New Century Building to undergo renovation

WEST CHESTER >> The historic New Century Building at 501 South High Street, currently occupied by the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester, is about to undergo a $1.1 million renovation program that will create a warmer, more welcoming interior to better serve the congregation and community. The outside footprint and facade will remain unchanged.

Completed in 1915 as the headquarters of the New Century (Woman’s) Club, the building has a rich heritage as part of a woman’s club movement that was active in communities throughout the nation through much of the 20th century. The building was sold to the Unitarian Congregation in July of 1995.

During renovations, the congregation will rent space at The Concept School, 1120 Street Road (Route 926), Westtown Township. Services will be held at the school at 10 a.m. beginning May 14. Members will move back into what minister Rev. Dan Schatz terms “a revitalized building” in the fall.

“In many ways, our building is still an auditorium – one with a warm and homey feel, and some classrooms downstairs, but still an auditorium,” Rev. Schatz said of the large meeting room and stage that occupy the first floor. “Now we’re going to be able to extend that warmth to the entire building, welcome community groups into our space, make the building completely accessible for people with disabilities and revitalize this historic building. It’s incredibly exciting.”

He summarized the changes that will be made to the building:

• A new HVAC system will fully air condition the building.

• A sturdy handicapped ramp on the Lacey Street side of the building will replace a ramp accessible from the back alley.

• An elevator will provide access to the second floor and basement.

• Bathrooms will be single occupancy and available for use by all gender identities.

• The space occupied by the stage will be converted into a coffee and social area, thus removing the current necessity to serve coffee and refreshments in back of the auditorium after services;

• All offices will be moved to the second floor, with what is now the minister’s office on the first floor becoming an adult meeting and meditative space;

• Classrooms for Religious Education in the basement will be renovated and reconfigured to provide a more welcoming space for children and youth.

The growing congregation, with some 200 members, raised $900,000 in pledges and gifts to fund most of the project.

Rev. Schatz, who was called to serve as the congregation’s minister last spring, said that when he accepted the call, “it made a big difference that this was a congregation going somewhere, a congregation that could see what it wanted to do and was willing to take the necessary steps to do it.”

The congregation was founded as the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester in 1954. Prior to the purchase of the New Century building, the Fellowship owned and occupied a building at 401 North Franklin Street. The name was changed to “Congregation” by vote of the membership in 2012. In 2014, the congregation paid off its existing mortgage on the New Century building.