Contact: Steve Crozier
214-704-3209
steve@crozier.com
First Unitarian Church of Dallas
4015 Normandy Ave, Dallas, TX 75205

 

First Unitarian Church of Dallas Unveils New Facilities Plan

Dallas, Texas (May 8, 2007) -- The First Unitarian Church of Dallas unveiled its new facilities plan on May 6 to church members and residents in the area. The facilities plan includes new construction, renovation of existing facilities, and repurposing activities designed to help the church maximize the use of its existing land to meet projected space needs over the next 10 years. The plan, which is contingent upon approval by the City of University Park and upon the successful completion of a capital campaign to raise funds for the project, is part of a broader long-range strategic plan called Chart and Compass 2010.

Members of the church leadership team and the Chart and Compass 2010 Facilities Committee have worked with the architectural firm, ArchiTexas, to create a design that will meet the needs of the church while being sensitive to the impact on the surrounding community. As part of this effort, the campaign’s Neighborhood Relations Committee is working with local residents and city officials to address their concerns through a variety of face-to-face forums.

“We are excited about the plans ArchiTexas has developed,” said Dr. Laurel Hallman, senior minister at the church. “We look forward to building a new physical plant at the location that has been our church home for more than 60 years. The new buildings will support the activities of our church community and help us fulfill our mission in the local, national, and global communities.”

The facilities plan includes a new fellowship hall, additional administrative offices, and expanded Sunday School classrooms at the church’s campus in University Park, where it has been located since 1944. Plans to almost double the parking on the site will reduce congestion along neighboring streets during the two Sunday morning church services. A new passenger drop-off lane will help facilitate traffic flow along Preston Road while creating better access for elderly, disabled, and special-needs members and visitors. In addition, the architectural plans call for the use of “green-friendly” materials, building techniques, and landscaping that are consistent with the mission of the church and will minimize the impact on the local environment, residents, and municipal infrastructure.

About First Unitarian Church of Dallas
Founded in 1899, the First Unitarian Church of Dallas is a liberal religious community in which individuals seek spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of life through worship, education, service, and fellowship. The church’s more than 1,000 members work with over 25 partner organizations to improve the quality of life for all the citizens of Dallas and promote equality and justice throughout the nation and around the world.

About ARCHITEXAS
ARCHITEXAS is a design-oriented firm whose mission is to serve its clients and community by creating and conserving architecture and environments that are meaningful, lasting, and well crafted. Since its founding in 1978, ARCHITEXAS has grown to be Texas’ largest preservation-based architecture firm. With offices in Dallas and Austin, the firm performs a wide range of planning and architectural services in the area of historic preservation, restoration, reconstruction, rehabilitation and new construction. ARCHITEXAS’ clients include municipalities, county, state and federal governments, non-profit, institutional and private development organizations, and individuals.