RENOVATION REVOLUTION

The world of religious facility design is at a continual crossroads — the intersection of preserving a rich history and responding to an ever-changing landscape of future-focused congregations. Renovation creates a clear path from your past to your future.

At BLDD, we help church communities navigate this journey as effortlessly as possible through innovative, transformative renovations of historic, underutilized and reimagined spaces, so you can transform lives through God’s word today.

Our goal is to restore life, vigor and activity to your church by re-imagining environments to create truly transformative architecture.

Re•STORE & Re•NEW

Preserve the iconic qualities of your church through renovation, while updating and re-imagining its use to best serve your congregation.

Built in 1882, St. Columba Catholic Church in Ottawa, IL, was in need of repair. Working with a long-term goal of creating a solution that would last 100 years, BLDD developed a two-phase plan to restore and preserve the landmark church, while preparing it for future generations.

During the first phase of renovation, the facade was restored, a new slate roof was added, the original stained glass was repaired and restored, new front doors were installed and increased accessibility features were added.

Learn More

Re•INVENT

Transform an underutilized area of your church or create a new worship destination by reinventing an existing space for a different purpose.

From warehouse to WOW, Willow Creek Community Church in Crystal Lake, IL, needed a space that could reach their growing community and serve its congregation for generations to come. BLDD converted a 193,000-square-foot warehouse on a 25-acre campus into a contemporary worship center that could accommodate more than 4,000 weekly attendees, with room for growth.

Learn more

What is the value?

Renovating your church can not only preserve part of your rich history, but it can also offer a sustainable, efficient and cost-saving solution. Some of the values of renovation include:

Time Savings — renovation is typically faster than new construction
Material Savings — renovation requires fewer “new” materials, and thus creates less landfill waste
Societal Savings — renovating existing structures reduces displacement in urban communities
Cost Savings — many federal, state and local municipalities offer tax incentives and/or grants for renovating historic buildings

Historically, our clients have saved 20-25% by investing in a major renovation compared to building new.

The costs of renovations can vary greatly based on a number of factors, such as:

Building Type — Will the building need a sanctuary? A gym? Classrooms? Gathering areas?
Location — Is the facility located in a metropolitan or rural location?
Project Scope — Is the project small or large? The efficiency phenomenon known as “economy-of-scale” can work in your favor as the project increases in size.
Quality — Does the project require a high level of detail or the use of premium building materials?
Existing Conditions — Is the structure of significant age or has not been maintained well?
Hazardous Materials — Are there asbestos containing materials and lead paint present?

Join the renovation revolution

Download Our White Paper