PREPARE HIM ROOM! CAMPAIGN
A project that includes a new chapel and a new home away from home at the All Saints Catholic Newman Center.
Updated: July 20, 2007
What are the revised plans for the Prepare Him Room project?
Our original plans included building a new chapel, auditorium and adoration chapel adjacent to the North wing of our existing L-shaped building. The revised plans would include tearing down this building constructed in 1962, and building the new chapel and adoration chapel as originally planned, but with an additional 25,000 square feet of new space which will include a social hall, a catering kitchen, a campus ministry center, expanded staff offices, and multiple classrooms located where the North wing of the existing building is. Above the new Newman Center facility will be a new Catholic residence hall that will accommodate approximately 500 ASU students.
How will the proposed project fit on the site and what will it look like next to the Old Church?
The Newman Center Construction Advisory Team has been looking for solutions to these questions, and is open to suggestions. Although we have considered trying to acquire more property, the reality is that the Newman Center is land locked, and may not have the opportunity to purchase additional land. Like most of downtown Tempe, land is at a premium and development is going vertical. Therefore, careful consideration is being given to:
· preserving the historic Old Church
· preserving the open courtyard
· retaining as much of the original design of the main chapel and adoration chapel as possible and
· providing a harmonious transition from old to new uses.
The general shape of the new building will fit roughly within the footprint of the existing 1962 L-shaped building and parking areas. The general massing is intended to retain the Old Church, new adoration chapel and new main chapel as the focal point for the campus. The height of the building will be dictated by the amount of room required to house 400-500 students. The exact height of the building is not yet known
What are the costs of those new plans and who is paying for it?
The lendor for the project is a for-profit organization called Domus Communities in Faith. Domus was created to enhance and advance Catholic ministry on campus. Their mission is to assist Catholic campus ministry centers in creating Catholic living communities at public universities through Catholic Residence Halls. We estimate that the cost of the new construction will be between $40 - $50 million.
The Newman Center will fund the new chapel and adoration chapel as originally intended with designated funds raised through the Prepare Him Room! Campaign. We will work with Domus and other investors to secure financing for the costs of the additional construction. The plans and the related costs are in the process of being determined.
Who will manage the residence hall?
The Newman Center will partner with a third party property management firm to manage the facility. The residence hall staff will be managed by emplyees of the Newman Center. The Newman Center staff will also continue to manage the church, office and campus ministry space. The Newman Center will have direct involvement in writing the code of conduct (setting parameters for the contractual obligations) of the student residents to ensure that the environment and community of people living in the residence hall reflects Catholic Christian values. The residence hall will also have residence assistants on each floor who will work directly with the Newman Center campus ministry staff.
What is now happening with the project?
Currently the developer, the Newman Center and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix are in the process of drafting contractural agreements with financial partners and working with the architect to complete construction documents to submit to the City of Tempe.
What happens if the City does not approve the plans?
If this project is not approved, we will return to the original plan, focusing solely on our enhanced and expanded worship and community space.
What happens if the financial partner fails to perform during construction?
Projects of this size require specific legal and financial documentation outlining liabilities for different circumstances, including failure to perform, or unseen delays in construction. The Construction Advisory Team is working with legal counsel and the Diocese of Phoenix to assure that the assets of the community and the resources of the Diocese are protected throughout the entire project, including past completion, during operation. If you have particular interest or expertise in this area and would like to assist with this effort, please let us know; these documents are being drafted in the next 60 days.
Will the money I donated still be used? If so, how?
All donations to the Prepare Him Room! Campaign will be used for the construction of our new worship space and campus ministry space as originally intended. Campaign funds will be paid out according to construction completion of the chapel.
Who is in charge of decision-making and managing the project?
There are a number of people and stakeholders involved in decision-making regarding the scope and viability of the project. They include Fr. Fred Lucci, OP, Director of the Newman Center, who has engaged a Construction Advisory Team comprised of representative members of the Newman Center community, Diocesan Pastoral Center staff and ASU professional staff who have provided consultation and support in this effort. After approval by the Diocesan Building and Planning Committee and the Diocesan Finance Committee, the Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, will make the final decision.
When will construction begin and when is it expected to be completed?
It is anticipated that construction could start as early as January, 2009 and the entire facility, worship space, Newman Center and residence hall would be completed and receive certificate of occupancy by January, 2011.
When will we be moved from the current worship space? For how long?
We anticipate that we will move from the current worship space just before the beginning of demolition of the current worship space and office building. The length of time we are off site will be determined in the construction contract. If the project is developed in phases, for example building the worship space first, that time could potentially be as brief as one year. It could be as long as two years.
The Newman Center will continue to provide excellent outreach and service to our worshipping community as well as the ASU community during this time. Our programs, such as religious education, RCIA and marriage preparation, to name a few, will continue uninterrupted.
Where will Masses be held in the meantime?
It is our expectation that the Masses currently held in the Old Church would continue during construction. Our Mass times and locations for the Sunday morning and evening Mass will be more fully determined when we have a detailed construction schedule from the developer regarding length of project, when we can anticipate occupancy and so forth.
Until construction begins, will repairs be made to the current Newman Center, i.e. will the metal door be fixed; will the sound system in the cry room be repaired?
As always the Newman Center strives to be a good steward of its resources. Decisions for repairs currently are being made on the basis of most pressings needs. Some repairs have been deferred in anticipation of the demolition of buildings. Among other needed repairs, we are aware of the need for repairs of the metal door and sound system, and we anticipate making decisions regarding those repairs once we have more information regarding the new construction.
Can only Catholics live in the new residence halls?
While we expect that the majority of residents in the residence hall will be Catholic, the Newman Center will strive to be an open and inclusive community, which includes Catholics and those who are interested in and willing to live by a Catholic code of conduct.
How will it impact businesses in the area?
As most of us realize, the transformation of Tempe is already underway. As far as we know, no businesses will be adversely impacted by our construction. In fact, we believe that business owners will benefit from the infusion of new students who will also be consumers and good neighbors.
How will it impact parking?
Through our partnership with ASU, students will be eligible for parking in ASU lots with the same rights and privileges as other ASU students. Weekend Mass participants will continue to be allowed to park in the ASU Foundation Fulton Center parking facility across the street during Sunday Mass times. Parking will be provided for Newman Center employees and daily visitors.
What will happen to the Old Church?
The Old Church will remain intact, and visible to the community, as the jewel of the Newman Center campus.
What is our role as community members or benefactors of the Newman Center? You may have a talent that you could share with us to further this project. The sharing of our members’ time, talent and treasure has been the foundation of 75 years of outstanding campus ministry at the Newman Center. We expect a number of working committees to be formed over the next few months in response to this project and we’ll rely on the individual gifts of our members more than ever as we move forward.
What if I have further questions?
Your insights and comments are extremely important to us as we do our best to stay true to our mission. There are a few ways to receive more information.
-We hope that many of your questions may be answered through this project website, which will be kept current with the latest news and progress of this project.
- It is very helpful to have your feedback or questions in writing so they can be shared with our advisory team. Please forward your thoughts to us via email at: yourthoughts@preparehimroom.org.
-If you would like to speak with us in person please contact Mary Macuga at the Newman Center at 480-967-7823
-Be assured that your thoughts are greatly appreciated as we consider what choices are best for the mission of the Newman Center.
