Grae-Con Delivers Design/Build Expertise for Vineyard Church's Children's Wing Project

The Vineyard Church of Wheeling, West Virginia is embarking on a new design/build project for a children's ministry center to address the area's lack of childcare services. The new center will be named Vineyard Christian Fellowship Children's Center & Café. 

Grae-Con, in partnership with McKinley Architecture and Engineering, is the design/build firm working on the project. The building being renovated is three stories and 39,000 square feet. Previously, it was a music center, dance studio, and temporary FBI building. The first and second floors, which make up 26,000 square feet, are being renovated for the new children's center.

Safety is a top priority for the project, with the goal to accommodate 300 children—newborns through sixth grade. In addition to safety, Grae-Con and the church want to ensure the facility is welcoming and inviting. The design/build process ensures that those goals are met while controlling costs throughout all phases of construction.

The project is being funded by church donations and historical tax credits. Vineyard Church initiated a fundraiser goal of $2.5 million through a commitment campaign called Bridging the Gap. They've already exceeded their goal, having raised $2.9 million from parishioners.

Grae-Con was the ideal choice for Vineyard Church, as they have experience working with places of worship. As an added bonus, Jack Boston, a parishioner of the church, is acting as Project Manager. Jack said, "We pride ourselves on our craftsmanship and interactions with owners, working with architects to streamline the design process, and managing the bidding process to stay within an owner's budget.”

The Vineyard Church's project is expected to be completed by August 1, 2024, and will offer much-needed childcare services to the community. According to Jack, "It's a commitment to the children and their future—to give them the tools they need to make decisions through life."