THE FINAL STRETCH
transform spaces to transform lives
Our church was launched over 90 years ago with a pioneering spirit sending us into the city of Dallas and beyond. We exist to be a church that leads all generations to become transformed followers of Jesus for the flourishing of our city and beyond. Our beautiful campus, the base camp for our mission, was built nearly a century ago by courageous leaders who knew their work would bear fruit for generations to come. At this pivotal moment in our story, we were given an opportunity to build on this foundation and become an even stronger and more impactful missionary base for Christ and his kingdom over the next century. In February 2018, we launched our Transform campaign and were blown away by the $75 million that was pledged by almost 1000 dedicated families. We have always sought to be the best possible stewards of the resources with which God has entrusted us. We have boldly embraced God’s call to transform lives by using our resources to create innovative ministry spaces, remove physical barriers to ministry, and complete crucial renovations. We are thrilled to announce that construction is almost complete! We invite you to join us by participating in this powerful vision of Christ-centered ministry.
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WHY DO WE EXIST?
To lead all generations to become transformed followers of Jesus for the flourishing of our city and beyond. 4
people, not places We are a community that exists not for ourselves, but to serve beyond our walls. Families with pioneering spirits launched HP Pres to be a transformational church for the flourishing of our city and beyond. While we are a neighborhood church, on the doorstep of a university and in the heart of a city, our impact for nearly a century has truly been global. In 2018 we began our Transform initiative to update our aging facilities to better support our vision and meet the needs of our dynamic ministries that serve people of every generation. We were at a pivotal place in our church’s history and had the opportunity to strengthen this mission outpost.
As we near the final stretch, I hope you will read through this Transform brochure, reflect on the vision of HP Pres, and pray for the people that we are called to reach. We want to invite you to join with us in this vision. The measure of our success will not be found in beautiful buildings or modernized facilities. It will be measured in the transformation of lives at Highland Park Pres, in Dallas, and throughout the world in the years and decades to come.
Bryan Dunagan Senior Pastor
The Transform initiative is our campaign to build out that vision and embrace the next century of mission to which God has called us. After years of preparation, we see before us an incredible opportunity not simply to transform spaces but to transform lives. It has led us into more prayer, greater trust in Jesus, and truly sacrificial generosity. We strongly believe that it is our turn to do what our founders did: to invest in this growing, transformational church for the flourishing of Dallas and beyond. We were thrilled with the almost 1000 families that pledged to support this initiative, and we are so close to seeing it all come to fruition. 5
why now? As we approached 100 years of mission and ministry, we recognized a need to prepare our physical campus for the next century of transformation. Our aging facilities could not adequately support the church’s ongoing mission. We have seen significant growth in every area of our ministry, have implemented stronger fiscal responsibility and stewardship,
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and have been doing more every year to serve our city and beyond. The vision and need for this project was expressed well back in February 2018 during the initial fundraising campaign that raised $75 million. We are excited for greater opportunities to transform many lives for Christ in the years to come. The
Holy Spirit is alive in and through our church family with vibrancy inside of our walls and momentum stirring in our hearts. It is so encouraging to see our campus match our vision, so that we can effectively nurture and equip our church family and serve the people of the world in Jesus’ name.
why the hunt center? The Hunt Building has served us well for decades. The Campus Vision Team originally planned for its renovation to achieve several goals: create more adult classrooms; consolidate all offices into one collaborative area; enhance Elliott Hall for worship and other uses; improve flow; and substantially increase gathering space. These goals, however, could not be met due to the building’s structural configuration, primarily the
widely varying ceiling heights in Elliott Hall. And performing renovations to attempt to work around these limitations would still not solve a key long-term challenge with which the Campus Vision Team was tasked—providing a large amount of on-campus parking.
After considering many different options, the Campus Vision Team eliminated
all but one because they were too costly, too complicated, or presented too many potential obstacles to future growth. The one option that best met all the competing priorities, could be accomplished within our existing footprint, and offered an opportunity to transform HP Pres for the next 100 years was creating the Hunt Center.
Images are conceptual and subject to change
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transform overview HUNT CENTER NEW FRONT DOOR IMPROVED FLOW PARKING (UNDERGROUND) CHILDREN’S WELCOME AREA ADULT CLASSROOMS (2ND FLOOR) CHILDREN’S CLASSROOMS & RENOVATION STUDENTS – BELL CENTER RENOVATION CHILDREN’S PLAY SPACES CONSOLIDATED STAFF OFFICES (3RD FLOOR) GRAND COMMUNITY SPACE (1ST FLOOR) RHODUS GARDEN HUNT CENTER DROPOFF GYM ELLIOTT HALL WORSHIP (1ST FLOOR) MUSIC ROOM (2ND FLOOR) OUTDOOR COMMUNITY SPACE
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new front door & drop off The Hunt Center creates a new front door to our campus with a grand entrance and patio along University Boulevard that echoes the one in front of the Sanctuary. This entrance leads to a large, light-filled gathering
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Images are conceptual and subject to change
space that also provides a direct, indoor connection to the Sanctuary and children’s building. The Hunt Center will also create a new, safer drop-off location on the west side of the building along Shannon Lane. This
drop-off point will improve traffic flow and provide much more convenient and direct access for vehicles traveling to the campus along McFarlin Boulevard.
children’s play spaces HP Pres is blessed with an abundance of outdoor garden and play spaces for the young and young at heart. The Transform initiative will make these areas even better, safer, and more inviting. We are updating the best of our existing facilities, and creating naturescapes that provide exciting areas for the next generation. With the other modifications and additions to the Highland Kids Ministry Building, the interior courtyard and playground areas will also be safely and securely enclosed.
