Time 2 Build

Kidz Church & Nursery Update 6th Feb

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:24:00 +0000

It's been a little while since we updated on our progess.

Our Kidz Church and Nursery refurb is now moving along at a pace. The walls are now all plastered. The first fix of the electricity is in. The radiators are being fixed. Cupboards are build, Doors are going on. The glazing is being replaced.

Next week the flooring contractors are coming in to prepare the floors. The decorators have been contracted.

It has taken a little longer to get the job done but we estimate by managing the project ourselves we will have saved in the region of £40,000.

Here is Nicola's latest update:

Kidz Church & Nursery Update 6th Feb from Billy Ritchie on Vimeo.

Latest update

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:04:00 +0000

Kidz Church update 12.12.08 from Billy Ritchie on Vimeo.

Roof on

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:43:00 +0000

On Monday the roofers started on our extension for Nursery & Kids Church. By Monday evening all the felt and batons were fixed and by Tuesday night 95% of the tiles were laid. Today they are getting on with the more awkward pieces but hopefully they should be finished today.

That meant the new extension should start drying out from all the downpours we have had over the last few weeks.

We are still on track for a completion in mid to late February.

Picture Update 14th November

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:18:00 +0000

New Reception Area

Entrance to new Little Stars Room

New extension for Champions League Children

New Little Stars Room

Quick update for the Children

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:17:00 +0000

At the end of last week we did a quick video update for the children in our Kidz Church about the refurbishment in the Nursery and Kidz Church area. I don't think they quite understand the refurbishment. Some of them were asking if the cleaning had finished!

Any way here it is sorry that the format has got messed up so the video is a little squashed.

Update for Kidz Church from Billy Ritchie on Vimeo.

Coming together

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:59:00 +0000

Progress is continuing on our Nursery & Kidz Church renovations and build. Here are some photos taken this morning.

The foundation slab for the extension, which will be home for our children in Champions League, has now been fully laid and the walls will start to rise next week.

We are extending the corridor around the top end of the nursery so hopefully a little more room as you drop off and pick up your children.

The new room for children in Tiny Stars (Age 2)

A new huge room for Little League children.

New reception area.

Kidz Church & Day Nursery Update

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:27:00 +0000

This video shows where we were a couple of weeks ago on our building programme. More soon!

Nursery & Kidz Church Update from Billy Ritchie on Vimeo.

2 week update

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:04:00 +0000

Here is a little update on our Time2Build project.

Nursery & Kidz Church Progress from Billy Ritchie on Vimeo.

A Time to Destroy

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:55:00 +0000

Our Time2Build building project has started with a little bit of distruction. All the fixtures and fittings, toilets, sinks, door frames etc etc is being ripped out. Next week various walls will start to dissapear.

Here are some pics:

Breaking Ground

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:34:00 +0000

At our services this past Sunday after Mark's message we all went out and broke ground on the first phase of our development. It was an incredible time of prayer and dedication. (Sorry some of the audio is not great quality)

Breaking Ground on our Refurbishment from Billy Ritchie on Vimeo.

MKCC Construction

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:10:00 +0000

Building work started on the refurbishment of our nursery and kidz church on Monday.

We received tender documents from 2 different contractors for the Nursery refurbishment. These were some what higher than expected the cheapest being @£225,000 + Vat. We looked at the documents in more detail to find savings.

However we decided to manage the job ourselves. We in effect have become the contractor for the job and have taken on legal responsibility for heath and safety and bringing in contractors to do different parts of the work.

We have put together a small team who will see this project through:

Steve Adkins - Project Leader
Dave Starr - Project Manager
David Hugman - Health and Safety expert.
Vic Brown - Site Manager

Vic built and managed all the current phases of MKCC buildings so has an excellent knowledge of the site and will manage the building process on the ground day to day and liaise with Steve.

It is felt that by doing the project this way we will substantially reduce the cost of the project by 20 - 25%.

Nursery Pictures

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:47:00 +0000

Foyer & Coffee Shop Area

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:58:00 +0000

Here are some artist impressions of our new Foyer and coffee shop area that will connect our new church hall with our existing buildings.

Portacabin Delivery

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:39:00 +0000

This last Sunday saw the delivery of a rather large portacabin on site. This will house part of our Day Nursery and Kidz Church during our refurb programme.

Porta Cabin Delivery from Billy Ritchie on Vimeo.

