Heating And Cooling Are Back!
Remember when the boiler failed at the end of February? It was necessary to “layer for liturgies,” with no heat in the church and temperatures ranging between a high of -5°C and a low of -9°C. The women of the choir bundled up, wearing extra layers under their cassocks and surplices, and even donning hats and mittens!
We’re delighted to share that one of the most anticipated pieces of the Cornerstone Project is officially back in motion—the heating and cooling of our historic church.
For the first time in our 150-year history, St. Thomas’s will have a comfortable, climate-controlled worship space year-round. The new Heating Stabilization and Spot-Cooling Project will replace our aging steam radiator system and related piping—with its clanging pipes and uneven heat, which wreaks havoc with the tuning of the organ. We will introduce a modern hydronic heating system that will stabilize temperatures through every season.
Under the new plan, the steam system serving the church will be disconnected and removed, while a new central hydronic heating system will serve both the church and the new Accessibility Atrium. Most of the equipment in the current boiler room will continue to provide heat for the parish hall and the cottage behind it, until a future phase expands the hydronic network to serve the entire complex.
This work is necessarily linked to the Accessibility Atrium, as the infrastructure for the new systems will be installed beneath the Atrium and tied into its HVAC network. By coordinating the projects, we’ll reduce costs and construction time while minimizing disruption.
The updated plan takes a focused and sustainable approach:
A completely new hydronic heating system for the church.
Targeted cooling in the chancel and sanctuary, providing long-needed comfort for our choir, acolytes, and clergy.
High-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans in the nave to improve airflow and reduce temperature extremes for the congregation.
This project embodies the same purpose that guides every aspect of the Cornerstone Campaign: creating a space that reflects the radical hospitality of Christ.
