TBI COMPLETING RESTORATION OF FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
October 20, 2000

SAN JOSE -- Toeniskoetter & Breeding, Inc. (TBI) Construction has begun what it is expected to be the final phase of restoration of the historical First Unitarian Church in downtown San Jose. Upon completion, the church will not only be restored to its original condition, but strengthened against earthquakes, provided with modern fire and safety systems and expanded by 25% through basement excavation.

"The church will be better than new," Alex MacLean of the church building committee said. "It will be good for another 100 years."

The Church's Second Century Project recently acquired sufficient funding for completion of the sanctuary, receiving donations from both its congregation and the general community. Large donors included the Knight Foundation, Metro A Trust of San Jose, Packard Foundation and the Unitarian Universalists' Congregation of Shelter Rock, New York.

"We'll have them back in the sanctuary by early next year," TBI Vice President Tony Mirenda said. "By then the Church will have been restored to its original beauty and be in excellent condition to provide a second century of service."

The restoration of the 1892 church on the east side of St. James Park began in the early fall of 1995 when TBI was retained to repair 103 years of settling, shaking and weathering. The renovation included replacing the roof, upgrading electrical and mechanical systems, altering the foundation to compensate for settling and other measures to prevent
additional deterioration.

The project came to a sudden stop in October 1995 when fire broke out in the dome above the sanctuary, destroying the roof and causing extensive damage to the remainder of the structure. After the fire and settlement of insurance claims, TBI was able to significantly expand the project to include bringing electrical and mechanical systems into compliance with current codes. The work also included upgrading bathrooms, adding an elevator and other measures to bring the building into compliance with current disability codes. TBI reworked the heating systems and rebuilt the dome and hall roof structures damaged by the fire, but had to stop short of completing the project.

A significant improvement will be the creation of offices and classroom facilities in what previously was a crawl space. Activities there will include an after-school homework center for students and the Len Edwards Computer Center, which provides students both training and a computer to take home.

"We heard the first hammer the other day and are very much looking forward to getting the project completed," Senior Minister Lindi Ramsden said. "TBI has been hanging in there with us throughout our setbacks."

Since its inception in 1983, San Jose-based Toeniskoetter & Breeding Inc., Construction has completed more than $400 million in projects throughout the Bay Area. Other historical restorations in San Jose include 106-year-old St. Joseph Cathedral, 124-year-old Santa Clara County Courthouse, Sacred Heart Church, Hoover School and the 80-year-old mansion at 1960 The Alameda. In addition to historical restoration and renovation, the company specializes in professional offices, corporate headquarters and other tenant improvements, and it constructs new buildings for TBI's own portfolio and for others.