New St. Mark Facilities Options
Over the past year much progress has been made in working towards a new school at St. Mark. The REID Consulting Group will soon be delivering their report to Bishop Jenky and Brother Wililam. Much talk lately has focused on different types of building options. Many call for a brand new school on our current footprint. Many call for a total rehab of our current facility with the addition of a gym, science lab and a few classrooms. Never the less either project would certainly bring much excitement to Catholic education in the West Bluff. What are your thoughts? Should we build a brand new building? Should we remodel and add on? How much of a difference does available funding make? As always we would love to hear your thoughts.
posted by croy @ 10:45 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
If you go with a new building, do the neighborhoods some justice and make it an architectual design that fits. No suburban styled building. Keeping it red brick with limestone accents like it has now to match the church is a nice touch.
Rehabs, if done properly, can be very effective. Constance Hall at Bradley is a good example: the original exterior was retained, an addition with the same look doubled the floor-space, and the entire entire interior was redone. I am not privy to the cost analysis, but I understand the savings over a new structure was extensive.
Part of the issue is getting the right firm to plan the work. Les Kenyon's group does marvelous work that stays within the confines of classic structures. A second issue is the degree to which the inside work is "total" (or virtually so). All of the work of this nature at Bradley (Constance, Baker Hall, even Bradley Hall) undertook full revisions of every internal space. Leaving a bunch of old stuff inside does not help anyone.
Finally, our/lay "wishes" on the matter are really quite insignificant. The key issues have to be determined by professional architects and engineers who can establish the viability of the basic structure for rehab work. Parishoner Adam Lontai and the aforementioned Les Kenyon, among others, could give you solid feedback about project alternatives.
The bottom line for me is that one or the other (new build or radical renovation) gets done SOON. The physical limitations to the current plant are extensive. "The gym," though important, is the least of the issues. The building is long past its prime as a safe and effective learning environment. Our excellence teaching staff deserves better; our dedicated families have earned the respect that adequate facilities reflect. The diocese's dessertion of the south end of town must stop with us.
Please do not try to put a band-aid on a artery. Either GUT IT and update/replace EVERYTHING (hopefully leaving the facade) or start from scratch. I hope adding on more and leaving the existing structure "as is" or "repaired" is not an option.
I would greatly prefer keeping the outside facade and completely renovating the interior/adding on. Part of what makes St. Marks special is the history. My mom entered the school through the same doors that my children now use. I have her class picture in front of the Underhill gym doors. I hopscothched in the 70's on that sidewalk. We played step school on those stairs.
Our school is gorgeous inside and out and I just would really like to see some of the original school maintained.
I think keeping a style that blends with and pays respects to the West Bluff Community is essential. As far as gutting costs versus new builds go much remains to be seen. Emotional attachments to buildings are a part of human nature and can't be avoided. Recent reflections on the demise of Spalding Gym highlight the reality. Honest assessment of long term needs and what is ultimately best for our children and grandchildren needs to be at the forefront of our thinking. Traditions and character are not contained in physical buildings but in the ongoing spirit of the St. Mark Community. With any plan be it rennovate or build new the kids still win!
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