with the architects. The Design Committee and Olson Kundig worked together during the spring and summer of this year to present ideas and solicit advice from our community. This culminated in the proposed design, which incorporates three elements: essential repairs, “sustainable/ green” building enhancements, and the vision of a future Saint Mark’s Cathedral with a new narthex and annex. Our Vestry unanimously approved the proposed plans in August 2014. The proposed plans cover three priority areas outlined below. We will focus on environmentallyfriendly building practices wherever possible. Copies of the plans are available on the Saint
Co-chairs of the Design Committee: Walter Stuteville and Herb Williams. Other members of the Design Committee are Bill Goodenough, Brandon Whittaker, Eliza Davidson, Pam Gray, Dean Steve Thomason, and Senior Warden Jo Ann Bailey
Mark’s website, and will soon be available in the nave. PRIORITY 1: IMPROVING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY We will start with essential repairs to the walls and improvements to the energy efficiency of the building. We will seal the exterior walls and extend the limestone cladding that is on the west wall to the other walls. We’ll replace the windows with energy-efficient materials that reflect, wherever possible, the appearance of the existing windows. We’ll repair the roof and soffits. (Continued next page)