Internal Communications

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:10:00 +0000

Lots of things are changing at our centre. Below is a copy of an Email Ian sent out to all our staff across the site yesterday to help keep everyone up to date.

From: Ian Baird

To: All Staff

You'll all no doubt have noticed that work has commenced on preparations for the building works in the Nursery. Plans for the new nursery are in the foyer and Billy has also posted the plan on the T2B blog if you'd prefer to have a look from the comfort of your own desk.

Now that plans have been firmed up I thought you might like to know a little of what's going on for your personal information, and to help you communicate to others who enquire of you. I've provided you with a simple overview.

Nursery
The aim is for work to commence in early September. We'll shut the existing nursery building (except nursery kitchen, adjacent toilet & laundry) during the period of refurbishment. This is not going to be completed for at least five months. The plan is for our pre school children to be housed in temporary accommodation in the rear courtyard, Tweenies and toddlers in the majority of the rear main hall, and babies in the room at the rear of the main hall (utilised by crèche on Sunday mornings) and the guest lounge as a sleep room. The nursery office will relocate to what is currently my office ... I'll relocate upstairs for the next five months. Entrance into the nursery will be from the rear of the main hall and I'm installing a video door entry system for this purpose. The temporary accommodation (Portakabin) is being delivered this Saturday.

Bookshop
In terms of the physical space, the shop was originally going to form part of the nursery baby unit. However this is no longer required meaning we have been able to reclaim this area for various staff & church activities/functions during the week. Due to the fact that the existing guest lounge will form the nursery baby sleep room, activities in the shop area will be restricted during nursery hours i.e. no wild parties and the likes.

Reception
In terms of function, visitors to the Centre will now be directed to the pastoral offices where they will be able to ring (doorbell) for assistance during office hours (the bell can be deactivated out of hours). Judy, who will shortly be moving into the pastoral office to spend time with Sue over the next two weeks, will continue to control stationery going forward and will 'man' the phones in the short term - this may change in the future. Maureen has already communicated concerning her handling daily post.

Finance
Rachel will assume responsibility for receiving income from the various activities - similar to procedure that was operated in the shop i.e. you enter the amount and relevant details on your pay in book, Rachel signs to receive it, you sign to say you've handed it over, copy for Rachel, and you walk away with your payment book. Rachel will also be controlling petty cash for the entire Centre. Rachel will communicate further on these matters.

Ladies Toilets
During the week the nursery is going to utilise the ladies toilets resulting in them being inaccessible from the foyer. Ladies attending midweek daytime activities will temporarily have to utilise the disabled toilet (it is likely that, due to amount of ladies on site midweek in proportion to men, we'll consider ladies utilising the men's toilets ... I'll confirm this over the next few weeks).

Kidz Church, Kids Quest & Breakout
The nursery development obviously has knock on effects on other activities within the Centre. The biggest impact will be felt by Nicola and the children's ministry team. On Sunday mornings Kidz Church will now operate in the temporary accommodation I'm bringing into the rear courtyard and also the existing guest lounge and bookshop areas. Kidz Quest and Break out will utilise the existing bookshop area, foyer and front half of the main hall on Wednesdays. Finally, Frantic will not run on Fridays during this period (I believe Nicola may have some specials planned) but Ryan was planning to switch Faze 2 to Friday nights.

Nursery Plans

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:10:00 +0000

Things are moving on with phase 1 of our Time 2 Build project - the Nursery Refurbishment (Which has the knock on effect that our Kids Church facilities will be greatly enhanced) Last week our tender documents went out to prospective contractors and we are continuing with the preparatory works in the courtyard.

The detailed plans for the Nursery are posted in the church foyer however click on the picture above to download a PDF copy.

Knocking down the walls

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:28:00 +0000

Our long awaited building programme finally got underway today. Well at least the preparatory works did. We started knocking down some of the walls in the courtyard to make way for temporary buildings.

You can see Ian trying to get in on the act and look at more photos here.

Take a closer look at the action on the video below.

Nursery Refurb Preperation from Billy Ritchie on Vimeo.

Music to my ears

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:53:00 +0000

Following the official deed being sealed on our planning permission earlier in the week. The planning department of MK have sent out an e mail to all those who expressed an interest in our application.

