FAQs ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF THE AOL BUILDING
IN UPPER ARLINGTON
- After the purchase of the AOL property, how have the goals and structure of the Growing for His Glory Comprehensive Capital Campaign change? What is the school’s vision?
- What does the newly revised Capital Campaign encompass?
- What will the AOL facility provide?
- What will the AOL facility NOT provide in its current configuration?
- When will branches be able to move into the AOL facility?
- When Tree of Life’s Middle and High School programs move into a new facility, what is Tree of Life planning to do with the existing Northridge building and property?
- How will the school pay to operate the AOL facility and how will tuition be affected?
- Who is Tree of Life Christian Schools using as consultants for this undertaking of the AOL move?
- How will we receive updates on the progress of this God-sized undertaking?
2. After the purchase of the AOL property, how have the goals and structure of the Growing for His Glory Comprehensive Capital Campaign change? What is the school’s vision?
Since the AOL property will comfortably accommodate all grade levels, branches, and administration facilities of Tree of Life, we will be able to consolidate the entire Tree of Life family on one campus much more quickly, and at a much lower cost, than with the original three-phased building approach! The financial goals of the campaign will increase to cover the acquisition and the retrofit of the interior and partial construction of the new wings. God has given us a “green” opportunity to “recycle” an existing building at a much lower cost than to build new, known in the industry as “Adaptive Reuse”. Finally, it will provide for endowments for tuition assistance, benevolence, and faculty and staff benefits.
3. What does the newly revised Capital Campaign encompass?
TThe overall goal of the Growing for His Glory Comprehensive Capital Campaign would increase from $5 million to approximately $30 million. $23 million will be needed for the property purchase, retrofit of the buildings (academic space), one new gym and endowment seed for tuition assistance. As of this date, $16 million of the $23 million has been committed by the generosity of 98 people, leaving $7 million to raise. Then an additional $7 million of the $30 million vision would accomplish construction of a chapel/theater, a second gymnasium, and an offsite athletic complex. We may be eligible for some financing. The school’s vision is to retrofit and construct the entire building, but recognizing we may need to build or retrofit in stages depending upon finances.
Keep in mind that the ENTIRE building project, providing for the whole Tree of Life community from Early Education through grade 12, would be completed for approximately $40 million LESS than the original phased new-build approach, and would be completed approximately 10 years sooner than the original plan!
4. What will the AOL facility provide?
- Space to accommodate ALL Tree of Life students from ALL branches, including expanded Early Education programs through grade 12. The facilities will allow Tree of Life to grow into a multi-track program (4 classes per grade level) for PreK-12. In fact, preschool through Kindergarten will be in a separate self-contained building on the west side of the street across from the main facility.
- Learning spaces better designed for education
- Dedicated spaces to meet the needs for library, art, music, gym, computer lab, cafeteria, playground, and administrative offices
- Opportunities for teachers to work together both at and across grade levels, challenging each other to excellence and creativity
- An enhanced sense of “family” with all students, parents, and faculty sharing a common location
- Better energy efficiencies and opportunities to use the latest technologies to reduce operational costs
- Safer environments including better control of visitors to the site and buildings
- Facilities with healthy light, air quality, and water systems, free from potential environmental hazards
- Facilities that meet the latest criteria for handicapped accessibility
- A state-of-the-art building, fully wired for data service
- Existing full-service cafeteria
- Administrative offices for all grade levels all under one roof
- Located inside the I-270 loop, in proximity to the schools’ demographic profile, and easily accessible to all Tree families via S.R. 315 or I-270
- 254,000 sq ft on approximately 16 acres as purchased
- In Upper Arlington municipal limits
5. What will the AOL facility NOT provide in its current configuration?
A multi gym complex wing and an arts wing with a six hundred seat auditorium will be added to the existing facility as soon as funding is available. Also, off site acreage within close proximity to the main campus will be obtained for an athletic complex.
6. When will branches be able to move into the AOL facility?
Our hope is for all branches to move to the facility in August, 2011.
7. When Tree of Life’s Middle and High School programs move into a new facility, what is Tree of Life planning to do with the existing Northridge building and property?
It looks as if it will be sold and the proceeds invested into the new facility.
8. How will the school pay to operate the AOL facility and how will tuition be affected?
We are currently working on a business plan to accurately calculate the costs to operate the new campus complex. Our consultants will assist us with a strategic financial plan for the facility. The goal is to not have any dramatic tuition increases to cover this cost. Tuition primarily covers teachers’ salaries, so modest increases will need to continue for this purpose.
9. Who is Tree of Life Christian Schools using as consultants for this undertaking of the AOL move?
Currently the following is a list of our consultants, but the list may continue to grow:
- DESIGN TEAM:
- Tim Hawk and Tom Schnell of WSA – architects
- James Calhoun. Architect Inc. – architects
- Bird & Bull – civil engineers
- James Burkhart Landscape Architecture – landscape architects
- Pat McLaughlin and Howard Nourse of The Timothy Group – capital campaign consultant
- John Brooks and Andy Yohani of Equity - building cost estimate summary
- Jeff Brown and Glenn Dugger of Smith & Hale – rezoning attorneys
- Brent Rosenthal of Carlisle Patchen – real estate attorney
- Sandy Clary of Clary Communications – public relations consultant with UA community
10. How will we receive updates on the progress of this God-sized undertaking?
Frequent updates on the Tree of Life website and in the Tree Newsletter will be made to ensure that our families are well informed.
Please keep in mind that this information is continuing to be fine-tuned as the Lord reveals more and more of His plans for the future of Tree of Life Christian Schools. We will make every effort to be accurate in our information, but realizing that there is more to know in the process. Please keep this process and its leadership and counselors in your prayers before the Lord.
