Building Renovation Team

Renovations Summer/Fall 2009

The SCC Building Renovation Committee is thrilled to have begun renovation work over the summer. This was in response to the congregation's vote at the February 2008 Annual Meeting to begin Phase I of the renovation project, which includes replacing our 50+ year-old boiler and the renovation of Classroom 25-27 in the Christian Education wing.

Jack Franzen and John Stevens of J.P. Franzen Associates Architects have been instrumental in guiding us through this process, most importantly by helping us reduce costs as we broke the renovation into two phases.

Two sub-committees were formed to take charge of these two very distinct projects. The HVAC/Boiler Sub-Committee, led by Betsy Gillespie, consisted of Russ Blair, David Pool, Carl Leaman, Bill Shaffer, Elwood Betts and Jim Langham. Jan Van Arsdale led The Model Classroom Sub-Committee, which included Peggy Brady, Abby Peterson, Barbara Van Orden and Andy Weir.

Boiler Purchase Update

Boiler Removal

The HVAC/Boiler Sub-Committee engaged in many hours of discussion, discerning what would be the best replacement boiler for our church.  We truly appreciate all the committee members' hard work, research time and personal visits to the boiler room!  Our discussions focused on the following: 

• Oil or Gas?

  Gas, the cleaner and more efficient-energy source, was chosen.

• Are there cost considerations that make it advantageous to install the entire HVAC (Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning) system at this time?

  Building costs are slightly lower at this time due to the economic environment. But to incur the interior cosmetic costs associated with this install – work that would need to be redone in Phase II — would be a waste of our resources. For this reason, we chose to focus only on the purchase of the replacement boiler.

• Should we reutilize our existing radiators or switch to a forced-air system?

  Radiators provide even, moist heat that feels warmer at lower temperatures and is more comfortable to live in than the drier air from forced-air systems.  Reutilizing existing equipment that is functioning properly is the most “green” decision, and also the most cost-efficient.

• Should we purchase a conventional 3-Pass Boiler or a Condensing Boiler?

  Much discussion centered on this topic.

  Conventional 3-Pass Boilers are well known in the US, have a long history of reliability and are easy to service.  Unfortunately they are less fuel-efficient, with an average 88% efficiency rating, and more costly to install than Condensing Boilers.

  Condensing Boilers
  A Condensing Boiler was the unanimous first choice of all of the consultants, distributors and installers that we contacted, so the committee decided to do more research on these systems. Condensing Boilers have almost exclusively been installed in Europe for 60+ years, and have been installed for 20+ years in the U.S. They are known to be high-efficiency boilers (with an average 92-96% efficiency rating) that are easy to install and maintain — strong selling points in an era of ever-escalating energy costs.

After determining that a Condensing Boiler would work well with our existing radiators and developing a scope that was given to four installers, the BRC-HVAC Committee elected to have Ralph Mann & Sons do the installation. We are so thankful that Russ Blair agreed to supervise this install and assist in determining how to reduce — if not eliminate — the current inconsistent heating issues that we have within our building.

Model Classroom Renovation Update

The classroom sub-committee met separately, and with J.P. Franzen Associates, several times to finalize the floor plan for Classroom 25-27. (This is the classroom on the second floor adjacent to Abby Peterson's office with a room divider). The sub-committee also made visits to Greenfield Hill Congregational Church to evaluate materials for the renovation.

• The new floor plan (PDF, requires Adobe® Reader®) includes a better allocation of space — both sub-divided classrooms are now of similar size.
• The classroom is more functional: Cabinets, counters and ample closet space to store materials and chairs make better use of the current footprint.
• The classroom is more welcoming: In addition to inviting colors and built-ins for the students, new floor tiles have been installed that are both warm and attractive. The Nora® Flooring tiles are rubber-based and currently in use at Bedford Middle School. Special thanks go to Abby Peterson who spent a lot of time reviewing the colors, finishes and materials; Peggy Brady who reviewed the materials and researched items like the flooring; and Andy Weir who met with Nora® Flooring to confirm it was appropriate for our Church.

After reviewing contractor bids, we selected Petra Construction Corp. for the renovation. Given the size of Petra's staff, their capacity to handle the complete renovation, and their ability to negotiate competitive prices with suppliers, the committee was in agreement that they are the best option for Saugatuck. All of the bids were measured against the estimates done by the outside consultant, Lew Finkel, to ensure that we were within our budget.

The first step for both projects began with asbestos removal, which was completed in August 2009 by Charles Abatement Services of Hamden, CT.

The renovation of Classroom 25-27 represents the projected upgrade for the East Wing Church School. We are excited to hear your feedback!