Following our capital campaign which brought in pledges of approximately $1,000,000, we sent out the preliminary architectural plans for bid.  The result: the vestry and building committee directed the architect (Point One Architects in Old Saybrook) to come up with something more affordable. In November, 2008 our building committee started meeting with our builder (Michael Burd) and architect to turn the conceptual drawings into a firm plan.

May 2009:  The vestry came to the congregation requesting approval for a construction loan to supplement our pledges for a smaller, more affordable project, but with sufficient space configured to meet our future needs to meet our congregation’s mission and vision for ministry. The congregation voted in favor of taking on the debt commitment and the vestry voted to start the project.  Although our design was not yet complete, our builder (Michael Burd) believed that he had sufficient information to get started on the project. Our primary objective was to avoid disruption of Christian Education activities in the fall and to complete the whole project by the end of the year.

June 2009:  Preparations to begin renovating the offices, classrooms and music “Wing” began quickly.

·          By the time we held the Parish Picnic, contents of the Wing, Kitchen, and Parish Hall were either stowed away into trailers in the parking lot or moved to the Sanctuary for continued access.

·          We secured a “mobile home” to house our parish offices during the construction period. Our Project Superintendent, Art Hamelin, got right to work with the asbestos abatement work so that demolition and renovation could begin.

July, August, September 2009: Neither rain nor summer heat could prevent us from keeping to our summer schedule. Services went off as planned in the Sanctuary (with a portable AC unit from the Parish Hall); Meetings, as well as Nursery care during service hours went off as planned in the mobile home; Summer Sunday school and after service coffee hours went off as planned under the tarp/tent outside the vestibule; and despite having an “oversized” portable bathroom in place outside, our wonderful contractors were able to keep in place our vestibule bathrooms for all church services and manage demolition and reconstruction between Sundays!

·          Framing and plumbing rough-ins for new offices and bathrooms in the admin / classroom wing were completed with all necessary inspections passing with flying colors;

·          A team of parishioners disassembled our swings and playscape to make room for the construction area;

·          Our Parish IT Committee installed low-voltage cable in each room and worked with Art Hamelin to ensure proper wiring for phone, sound and computer access;

·          By the end of July, the executive committee had met with to review and approve finishes for all areas of the building - carpet, woodwork, paint, vinyl tile, ceramic tile, and cabinetry. New construction began in mid-August with the laying of the foundation.  That was only possible after lots of bulldozing, clearing land for the addition and into the side lot for our expanded driveway.

·          By Sunday School “Rally Sunday” on September 27^th, our new, improved and larger vestibule and admin wing were sufficiently ready for public consumption!!! We began having coffee hours in the vestibule.  It was decided to keep the offices in the mobile home so that the Youth Sunday School classes could use the rooms in the admin wing until the addition is completed.

 October 2009:  As a result of moving ahead in May, we were able to have useable classroom space to begin the school year.

·          Classes for Youth and Adult Sunday School began on October 4^th.  Adults continue to meet in United Way and Youth from N – 12 meet in the Wing.

·          On October 11^th,  Bishop Laura Ahrens cut the ceremonial “Ribbon” officially opening the renovated wing.

·          Framing for the addition quickly rose amidst inquiries from friends, neighbors and passersby about what was going on at St. David’s. They quickly found out from the pronouncement of two exterior signs that “We’re Making Room for You.” Both interior and exterior constructions have moved along at a brisk pace, in preparation of an anticipated completion date of approximately December 18^th.

 Keep returning to check on project status and updates as they occur!