Task Force set to begin “scenario phase”
Two key milestones reached as core assumptions
accepted and architectural firm selected
by Joe Bjordal
At its meeting on August 5, the Campus Master Plan Task Force celebrated the completion of two major milestones and prepared to begin the next phase of its work—creating and testing actual scenarios for envisioning Central’s campus in the years to come. Underscoring the importance of that particular meeting and the work of the Task Force in general, Pastor Rick Nelson “stepped out of sabbatical” to participate.
Core assumptions will guide process going forward
Over the past two months members of the Task Force, guided by consultant Sarah Strickland of Cincinnatus, Inc., have been assimilating the results of the “listening phase,” which included a major survey completed by twenty percent of Central’s members; individual and group conversations with members representing the various ministries and demographic groups at Central and “external voices” that included the presidents of Luther Seminary and Augsburg College, Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, and the vicar of Trinity Episcopal Church, on Wall Street, in New York. The result is a set of “core assumptions” that will now frame the Task Force’s creative imagination and discussions going forward.
“When an organization undertakes a significant project, it is critical to develop a set of core assumptions,” said Sarah. “They are the vehicle for establishing understanding and alignment between people about internal and external information, perspectives and opinion.”
“Core assumptions provide a reference point over time between phases of a project thus eliminating the need to go back to the starting gate for each phase,” she said.
Task Force Chair Bill Masche said the development of the core assumptions has simply been “hard work” and that their “value will be very important as we move to the next phase.”
He commended and thanked the members of the Task Force for their work in developing the core assumptions.
While some fine-tuning of the core assumptions will yet take place, Sarah said that the acceptance at the meeting “gives us a platform from which to move forward.”
Additional guidance will now come from the architectural firm
“Cincinnatus is a talented group of process facilitators, but as they were being selected, it was also understood that assistance would be needed by a design firm,” said Task Force member Ron Fiscus, who, along members Deborah Bauknight and Rebecca Sundquist, managed the process that resulted in the selection of such a design firm. “We agreed early on that we will need an architectural firm that could translate our words and directions into physical concepts and a graphic plan and could test our concepts against the constraints of the buildings and the site.”
“All this is needed to give life to our thoughts and to better explain the plan to the congregation and the community,” Ron said.
An “RFP” (request for proposal) yielded responses from 15 qualified architectural firms, from which four were chosen for interview. The interviews were conducted in mid-June.
“It was apparent that all the firms were very qualified to complete the work and were excited about the project,” said Ron. “References provided by the firms were contacted to obtain further insight into the architects’ work and style and their clients’ satisfaction. This insight provided the ability to make a final selection.”
Selected to assist in the scenario phase was Architectural Alliance, a mid-sized architectural firm with experience with churches, including Plymouth Congregational Church and Woodlake Lutheran Church. The firm was also involved in the development of the new Guthrie Theater and the new Minneapolis Central Library.
“Their ability to bring new, fresh perspectives to the task; their experience working with expansion of urban religious and institutional facilities; their master planning experience; and graphic style all played into their selection,” said Ron.
He explained that the scope of services to be provided by Architectural Alliance will include evaluating the implications of plan alternatives; testing assumptions and directions against the characteristics and limitations of the buildings and site; providing insight into the cost of various alternatives; and preparing graphic representations of scenarios for communication to the congregation.
Mr. Thomas DeAngelo, a principal of Architectural Alliance, participated in the August 5 meeting. Working through a conference telephone call and email, the Task Force had previously agreed on the selection of Architectural Alliance and the Congregation Council subsequently approved the selection and authorized the necessary contract.
The fee for the first phase of Architectural Alliance’s work with the Campus Master Plan Task Force will be $13,000. Funds to pay the fee are available within the original authorization of $50,000 for the work of the Task Force at a special congregation meeting on January 16, 2011.
Congregation Update set for September 18
The Campus Master Plan Task Force will present an important progress report to the congregation during a forum between worship services on Sunday, September 18. The forum will include the first public presentation of the core assumptions and the introduction of Architectural Alliance.
For generations to come
As the August 5th meeting drew to a close, Pastor Rick Nelson, back from “real time to think” on sabbatical put the work of the Task Force and the potential impact of a new campus master plan into an historical context. “This has to be for generations to come,” he said.
“This is a defining moment and we are going to do what we are able to do,” said Pastor Rick. “We could just do business as usual; fix a few things and leave it to the next generation. Or we could say there is a pulse rising here at Central and in this city—a positive, changing time; a movement building that people want to be a part of. Let’s create a vision that allows us to do more of what we do excellently as the hands and feet of Christ in this world.”
“If it takes some major work, let’s do it. Let’s not leave major questions to the next generations.”
