From the Ground Up: Connect Church addition Phase 1

Owner: Connect Church
General contractor: CAP Group LLC
Architects: Torgerson Design Partners LLC, project; and frankZdesign LLC, landscape
Interior designer: Kingdom Design
Engineers: Cochran Engineering, civil; RTM Engineering Consultants LLC, structural; and Schober Engineering LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing
Size: 17,600 square feet
Cost: $7 million
Funding source: OMB Bank
Estimated completion: March
Project description: Connect Church is undergoing an expansion, with the first phase nearing completion and Phase 2 to begin soon after. When all of the work is finally completed, the church will have an expanded lobby, a new kids’ wing and three presentation areas that Executive Pastor Adam DeVizia said will include a ministry area for people with special needs. More office space is also in the works to bring the entire team under one roof for collaboration, counseling and ministry support. Connect Church is planning to open its own weekday preschool, called Connect Academy, on-site in April, DeVizia said. The growing congregation hosts three Sunday services, at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., and the church website states the expansion will provide a 52% increase in square footage for elementary-age children, with themed classrooms for each grade level. There will also be double the current number of small group rooms for children, with age-specific spaces for imaginative play. An already completed event venue is included in the expansion for weddings, community gatherings and business events, the website states.