The Catholic Community of St. Thomas More New Building Committee

1. The Catholic Community of St. Thomas MoreNew Building Committee

2. STM Vision Statement -- Element #3… As a welcoming community, we provide our members with the environment that supports our mission of prayer, celebration, formation and service.”

3. STM Master Plan • The “environment” in the STM Vision Statement is both spiritual and physical. In February 1996, a Master Plan was developed to address the physical dimension -- the future facility needs of our growing community.

4. STM Master Plan: Phase I • In order to bring the growing parish community closer together with the active school community, a plan was developed and approved to construct a new worship space, gathering place, office and Upper School, on the present STM School site.

5. In December 1998, we dedicated our new Church and Upper School

6. Master Plan: Phase II • Phase II of the 1996 Master Plan called for building a multi-purpose facility to serve as a gathering space, parish offices, kitchen and church support, and to identify other needs – including a chapel, upper school expansion and a new school gymnasium.

7. Phase II – continued… • In Winter of 2001, a parish survey completed by 373 parish families found the majority of families believed the next project should be a “multi-purpose / social hall facility with kitchen and flexible meeting space.” • In November 2003, Fr. Durbin convened a Building Committee.

8. New Building Committee Organization • There are six New Building Plan Sub-Committees • Executive Steering Committee • Requirements • Communications • Construction / Design / Architecture • Finance • Capital Campaign

9. Phase II -- continued • Beginning in February 2004, the Committee has met monthly. • 2008 was set as the target date for completing Phase II. • In April-May 2004, the Finance Council developed a plan to lower the existing mortgage before securing more funds. It was approved by the Pastoral Council and Fr. Durbin.

10. Phase II -- continued • In May, the Diocese of Raleigh provided preliminary approval of the Phase II project; and a plan was developed to obtain input from all parishioners. • In June, committee members visited other parishes to see multi-purpose facilities and gain insights about their experiences in constructing them.

11. Phase II -- continued • In June and July, individual surveys were made available to all parishioners, school parents, the staff and Ministry leaders to obtain input and identify priorities. • Survey forms were distributed at all Masses, inserted in STM and School Bulletins, and mailed.

12. Phase II -- continued • In August and September, completed surveys were analyzed. These included: • 428 Individual Parishioner/School Parent Surveys • 19 Staff In-Depth Surveys • 49 Surveys: Ministry Leaders [60 Ministries] • 9 Interviews of Parish Leaders – priests, administrator, school principal, pastoral council chair, school board chairs, and the maintenance director

13. Summary of Results • In describing what you told us, the survey was constructed to reflect the next two phases of the Master Plan: • Needs for a Multi-Purpose Building, and • Other Community needs

14. Findings: Multi-Purpose Building • Top priorities are: • Large hall / social gathering place • More meeting rooms and classrooms • Lots of secure storage space • STM offices

15. Findings: Other Needs • Other needs you want addressed are: • School addition to replace art and music trailers • Music rehearsal room • Gymnasium • Larger library • Nursery • More Parking • Athletic Field • Improved kitchen facilities • Outdoor Stations of the Cross • Columbarium

16. Key Findings: Staff Interviews • Offices • Current STM offices in former convent converted to temporary offices; Sisters of St. Joseph moved to separate housing. • Offices not functional, have not been upgraded because they are temporary. Significant cost required to make them functional, meet future parish needs as well as Town codes. • Phase One initially included plans for an administrative building. This was modified to reprioritize Upper School addition.

17. Staff Interviews – [Offices] continued • Master Plan was revised to move offices to the new Multi-Purpose Building. • Existing building would be razed to make room for a new gymnasium, so that construction would meet Town of Chapel Hill regulations.

18. Staff Interviews -- continued • Art and Music Trailers • STM School acquired trailers as temporary solution for space needed for art and music instruction. Art trailers in use over 25 years; music trailers for 15 years. • Art trailer judged to be un-maintainable. • Need to replace these; not cost productive to repair them, or replace with other trailers. • Want and need classroom space.

19. Since then… • In November of 2004, sub-committees began defining space and facility needs. • In December, preliminary report from the Requirements Sub-Committee was provided to the Construction / Architecture / Design Sub-Committee. They collaborated to get specifics of what we asked an architect to design. • Prospective architects were identified; one selected. • We are continuing progress on our work. • Capital campaign sub-committee planning fund-raising efforts. • Meeting with Diocese regarding availability of financial support.

20. We will continue to inform the Catholic Community of St. Thomas More of our progress