Two key milestones reached as core assumptions
accepted and architectural firm selected
by Joe Bjordal
At its meeting on August 5, the Campus Master Plan Task Force celebrated the completion of two major milestones and prepared to begin the next phase of its work—creating and testing actual scenarios for envisioning Central’s campus in the years to come. Underscoring the importance of that particular meeting and the work of the Task Force in general, Pastor Rick Nelson “stepped out of sabbatical” to participate.
Core assumptions will guide process going forward
Over the past two months members of the Task Force, guided by consultant Sarah Strickland of Cincinnatus, Inc., have been assimilating the results of the “listening phase,” which included a major survey completed by twenty percent of Central’s members; individual and group conversations with members representing the various ministries and demographic groups at Central and “external voices” that included the presidents of Luther Seminary and Augsburg College, Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, and the vicar of Trinity Episcopal Church, on Wall Street, in New York. The result is a set of “core assumptions” that will now frame the Task Force’s creative imagination and discussions going forward.
“When an organization undertakes a significant project, it is critical to develop a set of core assumptions,” said Sarah. “They are the vehicle for establishing understanding and alignment between people about internal and external information, perspectives and opinion.”
“Core assumptions provide a reference point over time between phases of a project thus eliminating the need to go back to the starting gate for each phase,” she said.
Task Force Chair Bill Masche said the development of the core assumptions has simply been “hard work” and that their “value will be very important as we move to the next phase.”
He commended and thanked the members of the Task Force for their work in developing the core assumptions.
While some fine-tuning of the core assumptions will yet take place, Sarah said that the acceptance at the meeting “gives us a platform from which to move forward.”
Additional guidance will now come from the architectural firm
“Cincinnatus is a talented group of process facilitators, but as they were being selected, it was also understood that assistance would be needed by a design firm,” said Task Force member Ron Fiscus, who, along members Deborah Bauknight and Rebecca Sundquist, managed the process that resulted in the selection of such a design firm. “We agreed early on that we will need an architectural firm that could translate our words and directions into physical concepts and a graphic plan and could test our concepts against the constraints of the buildings and the site.”
“All this is needed to give life to our thoughts and to better explain the plan to the congregation and the community,” Ron said.
An “RFP” (request for proposal) yielded responses from 15 qualified architectural firms, from which four were chosen for interview. The interviews were conducted in mid-June.
“It was apparent that all the firms were very qualified to complete the work and were excited about the project,” said Ron. “References provided by the firms were contacted to obtain further insight into the architects’ work and style and their clients’ satisfaction. This insight provided the ability to make a final selection.”
Selected to assist in the scenario phase was Architectural Alliance, a mid-sized architectural firm with experience with churches, including Plymouth Congregational Church and Woodlake Lutheran Church. The firm was also involved in the development of the new Guthrie Theater and the new Minneapolis Central Library.
“Their ability to bring new, fresh perspectives to the task; their experience working with expansion of urban religious and institutional facilities; their master planning experience; and graphic style all played into their selection,” said Ron.
He explained that the scope of services to be provided by Architectural Alliance will include evaluating the implications of plan alternatives; testing assumptions and directions against the characteristics and limitations of the buildings and site; providing insight into the cost of various alternatives; and preparing graphic representations of scenarios for communication to the congregation.
Mr. Thomas DeAngelo, a principal of Architectural Alliance, participated in the August 5 meeting. Working through a conference telephone call and email, the Task Force had previously agreed on the selection of Architectural Alliance and the Congregation Council subsequently approved the selection and authorized the necessary contract.
The fee for the first phase of Architectural Alliance’s work with the Campus Master Plan Task Force will be $13,000. Funds to pay the fee are available within the original authorization of $50,000 for the work of the Task Force at a special congregation meeting on January 16, 2011.
Congregation Update set for September 18
The Campus Master Plan Task Force will present an important progress report to the congregation during a forum between worship services on Sunday, September 18. The forum will include the first public presentation of the core assumptions and the introduction of Architectural Alliance.
For generations to come
As the August 5th meeting drew to a close, Pastor Rick Nelson, back from “real time to think” on sabbatical put the work of the Task Force and the potential impact of a new campus master plan into an historical context. “This has to be for generations to come,” he said.
“This is a defining moment and we are going to do what we are able to do,” said Pastor Rick. “We could just do business as usual; fix a few things and leave it to the next generation. Or we could say there is a pulse rising here at Central and in this city—a positive, changing time; a movement building that people want to be a part of. Let’s create a vision that allows us to do more of what we do excellently as the hands and feet of Christ in this world.”
“If it takes some major work, let’s do it. Let’s not leave major questions to the next generations.”
Joe Bjordal is Communications Manager at Central Lutheran Church.
Sarah Strickland, Bill Masche and Ron Fiscus contributed to this story.
Sarah Strickland, Bill Masche and Ron Fiscus contributed to this story.
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