Since January 2025, Hiti, DiFrancesco and Siebold, Inc. (HD+S), in close collaboration with  UUCC’s Future Facilities Task Force, has been hard at work developing alternative  recommendations for the congregation. With vision and enthusiasm, we’ve embarked on a  comprehensive facility assessment and feasibility study, and we’re thrilled to share all  that’s been accomplished so far! 

Here’s a look at the milestones we’ve reached: 

• Bi-Weekly Strategy Sessions: HD+S and the Future Facilities Task Force meet regularly every other week, engaging in lively and thoughtful discussions to guide the  direction of the project. 

• Vision & Values: Together, we’ve established the core principles and goals that  drive this transformative journey, ensuring that the future plan recommendations reflect the spirit and aspirations of the UUCC community. 

• Existing Conditions Drawings: HD+S produced updated drawings of the property,  floor plans, and exterior elevations, providing a clear picture of the current campus  and building layout. 

• Deep Dive into the Past: A thorough review of existing records and reports, along  with interviews with long-term staff and congregation members helped HD+S  understand the history and systems of the building. 

• Listening & Learning: Insightful interviews with UUCC staff, leadership and key  stakeholders, are helping shape a clear picture of the evolving space needs. 

• On-Site Assessment: The building, inside and out, has been carefully evaluated,  including a review of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and life safety systems. 

• Worship Experience: HD+S attended a Sunday Service in February, connecting  firsthand with the spirit of UUCC and launching an inclusive community stakeholder  engagement process. 

• Congregation Voices Heard: A custom-designed survey gathered input from 51  members. These responses were compiled and are now informing the shared vision  for the future. 

• Focus Group Conversations: More than ten dedicated sessions brought together a  wide range of voices, ensuring that as many perspectives as possible are reflected  in the planning.

• Envisioning the Possibilities: A prioritized list of space utilization needs is being crafted, leading to the creation of conceptual plan alternatives to improve and  transform the existing building. 

• Exploring a New Future: Parallel to improving the existing building, HD+S is also  developing preliminary plans for a potential replacement building on the Shaker  Heights property, including conceptual room layouts, site plans, and massing  studies. 

What’s Next? Over the coming weeks, HD+S will finalize the conceptual designs for both renovation and  replacement options. A comprehensive report will also outline a menu of recommended  improvements, complete with magnitude of scale cost estimates that the congregation can  consider and prioritize over time. This summer, there will be multiple opportunities for  congregation members to engage with the recommendations, ask questions, and share  feedback. The goal is to come together as a congregation and make informed decisions  regarding the future facilities at the Ingathering in early September 2025.

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