1. Background

2. Design

3. Cost

4. Fundraising

This presentation will give you more information on four aspects of the project:

Based in the heart of Edinburgh, we make use of our central location, meeting spaces, hall and resources in many different ways:

PLACE OF WORSHIP – there are around 500 members of St John’s and services are held throughout the week

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

SOCIAL ENTERPRI

SE – St John’s is

home to a number of charitable enterprise

s

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Our community hall is unwelcoming and outdated.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 •  

The New Development

Disabled ramp

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

Gates lockable at night

Main entrance to church unchanged

Entrance to hall

LOTHIAN ROAD

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.

If you walk along the west terrace then

you come to a door that currently looks

like thisWEST TERRACE

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.

New Hall-Level Layout (i)

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...

WEST TERRAC

E

New Hall-Level Layout (ii)

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

New Hall-Level Layout (iii)

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

DORMITORY GARDEN

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.

Office Mezzanine

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

Lower Terrace Layout

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

Hall

Office mezzanine

Cafe

Access to

lifts, stairs, toilets

Retail spaces

Meeting rooms, etc

Retail / cafe

overspill

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.

We are now fundraising for the final phase of our development.

The full cost of Developing St. John’s:

• Heating system replacement- £240,169

• Phase two, main development- £2.5m

• Construction related costs- £602,500

• Other costs including admin- £181,900

= £3.5million

•We aim to start building in Sep’ 2015 The work should take 18 months.

•We are thrilled to have raised £2m towards the £3.5m needed.

We now need your help to raise the remaining funding.

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

Thank You