Memorial Episcopal Church

Overview:

A.R. Marani was selected through a fee proposal and interview process for the Memorial Episcopal Church. The project processed on a GMP contract basis.

The primary objective of the Memorial Episcopal Church project was to install a four-stop, Kone machine room-less elevator to facilitate handicap access into the 100-year-old Church and between the Sanctuary and two Parish Social Halls. The elevator had front and back doors and, depending on the floor, this allowed access to either building. The construction involved the removal of an interior, 100-year-old spiral staircase that was a connecting link between the Sanctuary and Parish Halls. Space was extremely limited and the 10’ wide x 10’ long x 12’ deep elevator pit had to be hand dug. During the excavation process, it was necessary to underpin the three-foot-thick granite stone walls around the entire perimeter of the pit opening that supported the Sanctuary and Parish Halls. Because there was no way to introduce any type of shoring, the underpinning was hand dug in 4’ wide x 3’ thick x 3’ high staggered lifts. Elevator door openings had to be cut through the same granite walls at each elevator stop on the floors above.

The project also involved ADA modifications inside the Sanctuary that included a handicap ramp and steps leading to the Altar; two custom designed and fabricated solid Cherry altar screens; a new staircase inside the connecting link between the Sanctuary and Parish Halls; renovations to the kitchen and Upper Parish Hall to provide a new handicap bathroom, additional storage and kitchen upgrades. The electrical upgrades included the introduction of a new 3-phase service to serve the new elevator and provide for future HVAC upgrades.