Go Deep. Live Wide.
RENOVATION UPATE
Renovation Update
May 2026
Hi all.
Thank you to everyone who was able to help move the basement this past Saturday.
Just a short update highlighting two things:
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The asbestos remediation has begun (the first step of the renovation). YAY!!
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We are re-booting our capital campaign, which will take the form of individual conversations over the next six months. See the video for a short explanation. We are excited about meeting with each of you and together, discerning where God is taking us next.
Grateful to be on the journey together.
rinus
On May 23, our Varsity Bible Church community came together for Move Out Day. working side by side to clear the basement, tidy the outdoor areas, and prepare the space for the next season of ministry. The photo shown captures just a glimpse of the teamwork, joy, and shared laughter we experienced, especially as everyone gathered afterward to enjoy tacos for lunch.
Another update. The intent is to keep you current with the state of the renovation project as it unfolds. Our commitment is to inform you of pertinent information as soon as we can. This update focuses specifically on the heating system. We have since discovered that this system is not working poorly—it is not working at all. The duct work is made of lined cardboard tubes that run underground. Over the past 65 years, these have deteriorated significantly and, in some cases, collapsed altogether. Blowing forced air into these ducts is not only ineffective, but possibly unsafe (due to combustible materials and other potential hazards). This system will only continue to deteriorate and pose greater risks—it is unusable, potentially unsafe, and beyond repair. Please refer to the attached some photos to see the current condition of the duct work. What does this mean? In short, it has been recommended that the basement area requires a completely new heating system. This was not foreseen at the outset of the project. Although this could have been discovered sooner, it might have remained undiagnosed had we not engaged in a renovation project. Over the past number of weeks, Brighton Projects has brought in several specialists to offer advice and potential next steps. The current plan is to create an additional mechanical room at the north end of the basement and install a new heating system with new ducting. In the process, several additional heating issues that do not comply with current code requirements can be corrected. Obviously, this comes with a significant additional cost. I have outlined the budget implications below. This feels like bad news and in some ways, it is. Adding a new heating system to the current renovation will cost more money. On the other hand, we have discovered something we didn’t know (but was already an issue) and have the potential to fix it in the best way possible. This might be a blessing in disguise. The VBC Building team has worked very hard at finding ways to cut costs while still addressing this major repair. Brighton Projects in confident that we can find a viable solution and still redevelop our basement space.