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Background
The Master Plan developed for
the parish in 2003 set out a number of phases. Phase I added a ramp and
additional handicapped access to the church. Phase II encompassed removing
the old convent building and constructing a new multi-purpose facility.
This facility is called Communion Hall. The text and pictures here
documented the project and this is how the parishioners kept up with the
progress.
What's in a name
Our name for this building, Communion Hall has special significance. The namesake of our parish, Pope Pius X, promoted piety among the faithful and advised that Holy Communion be received frequently and if possible, daily. He dispensed with the need for the sick to fast, enabling them to receive Holy Communion more often. He also recommended that the first Communion of children not be deferred too long after they had reached the age of discretion. Dictionary definitions of Communion are also descriptive of St. Pius X parish. In addition to the sacrament, Communion is an act of sharing and Christians having a common faith. St. Pius X parishioners have long exhibited the best aspects of Communion.
Communion Hall provides a cafeteria that seats over 275 comfortably. The kitchen utilized all of the existing equipment but has a new pantry, walk-in refrigerator and walk-in freezer. The cafeteria manager office is right central to the operation and deliveries are received in the back of the building. In the cafeteria, a storage pod is accessible for the storage of all of the tables and chairs so that the room may be utilized for dances, receptions or other functions.
The Youth moved all of their existing equipment and games. Their room will has a kitchen, bathroom, game space and meeting space. Access to the cafeteria is provided for Youth overflow events. This places the Youth center near the gym so that retreats, basketball and volleyball can be conducted close to their base of operations. Before and after school care is also provided in the Youth Room.
The Scout room provides both inside storage and meeting space. In addition, Blue and Gold banquets, Courts of Honor, Pack Meetings and all other scout functions can be held conveniently in the cafeteria. Like the youth, the scouts often have occasion to utilize the gym so this keeps them in close proximity.
The primary function of the teacher's lounge is to provide a lunch room for the teachers. The lounge is conveniently located next to the cafeteria. This room has a small bathroom, eating facilities and small appliance conveniences.
The entry foyer has a small reception area that may be served from the concession pod. This is a useful feature for events in which there is a check-in necessity. Bathrooms are provided directly off of the foyer. The bathrooms feature touch free fixtures and are designed for both good looks and for moving large numbers of people through efficiently.
This building is designed for future expansion to the west. The connection point will be a corridor between the bathrooms and the teacher's lounge. Until that expansion is needed, we simply added a glass wall and door and created a conference room. When expansion is required, that wall will be removed to recreate the corridor.
Click on one of the construction stage descriptions below to see pictures of Communion Hall going up.
Floor Plan and Features
Other Features of the Plan
The courtyard between the new building and the school is significantly upgraded. All of the asphalt was removed, paved with concrete and drainage improved. The new building has sweeping steps that lead up to a porch. These steps can also be used as seating for events held in the courtyard. A handicapped access ramp is provided from the west. Previously there were only steps leading from the west. In addition, the courtyard has a wireless sound system so that Masses and other events can be conducted without significant setup requirements.
All service access for trash and food deliveries will be in the back of the new building. There is a dock at the back doors of the cafeteria. Also the scouts, day care and youth will have access from the south of the property.
What About the Old Cafeteria?
The old kitchen is now a maintenance facility. This area is central to the campus and covers all of the requirements of the maintenance department.
The old cafeteria and room 100 became three things. Three storage closets, a new music room and a new art room were all built into these two areas. At the same time the computer lab was moved into the primary building. Moving computer, art and music freed up the rooms in the parish center to be returned to parish utilization for choir and meeting spaces. All the construction to make this happen took place in the summer of 2005.