Transcript Slide 1

1. Background
2. Design
3. Cost
4. Fundraising
PLACE OF WORSHIP – there
are around 500 members of St
John’s and services are held
throughout the week
SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE –
St John’s is
home to a
number of
charitable
enterprises
COMMUNITY
MEETINGS –
there are many
groups who use
St John’s as a
meeting place
SOCIAL JUSTICE – through its
murals, organisations and
events, St John’s is a place of
social justice in the heart of the
city
The main worship space at St John’s
is a wonderful part of the site
However, many other parts
of our historic building are
not fit for purpose. Much of
our activity is centred in
the least hospitable spaces.
The rooms used by
charities, support
organisations and
children’s groups, as
well as our offices, are
in the basement. They
are reached by steep
steps and a narrow
corridor. The rooms
have no natural light
and no disabled access.
Our community hall
is unwelcoming and
outdated. There is a
real need for more
space.
Access to St. John’s and throughout the campus is
poor. It is especially prohibitive to anyone with a
disability or mobility issues.
Our toilet
provision is
woefully
inadequate. This
is especially
apparent during
the festival and
many events held
here each year.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to continue with what we
have and there is little room to meet new challenges.
“I was rather disconcerted by the corridor along to our room. It was
long, dark and felt very claustrophobic.”
Crisis Skylight
“Our group has been meeting at St. John’s for more than ten years.
We like the venue, which appears to have a healing and calming
effect on people. However the many stairs down make it
increasingly difficult for elderly or disabled members.”
AlAnon
“The church hall is rather bleak and cold, which is a pity because
the church is so beautifully located.”
Faith in Older People
•
Together with LDN Architects, we have produced our vision for the future of St. John’s.
We have full planning permission and consent for this development. By making urgent
improvements and upgrades it will provide a fresh centre for activity in Edinburgh; one
which fully embodies our values of inclusivity, creativity and welcome for all.
Main entrance to
church unchanged
Disabled ramp
Entrance to hall
Gates lockable at night
There will now be a new entrance from Lothian Road onto the
west terrace, making St John’s a much more welcoming part of
the city-centre
If you walk along the west
terrace then you come to
a door that currently
looks like this
The door will be changed to look like this.
It will create a more welcoming entrance
into St John’s, leading to a central ‘hub’ for
all our activity.
WEST
TERRACE
Inside the new entrance (on the left hand side of this plan) there
will now be a reception space with a new lift (providing wheelchair
access to all levels), stairs and an easy access toilet...
In part of the space currently occupied by the existing hall
there will now be one large meeting room (which can be split
into two). This meeting space can be used by community
groups during the week and by the Sunday School on a Sunday
DORMITORY GARDEN
The new hall will be created using part of the existing hall as well as a new
south-facing extension. This hall, with views towards Princes Street
Gardens and Edinburgh Castle, will have direct access to the Dormitory
garden as well as small kitchen linked with the larger cafe kitchen below
This is a plan of the new office mezzanine that will be built
above the existing hall. It will have a mixture of open-plan and
single person offices.
This plan shows the re-developed lower terrace with two retail
units towards the left, new toilet facilities in the middle, then
the lift and stairs and the cafe towards the right
The development focuses on:
• Accessibility: improving our layout
• Flexibility: new, multi-use spaces
• Comfort: upgrading facilities
• Capacity: much needed space
• Environment: minimising impact
• Financial Sustainability: helping
us remain relevant and viable
.
This view, from the direction of Edinburgh Castle, shows how
the different parts of re-developed building link together
One of the most eye-catching aspects of a re-developed St. John’s will be the
new extension constructed in a south-facing, ground-level area. The new space
will be light, spacious and flexible enough to accommodate different groups at
the same time. It will enable everyone to make best use of one of the most
attractive areas of our site all year round.
In 2012-13 work began
on phase one of our
development; the
replacement of our
existing heating system.
This was essential due to
the ineffective and
uneconomical system
which was in place.
This work is now complete and the updated system is
already making a huge difference.
There are many ways to support us:
• Make a one off gift
• Make a regular donation
• Ask your company to support us
• Organise an event or activity
• Sponsor one of our existing events
• Volunteer at one of our events