SHEPHERD’S CREEK SHEPHERD’S HILL SHEPHERD’S PATH SHEPHERD’S WOODS
Images are conceptual and subject to change
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new gymnasium A gym will be located in the heart of our Kids and Student ministries. The 6000 sq. ft. gym, incorporating incredible amounts of natural light, will be ideally located for easy access for schools, kids, students, and guests.
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Images are conceptual and subject to change
hunt music room
Located on the second floor of the Hunt Center and connected to our adult library and discipleship rooms, the Hunt Music Room will be acoustically engineered to provide an amazing home for our music ministry. Additionally, this space will provide a much-needed location for medium-sized ministry gatherings throughout the week and on Sundays. 13
underground parking The Hunt Center mitigates a major, longstanding issue for our congregation—the lack of safe, secure, on-campus parking—by providing a two-level underground garage with approximately 150 spaces. The underground garage will substantially
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Images are conceptual and subject to change
improve access to all parts of our campus, as well as remove a significant amount of traffic from neighborhood streets. Ingress and egress for the garage will be located at the southwest corner of the building near McFarlin Boulevard, with the security door and
down ramp contained completely within the footprint of the building, thus hiding it from view of the surrounding neighborhood. Access to the floors above will be available via two convenient elevators.
enhanced flow One of the most important elements of the Hunt Center will be its ability to provide a more cohesive, integrated, and welcoming experience by improving the flow from one end of our campus to the other. Removing tight doorways, creating direct, indoor access to the Sanctuary no matter where you are on campus, and generating a new connectedness to the Highland Kids Ministry Building will eliminate barriers to ministry and help create an environment that is more attractive to all generations.
ENTRANCE
Images are conceptual and subject to change
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hunt center: gathering spaces The new north entrance (facing University Boulevard) and entire eastern side of the Hunt Center will provide a wealth of vibrant, light-filled spaces that connect seamlessly to the Rhodus Garden outside. The additional connector will dramatically improve the ease of getting from the west side of Hunt Center First Floor
the campus to both the Sanctuary and children’s building. Two large gathering spaces on the first level will include a grand staircase, a welcome station, coffee bar, and furnished conversation spots—all bathed in the light provided by walls of glass, magnificently framing the western facade of the Sanctuary.
This spacious gathering area will substantially enhance the ability for all generations to gather and build community and also serves as the point of entry to an all new reoriented worship space in Elliott Hall. The total space for gathering and passage increases from 8,200 square feet to approximately 13,200 square feet. The Hunt Center also more than doubles the number of adult classrooms, from 5 to 11, and sizes them more appropriately for current and future ministry requirements. Perhaps more significant, they will all be located together on one level above Elliott Hall with ample gathering spaces, including a balcony. The Library will also be located on this level. The Hunt Center will enable all staff to be consolidated in new, modern offices on the third level that will enhance collaboration, teamwork, and creativity.
ELLIOTT HALL GATHERING SPACE RHODUS GARDEN 16
Images are conceptual and subject to change
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elliott hall The Hunt Center will transform Elliott Hall into a bright, fresh, and open room that is designed to enhance the worship experience and to provide critical multipurpose space for our largest gatherings and conferences. A raised stage on the west wall will enable a more comfortable and intimate seating arrangement for worship, while the entrance to Elliott Hall will be located along the east side, which will bathe the space with natural light from the new, wide glass-walled corridor just outside its doors. With high ceilings throughout the space, new audio and video systems, an adjacent catering kitchen, and direct indoor access from all parts of our campus, the new Elliott Hall will provide even more, and better, opportunities for all generations to worship, gather, and connect.
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Images are conceptual and subject to change
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student ministry spaces Our student environments will be transformed from the ground up to support the ministry that is taking place today. This part of our campus will include flexible, multi-use spaces that help to usher middle and high school students into deeper, more impactful ministry opportunities. From the new, visible, and welcoming entrance to the greatly expanded gathering space, the Bell Center will be reimagined to build the next generation of Christ followers. 20
CENTRAL GATHERING MEETING AND CO-WORKING SPACE MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL
Images are conceptual and subject to change
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children’s renovations A fresh, new, and larger welcome and check-in center has been created inside the circle drive entrance off Park Street, enabling a more logical and direct flow to Highland Kids classrooms. Additional security systems were installed to ensure the safety of our children. 22
Images are conceptual and subject to change
All classrooms received substantial updates and renovations including new lighting, carpet, paint, furniture, and audio-visual equipment. Not only will this enable us to provide a more welcoming space for our Early Childhood and Highland Kids ministries, but it will enhance the educational
environment for the Childhood Development Center, Highland Park Presbyterian Day School, and Hillier School.
next steps God’s call and our purpose is clear: lead all generations to find and follow Jesus for the flourishing of our city and beyond. We’re grateful for the call to be stewards of our building– this missionary outpost–so that we may welcome in, equip, and send out followers of Jesus. Will you join our church family in making a commitment to Transform Spaces to Transform Lives? Committing to Transform is only a part of being a united congregation committed to living passionately into God’s call for the purpose of our church.
commit today! Fill out the included commitment card and mail it back to us in the included envelope. Make a commitment at transform.hppres.org
Writing prayers on the highest beam in the Sanctuary
In the Old Testament, we see God’s people sacrificially giving to build or repair God’s tabernacle and temple, and in the New Testament, we see believers joyfully giving to provide for the needs of the growing church. Likewise, HP Pres members through the years provided the funds to build the facilities we currently enjoy. It is a privilege to join this sacred throng and pledge resources for the renovation and addition of spaces for God’s continuing work of transformation in our congregation, city, and world.” LILA MARSHALL, ELDER, Campus Vision Team Member 23