Building Update

“It’s Big” is commonly heard on the shuttle Sunday mornings as people arrive for worship. Yes, it is big, about 55,000 square feet big, and it has a name, “Upper Campus.”

Here is some basic information:

• There are four floors and three wings: east, west, and south.

• There are two major entrances. From the Sanctuary Building you will enter the south wing on the first floor. From 100th Ave NE, due to the slope of the land, you will actually enter the south wing on the third floor. There will be a small parking area off of 100th by the entrance.

• The east and west wings are primarily classrooms. On Sunday mornings, children and youth will be the primary users. During the week, our preschool will meet on floors one and two in the east wing and Eastside Academy will occupy floors three and four in the west wing. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, KidREACH will use many of the rooms.

• The south wing has large, open areas on the first and third floors. On the first floor, the large area can be divided into two rooms with a moveable wall. On Sundays the children will use the two first floor spaces for their large group time (aka worship) and the youth will use it on Wednesday evenings. The large area on the third floor (which has an incredible view) will be used by the youth on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, and available for large gatherings of the congregation at other times.

• The Upper Campus also has five office areas for staff, which are tentatively scheduled to accommodate the Children’s Department, Youth Department, IT Department, First Presbyterian Christian Preschool, and Eastside Academy.

• There is a serving kitchen in the Upper Campus. Major meals will continue to be cooked in the kitchen in the Sanctuary Building however.

• Fear not! There is an elevator, and restrooms are located on each floor.

• There are amazing views from the third and fourth floors in the east wing. On a recent tour, Kevin Wallace, a member of the Building Committee said, “This is the best view in Bellevue. I’m thinking office space for rent!” Good idea, Kevin, but No!

And the most frequently asked question: “When will the building be completed?” Currently, the building is on schedule to be completed at the end of July or early August, which gives us just one month before Eastside Academy begins classes on September 2. Your prayers that the construction goes smoothly and move-in goes quickly will be much appreciated!