This church was originally built in 1894 as the Fourth United Presbyterian Church, in the popular Richardsonian Romanesque style. In the mid-2000s, the original congregation left, and the building was abandoned with a leaking roof and a flooded basement. To match the resources of the new non-profit owner, the building was renovated in phases, beginning with the lower level as a daycare, and then the upper level as a multi-purpose sanctuary and flex space.
Stretching over 15 years from purchase to completion, the phased construction allowed the owner to operate revenue generating programs while completing manageable pieces. Work was also structured to allow skilled and unskilled volunteers to complete many tasks and generate more than a quarter million dollars in savings.
Adapting the building for new and flexible usage while preserving and restoring historical architecture required creative solutions, and also unique opportunities for design beauty.
Completion: 2023
Client: Earthen Vessels Outreach
Photographer: J.W. Ramp
Categories: Historic Preservation, Civic & Cultural