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Church News
Click here to view USG's 2010 Annual Report
Master Plan Report
February 2010
Preparation for the Master Plan was begun by securing input from the congregation as a whole, and from councils and committees regarding the growth of the congregation and the resulting growth in facility requirements through a series of meetings and solicitation of ideas through two separate questionnaires. This input was used to develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) from architects for development of a facilities 20-year Master Plan. Brawer and Hauptman Architects were the UNANIMOUS choice of the USG leadership to be our Master Plan architect. We were all impressed by their credentials, experience and the quality and cost-effectiveness of their completed projects. And the references from their previous clients that we checked were UNANIMOUSLY enthusiastic in their praise for the work that Brawer & Hauptman Architects had performed.
Our architects from Brawer & Hauptman Architects, Mike Hauptman and Ellen Pannell, conducted interviews with Councils and committees, with Rev, Kent and with Jude, met with dozens of congregation members and thoroughly surveyed our existing drawings and our buildings. They have determined that we have several immediate needs and exciting opportunities as USG grows over the next five, ten and 20 years. Some of the major immediate issues they identified were:
• Improved entrance to the building from the parking lot.
• Improved flow and movement through the building.
• Greater flexibility and improved lighting in the sanctuary.
• Bathroom on the upper level.
• Improved handicapped access.
• Sufficient RE spaces that are functional, safe, clean and well lighted.
Mike and Ellen took the approach that we have a lot of space in the existing facility and that most of our immediate needs can be met within the existing facility so that capital outlay, at this point, can be minimized.
The architects developed some preliminary concepts and presented them in a charette, which is a collaborative meeting facilitated by the architects in which ideas are discussed, options considered and a direction chosen. Forty-four members of the congregation participated in the charette. The end result of all of this input is the USG Master Plan which was adopted by the congregation on December 13, 2009 and is presented here on our website.
Overview of Master Plan (movie format, viewed online, viewer cannot control speed)
PowerPoint of Master Plan that can be downloaded and viewed with PowerPoint software
Print version:
©2008 The Unitarian Society of Germantown
6511 Lincoln Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19119-3625
Phone: (215)-844-1157
The Unitarian Society of Germantown, a Unitarian Universalist congregation, serves the communities of Abington (zip code 19001), Ambler (zip code 19002), Elkins Park (zip code 19027), Glenside (zip code 19038), Jenkintown (zip code 19046), Merion Station (zip code 19066), Narberth (zip code 19072), Oreland (zip code 19075), Havertown (zip code 19083), Wyncote (zip code 19095), Wynnewood (zip code 19096), Philadelphia Chestnut Hill (zip code 19118), Wyndmoor (zip code 19118), Philadelphia Mt. Airy (zip code 19119), Philadelphia Roxborough (zip code 19128), Philadelphia East Falls (zip code 19129), Philadelphia Spring Garden (zip code 19130), Philadelphia Fairmount (zip code 19130), Philadelphia Wynnefield (zip code 19131), Philadelphia Germantown (zip code 19144), Blue Bell (zip code 19422), Gwyned (zip code 19436, Lansdale (zip code 19446), Bala Cynwyd (zip code 19004), Lafayette Hill (zip code 19444), Melrose Park (zip code 19027), Roslyn (zip code 19001), Rydan (zip code 19046), Laverock (zip code 19038), Plymouth Meeting (zip code 19462) , Flourtown (zip code 19031), Erdenheim, Cheltenham (zip code 19012), and Ft. Washington (zip code 19034). Visitors from any other location are equally welcome.