From Tamar Lively, UUC's Executive for Finance and Operations

Dear Beloved Community,

I'm writing to update you on an important piece of our building; the decorative wood-framed glass screen on the west face of the sanctuary. Many of you know it as one of the most visible and beloved architectural details of our chapel, and I want to make sure you hear directly from me, and hear the full picture, about what's ahead for it.

A bit of history

The screen has needed attention before. Water damage led to a full disassembly and reconstruction in the 1990s, and it was repaired again in 2009 at a cost of about $56,000. When our Capital Reserve Study was completed in 2024, it noted that the screen was stable overall but that several sections of the wood frame were showing wear, and it set aside a placeholder budget of $85,000 for the next round of repairs, with the caveat that the real scope and cost wouldn't be known until we had actual bids in hand.

Where things stand now

Recent inspection has shown that the wood framing has deteriorated further than we'd hoped, to the point that we need to move on two fronts:

1. Temporary emergency shoring, to make sure the screen remains safe and stable in the near term, and
   
2. A complete rebuild of the screen, similar in scope to the 1990s reconstruction.
   

This is a bigger undertaking than the 2024 estimate anticipated, and I want to be upfront with you about that rather than let you be surprised by it later.

What we're doing about it

We've already engaged SKHS Architects to assess the screen and prepare bids for both the emergency shoring and the full rebuild. Once we have those bids in hand, we'll know the real scope, cost, and timeline—including whether standard permitting or an expedited emergency permit process will apply—which will affect how quickly work can begin. We are looking at materials options that will also extend the life of the screen, rather than a one to one replacement of the existing materials that need to be replaced every few years.

On funding: the congregation has approximately $500,000 set aside in our capital reserve investment account for projects like this. Because that account is invested and its value moves with the market, I don't want to quote you an exact figure today, but I can tell you that we planned ahead for exactly this kind of need, and we are not starting this project from zero. We have other capital projects coming up as well, but this project must take precedence. 

What to expect

Once shoring begins, you'll likely see some visible changes to the entrance including scaffolding, barriers, or temporary supports, and there may be some disruption to how we use that space over the coming months. I don't yet have an exact timeline to give you, since it depends on the bids and the permitting path, but I'll share firm dates as soon as we have them.

I'll keep you updated (on our News page and in future issues of the Gateway enewsletter) as this project develops: when we receive bids, when shoring begins, and when we have a clear schedule for the full rebuild. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly with any questions.

Thank you for your patience and your continued care for this special building.

Warmly,

Tamar Lively

Executive – Finance and Operations