The Opening Doors Campaign: Co-creating a Spiritual Home for Generations.
The Capital Campaign “Imagine This!” Listening Session was a Big Success. (And we welcome additional input)

On Feb 5, 2025, over 60 adults and 16 kids gathered in the Parish House for a convivial dinner and the opportunity to imagine what we want the renovated Parish House and grounds to be like. We are compiling results that we will share with our selected architect and the congregation. If you would like to provide input and weren’t there, please use this form.

See below for a word cloud summary of what participants to date said they imagine the project will provide.

The Capital Campaign Team has selected an architect with deep Congregational Client experience.

The Capital Campaign Design Advisory Team (Sarah Andrysiak, Ken Bassett, Ken Hurd, Rosemary Lloyd, Mary Helen Lorenz, David O’Neil, Dana Robbat, and Peter Sugar; Kit Novotny ex oficio) reviewed qualifications from 13 architectural firms and interviewed the four best firms in the region who work with community, public, and religious clients. Based on relevant experience, collaborative approach, and references, we unanimously chose Maryann Thompson Architects (MTA), in partnership with MVVA Landscape Architectsto develop conceptual designs for the Parish House and Site. Our recommendation was approved by the Parish Committee and work is underway. The Design Advisory Committee (above) will oversee the work of the architects and ensure robust congregational input.

FPL is familiar with MTA from their role in the Stearns Room. During that project, MTA collaboratively moved the congregation from an initially unpopular design to a project we all love.

Claire Feingold-Thoryn, Parish Minister at Follen (and former FPL Associate Minister) had this to say about Maryann Thompson Architects:

“Maryann is incredible–she is not only an amazing architect, which almost goes without saying when you look at her work, but more importantly for churches, she knows how to manage a community process, invite LOTS of voices, get lots of feedback, and do almost endless blueprint iterations with volunteer teams to get to a space that everyone loves. It’s really amazing to watch her boundless positivity and openness to feedback. Everyone at Follen adores her.”

Stay tuned for more opportunities to provide your ideas and feedback.

Timeline Reminder: With guidance from MTA, we will be engaging the congregation in the spring, working toward the goal of presenting conceptual design options to the congregation at the June Annual Meeting. Look for opportunities to provide input in late March and early May. The public phase of fundraising will not begin until March 2026.

If you have questions, please reach out to a member of the Capital Campaign Team: Sarah Andrysiak (Co-Chair), Ken Bassett, Melissa Deck, Ken Hurd, Rosemary Lloyd (Co-Chair), Mary Helen Lorenz, Vicki Mielke, David O’Neil, Thornton Ring, Dana Robbat, Peter Sugar, and Anne Forbes Van Nest.