From the Ground Up: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church addition

Owner: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
General contractor: BP Builders LLC
Architects: Buf Studio LLC; and Olsson Inc., landscape
Engineers: Olsson Inc., civil; Miller Engineering LLC, structural; and Schober Engineering LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing
Size: 4,300 square feet
Cost: $2.3 million
Funding source: Capital campaign
Estimated completion: December
Project description: The just-completed renovation of its sanctuary, worship space and support areas is only part of a project to support the growth of the 19-year-old St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church; a new classroom wing is also in the works to add more than 4,000 square feet of space for Sunday school and community use as well as office and work space for staff. The church’s website notes the project started with the formation of a building committee to ponder the question of how to provide a better learning environment, and the addition – called the faith formation building – was the result of their efforts. The building will house the parish school of religion on Sundays, and other events for the church and the entire community can be hosted in the facility through the week. The website notes planners originally envisioned a 5,600-square-foot building, but the committee challenged the design team to come up with a smaller building to meet the parish’s basic needs. “We believe the revised floor plan is affordable and will serve the parish well into the future,” the website says.