Last updated on November 4th, 2023
Renovation Project Photo Gallery – Click to open
The Project Manager has changed. As of Oct 10, 2023, Kai Herrmann project@martinluther.ca. is replacing Sonia Schweiger who is temporarily living in Germany for 1.5 years. We thank Sonja Schweiger for her work on this project over the past few years.
Renovation Project Update September 29, 2023 The start up meeting for the construction phase of the building project took place on Monday September 25, 2023 with our president Mona Frantzke, co-vice president Jocelyn Sommerfeld, treasurer Kai Herrmann, Pastor Annika Klappert, our contact at Larkin Architect (https://www.larkinarchitect.com/), project manager from our church, Sonja Schweiger, as well as from the construction company DASD Contracting, building committee member and maintenance leader Dan Sommerfeld, and the Martin Luther Child Care executive director Cathy O’Toole. The purpose of this meeting was to present the scope and schedule of the work for the next months. Hoarding outside in the backyard for the accessibility ramp will begin on Monday October 2, 2023. We will keep you updated about the process. We expect one Sunday service in mid-October to be off site or cancelled due to a three day asbestos removal (abatement). We will confirm the date as soon as possible.
Renovation Project Update August 30, 2023
Last November 2022, a Town Hall meeting was held to vote on the scope of the church renovation, and it was confirmed that a new Child Care program room in the basement and improvements to the foyer
would be made. The aim of the project was to aid the church mission to serve the community, increase our rental income and opportuninities for partnerships, as well as create more flexible meeting
space for church programs during the week. After almost a year of further design and engineering investigations, a final drawing set was issued to three contractors for bids.
Although the bids were higher than anticipated, some miracle funding sourced from the City of Toronto by the Martin Luther Child Care made it possible to fund the project without requiring additional donations from the congregation. With careful consideration of the future of the church and current finances, the Church Council voted on the recommendation of the Building Project Committee to move forward with construction. On August 23 a letter of intent was sent to the contractor; work will commence before October 1, 2023 and is intended to continue into the spring. Thank you to the hardworking Building Project Committee for their effort and expertise and to the Council for their analysis and leadership in getting this long-awaited project to the construction phase. We pray for smooth sailing through this next chapter and have faith that the renovation will help our church to carry out its mission now and into the future! More information will be shared when scheduling details become available.
-Sonja Schweiger, Project Manager, Nov 2019 to Oct 9, 2023
-Kai Herrmann, Project Manager, Oct 9, 2023–
Renovation Project Update April 1, 1023 – On the Agenda at our AGM on February 26, 2023 was an update from the Building Project Committee which everyone was eager to see. Click here to view the presentation slides: [PDF]
Presented by Dan sommerfeld in place of Sonja Schweiger.
1. Progress since AGM on May 15, 2022
– Geotechnical investigation has been completed
– Hazardous materials investigation has been completed
– Daycare program drawings completed and submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Education
– New foyer scope design underway
– Permit drawings underway
2. Updated Timeline
Coordination Continuation – COMPLETION BY END OF FEBRUARY 2023
– AGM Presentation on February 26, 2023
– Congregation input on foyer design by March 2, 2023
– Committee to finalize scope of work in foyer and office vestibule
Ontario Ministry of Education Approval – SUBMITTED
After Ontario Ministry of Education Approval:
Permit Submission – APPLICATION AIMED FOR END OF MARCH 2023
Tender – AIMED FOR MID-APRIL 2023
Construction phasing plan – END OF APRIL/MAY 2023
Construction start – BEGINNING OF JUNE 2023
3. Design Input
Revised front entrance proposal
– A new proposal to make the side exit into a fire exit would save between $50-60,000 on the back exterior exit stair
– An updated foyer design was introduced, including storage units, new heating/cooling units, and a kitchenette
PROS
• Save 50,000
• Get rid of door mid-stair
• More display space
CONS
• Less doors
• Change to symmetry
– Aspects of the foyer deemed important by church groups and event planners include tables and chairs, a kitchenette, information displays, and storage areas
General
• Clean and tidy
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Permanent seating
• Coat storage
• Plaque display
• Information display
Groups and circles
• Tables and chairs
• Materials storage for activities
• Available washroom
• Kitchenette and materials for food, snacks, coffee and tea
• Information display
Mission (bowls and blessings)
• Kitchenette for food storage and easier soup service
• Storage for food and clothing donation items
• Table, chair, and tent storage
• Information display to outside
Worship and events
• Kitchenette for coffee hour
• Flexible seating
• Extension to the outside
• Available washroom
• Table and chair for sign in/distribution/sales etc.
Partners and renters
• Tables and chairs
• Available washroom
• Available kitchenette
Infrastructure
• Preserve existing elements (ex. Fire alarm)
• Proper heating and cooling
• Sign, shovel, gardening storage
– Foyer discussion topics included: What is most important to you? What do we need to store and display? What elements need to be permanent, or flexible? What appliances are needed in the kitchenette? ***The Building Committee will also consider existing conditions, budget and balancing needs
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Was the renovation of the sanctuary itself postponed to next year?
No, this is deferred indefinitely. Due to the inflation of labour and materials costs, as well as the results of our engineering investigations increasing the cost of the project, the sanctuary proposal is no longer in the budget. We are not fundraising actively due to the general state of our church finances, so the 700,000 we have are being used to complete the daycare room and foyer renovations.
Could you remind me why it is not possible to install an accessible washroom in the foyer?
There is no space for an accessible washroom and the appropriate plumbing in the foyer. We did look into adding a non-accessible single stall washroom as well, but this is no longer possible with our budget.
The existing washroom downstairs is not really accessible, e.g. the door can’t be opened by someone in a wheelchair by pushing a button.
This is true. We can look into installing the proper door.
If the new coat rack is put across from the elevator exit as it looks in the drawings, would that not be in the way when people exit the elevator?
Our updated foyer drawings has moved coat storage into the sanctuary.
Would we still be able to use the kitchen downstairs or do we need to move everything in the upstairs kitchen?
The kitchen downstairs is fine to use unless the daycare is in operation. The upstairs kitchenette is supplementary.
Will the windows in the nursery towards the sanctuary be kept?
In the new plan these windows will be filled with storage. This will also be better for sound isolation between the two spaces. Since there is no more nursery here there is no need for people to watch the service from outside the sanctuary.
With regards to the fire exits, my main concern is what if the way to the new fire exit in the front is blocked due to a fire?
Would we have enough time to evacuate the sanctuary/daycare through one back exit only?
As per code, this exiting strategy is considered safe, and I defer to the code and the architects on this decision.
