The Unitarian Universalists of Central Oregon have broken ground for construction of a new church building on a parcel of land at the southeast corner of Skyliners Road and NW Skyline Ranch Road.
The building was designed by THA Architecture Inc. of Portland and will be built by Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company of Bend. Michael Marino of M. Marino Consulting is the owner’s’ representative on the project. Occupancy is projected for early 2015.
“We are excited to start the construction of a new spiritual home for our growing congregation,” said Reverend Alex Holt, interim minister of the UUFCO. “This building and land will allow us to reach out to the greater community and provide a center for creative worship, spiritual deepening and new friendships.”
The congregation, founded in Bend in 1958, has met in a number of spaces through the past decades, at one point owning a building.They currently lease space in the Old Stone Church. The congregation has identified the need for additional space for religious education classes, events and gatherings, administrative offices and a full-time worship space.
“Of particular importance is that we design and build a sustainable and accessible building in keeping with our principles. The design will incorporate green building practices within the natural landscape. We also envision a variety of possible community uses. The building and landscape will reflect the congregation’s values and to be an asset to the community,” said Leslie Koc, chair of the steering committee for the new building.
The Unitarian Universalists of Central Oregon is a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations. Services are held on Sundays at 11am at the Old Stone Church. Child care and religious education is offered for preschool through high school.
The Unitarian Universalists of Central Oregon is an intergenerational liberal religious community dedicated to energizing life-long learning, freedom of belief, caring fellowship, spiritually meaningful services, and engaged social action.
The congregation welcomes a diversity of ages, sexual orientations, races, gender identities, classes, abilities, theologies and religious heritages.
More information can be found at www.uufco.org, and more about the Unitarian Universalist denomination can be found at www.uua.org.
