351 Update - April Manifest 2021
The first of the ninety-seven new windows have started to arrive and are in the process of being installed. The last of the concrete will soon be poured. Subfloors are being installed and within a couple of weeks interior walls will start to be constructed and rooms will begin taking shape. Over the last few weeks there have been long, detailed meetings preparing for the installation of electrical wiring, data lines, Wi-Fi, low voltage lines, and all the other aspects needed to create a smart, 21st century building.
Besides the standard telephone and internet service one would expect, the new Epiphany will have three dynamic signs. If you are not familiar with the term, dynamic signs are those signs that are basically enhanced digital monitors that can announce upcoming events, or what’s happening at a particular moment in the church. One of these signs will be placed on the exterior of the building at eye level near the center door and then one in the lobby that leads to the Parish Hall and one in the lobby that leads to CEDS and the parish offices, gymnasium and roof garden. Each sign can display the same images or different images. For example, the sign in the lobby for the school and offices can alert parents and caregivers to what’s planned for the school that day while at the same time the sign in the lobby of the Parish Hall can announce what’s planned for that day’s Senior Lunch Program or provide important information to the parish’s Wednesday Night Dinner guests, while at the same time the sign outside can announce upcoming service times, announcements of upcoming concerts or special events, etc.. And, just in case you are wondering, the outside sign can be set to dim at night so as not to add undue light pollution in the neighborhood.
Other enhancements to the building will be a key card security system for the doors and elevators so that people moving through the building throughout the day and evenings will not inadvertently end up on a CEDS floor or in some other part of the church where they do not need to be. The elevator can also be programed to only go to certain floors at certain times of the day. Remember, the new Epiphany has 35,000 square feet of space spread out over 7 floors and the roof across two interconnected buildings. Having a robust security system to seamlessly manage movement throughout the space is critical to our mission to be a resource for the entire community.
Another enhancement will be the ability to livestream from both the church and the parish hall. The cameras will be fully integrated into the sound systems in each space and can be controlled by an iPad or other tablet. Not only will this allow the parish to livestream the Sunday liturgy’s, performances, and presentations, but the parish hall will provide overflow space so if the Nave is filled to capacity, people can watch the service or presentation live from the Parish Hall. We are also anticipating future needs and will run the conduit that would be necessary to provide video streaming or video projection in the gymnasium – which also has its own sound system.
Lastly, any day now as you walk by 351 you’ll see the scaffolding on the façade coming down and scaffolding on the east exterior wall above the Memorial Sloan Kettering building going up. We are all very anxious to see the restored façade. Preserving this part of Manhattan’s UES history is part of the stewardship Epiphany assumed in purchasing the former Jan Hus Presbyterian Church. Soon, along with our neighbors the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, which is also undergoing façade restoration, we will be offering to the city two refreshed and restored architectural gems that both faith communities can be very proud of.
Faithfully yours,
Roy+
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