So the following landed in my in box yesterday:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Application no: 08/00745/FUL

Proposal: EXTENSION TO EXISTING COMMUNITY CENTRE/CHURCH TO PROVIDE NEW 650 SEAT ASSEMBLY HALL FOR WORSHIP, FOYER AND ANCILLARY SPACE WITH INCREASED PARKING PROVISION (RESUBMISSION IN PART OF 07/01803/FUL)

At: Christian Centre Strudwick Drive Oldbrook Milton Keynes MK6 2TG

You recently wrote to me regarding the above application. The application, together with the representations made by you, has been considered by the Council and has been Permitted.

Yours faithfully,

For Chief Development Control Planner

Sweet music!

The Deed Sealed

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:24:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago the Development Control Committee for Milton Keynes Council granted planning permission. All done and dusted you would think!

As part of the planning permission the deed needed to be sealed by MK Council by the 23rd July - tomorrow. Plenty of time you would think but when it also has to be signed by various offices of English Partnership the documents have been doing the rounds.

Nottingham - MKCC - English Partnership MK - EP Solicitors Cambridge - EP London - Milton Keynes Council.

So this morning I spent a stressful hour trying to track down the documents to ensure tomorrows deadline was reached. The documents were couriered from EP London overnight and were in the internal post system in MK Council - somewhere.

So I had to wait until they were tracked down, and waiting is not something I am good at, I was ready to go and search in the post system myself. Anyway after an hour or so I received this email from MK Council Legal department.

I can confirm that the agreement is in my possession and will be sealed by the Council this afternoon.

Thank you to everyone for their assistance.

Kind Regards

Great News - Now I need to go and lie down for a while!

Last few questions

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:15:00 +0000

We are desperately working towards getting the final scope of works out to our prospective nursery refurb contractors for the end of this week.

Spent a few minutes this afternoon answering some final questions on the M&E requirements.

For those interested they were:

1. Outside lighting requirements.
2. Point of entry (doors and window) alarm.
3. Controlled access at main door for security.
4. Encased pipework ensuring safety for children.

Sure there will be a few more before the end of the week.

Bye Bye

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:37:00 +0000

Ian has been pushing ahead with all the preparatory work for the Nursery refurb to start in September.

The bookshop will close early in august. There is a sale on all stock at the moment so pick up a bargain.
Alterations will be made to the bookshop to join it up with the current guest lounge so it can be used for the Nursery on relocation.
Also in early August some walls and the brick Wendy houses in the courtyard will be demolished.
Pad stone foundations will be laid for the temporary buildings in the courtyard which is being delivered on August 16th.

Porta Cabins

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:08:00 +0000

To help house the nursery during the refurb we are bringing in some temporary buildings.

Today Ian placed an order for a large portacabin to be brought in and placed in the courtyard. It is due to arrive on Saturday 16th August and will be lifted over the current building and dropped in the courtyard by a huge crane.

It will probably be there throughout all our building process including the new auditorium. Initially it will be used for Day Nursery and Kids Church and then for Youth until building has completed.

Pen to paper

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:03:00 +0000

Today we received the Section 106 Agreement from our solicitor in relation to the planning permission for our new facility.

It details the various conditions that we have to adhere to in the process of construction. It includes items like sustainability, materials, sound restrictions, traffic etc etc.

Mark has now signed the document and it has gone to do the rounds at English Partnership before going back to our solicitors for final approval. All this needs to be done by the 23rd July.

Choices

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:40:00 +0000

Today Steve and Dave met with 4 prospective contractors for our nursery refurb. They have now narrowed it down to 3.

Over the next week or so Dave will be putting together a package of documents that will enable them to tender for the project. We should have their replies back towards the end of July enabling us to appoint the successful company in August and they should be on site early September.

That means that things will start to happen around the centre in the next couple of weeks:

Temporary buildings are to be ordered to house some of the Nursery children during the refurb.
The bookshop will be closed and connected to what is presently the guest lounge to house more of the nursery.
Various walls will be demolished in the courtyard to prepare for the temporary buildings.

Tomorrow we will have a meeting with various leaders of ministry activities which will be affected by the reorganisations. We will be trying to find ways of accommodating and continuing all our activities during this period, although this will prove very difficult.

Contractors

billyritchie@mac.com (Billy Ritchie) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:42:00 +0000

On Monday Steve Adkins and Dave Starr, our project manager, are spending the day meeting and interviewing prospective contractors for the first phase of our development.

They will present each contractor with the plans and scope of works for the nursery refurbishment. This will enable the contractors to tender for the work after assessing what is required.

We hope to appoint a contractor for this initial phase of development soon so that they could start on site in September.