Forward in Faith: FHC Campus Master Plan

Our Mission:

Building the next chapter of FHC.

The Faith, Hope, & Charity Campus Master Plan provides a long-range, community-informed roadmap to enhance campus facilities and programs, strategically invest in resources, and ensure our parish and school remain a vibrant, faith-filled home for generations to come.

Our Purpose:

To evaluate the campus, its facilities, and its grounds to establish a clear, forward-looking plan that directs thoughtful investment in our academic, religious, community, and athletic spaces. This plan will help shape a future capital campaign by outlining key priorities based on input from our community and campus leadership.

Planning Committee

The Planning Committee was thoughtfully appointed to reflect the full spectrum of the FHC community including parishioners, school parents, volunteers, religious education participants, and neighbors. Members will guide the project’s progress, serve as champions for the plan, and make sure the wider community’s perspectives and priorities stay at the heart of the process.

Bill Kanzer
Michael King
Tim Knapp
Tom Meagher, Principal
Marykate Shields
Celia Sinclair
Brennan Smith
John Swierk
Kate Tarbert
Father Brian Welter, Pastor

Our Team:

The Lakota Group

A Chicago-based firm specializing in urban planning, design, landscape architecture, community engagement, and historical preservation. The Lakota Group brings creative solutions that inspire action and result in beautiful, people-driven places. The firm has over 30 years of experience in creating plans that build connections between people, their environments, and their history.

Alliance Architects

A South Bend-based firm specializing in design and urban planning services with a focus on higher education and institutional users. Alliance Architects maintain a hands-on management approach to projects and have a long history of collaborating closely with clients, consultant teams, and all stakeholders impacted by a project.

Our Process:

The Planning Committee will work closely with The Lakota Group and Alliance Architects over the coming months to execute a three-phase plan. The work will conclude with the creation of a Master Plan in late June, ahead of FHC's launch of a capital campaign which is part of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Generation to Generation - Answer the Call campaign.

Phase 1 | Engage

This phase focuses on listening and learning. The Planning Team will hold conversations with church and school leadership, parishioners, students, and the broader community. These conversations, along with site tours and mapping, will build a shared understanding of how the campus functions today. This phase will culminate with “Key Community Themes” that highlight strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the future.

Phase 2 | Analyze

Next, the team takes a closer look at campus buildings, grounds, and operations. This includes reviewing facility conditions, space use, and maintenance needs to create a clear picture of what is working well and what needs attention. Findings are summarized in a State of the Campus Report and shared with the community.

Phase 3 | Envision

Ideas for improvements are developed based on what was learned in the first two phases. Different levels of potential upgrades are explored and shared through a Campus Open House and online survey to gather feedback. This phase concludes with a Final Master Plan that outlines recommended improvements, priorities, timelines, and next steps.

Get Involved!

Opportunities to get involved will be available throughout the process. From surveys and workshops to focus groups, there will be multiple ways to share your ideas, ask questions, and help shape the future of the campus at every phase of the plan. Click the icons below to participate today.