The Friends Meeting of Washington undertook over 10 years of discernment, discussion, and planning for a major renovation of our space. Through this process, Friends envisioned a renovation of our Meeting that meets three important goals:

• Accessibility: We installed an elevator and passageways to connect the three buildings on our campus to each other (the Meetinghouse, Quaker House, and Carriage House). 

• Environmental Stewardship: We made our gardens even more beautiful, functional, and accessible, while fixing long-standing drainage problems and reducing the amount of stormwater runoff from our property that enters DC’s sewer system following a rain storm. 

• Inclusivity and Welcoming: Through the above goals, we made our campus more inclusive of our members and attenders of all ages, including those with physical disabilities or mobility issues. We are also provide a more welcoming space to visitors and other space users from the community.

How did we get here?

• 1930: Meetinghouse constructed. Totally inaccessible to those with physical limitations

• 1950: Meetinghouse expanded, including new Library, Decatur Place, and Terrace Rooms

• 1956: Ramp to Meeting Room north entrance added, making it accessible.  Parlor and Library also accessible, via that entrance to the Meeting Room

• 1970: Meeting purchases Quaker House, Carriage House, and grounds

• 2002: Faith, Facilities, and Financial Realities (FFFR) process initiated to begin prayerful consideration of our renovation needs.

• 2003: FFFR Committee recommended that Meeting House be made accessible and our facilities used to greatest extent possible.  Recommends Capital Campaign be organized.

• 2004: Threshing sessions, visits with Friends from other Meetings that had recently undertaken renovations, and visits to these Meetings

• 2006: Quaker fundraising consultant engaged to help determine whether FMW could mount this renovation effort and raise the needed funds

• 2006: Meeting for Business approved the expenditure of funds on early design concepts

• 2008: Financing meetings with the School for Friends and other Quaker organizations to explore tenancy options

• 2010: Capital Campaign launched

• 2012: Meeting for Business approves current plan concept and we engage Quaker architect Evan Lippincott and architecture and engineering firm Gauthier Alvarado Associates to move the design forward.

• 2013: Schematic Design set completed, showing addition and back garden design.  Construction cost estimate $1.7 million

• 2014: Design Development set complete showing additional project details.  Construction cost estimate $1.8 million

• 2015: Progress set civil engineering (stormwater and drainage) plans completed. Construction cost estimate grows to $2.7 million. Extended discussion of possible cost reduction changes. 

• 2016: Bid set completed. Construction estimate grows to $2.9 million.

• 2017: Permit set completed and submitted to the DC government for permitting. Estimated construction contract grows to $3.8 million. Meeting approves borrowing up to $3.5 million. Mortgage negotiated with Sandy Spring Bank. Storm water management plan greatly revised.

• 2018: Contract negotiations with Monarc Construction begin the year, with rough contract cost estimate of $3.6 million.  Construction set to begin in April and take about a year.