Renovation of the former South Bend Tribune printing press building has transformed the space into a new home for the South Bend City Church. The central downtown location has proven to be very beneficial for the community, however it also created obstacles for our team during the construction process. Navigating with large equipment like boom lifts and forklifts in a narrow space was a constant challenge throughout the project. Additionally, diesel fumes that were emitted resulted in much of the equipment being switched to electric. Three months alone of this project were dedicated to demolition of the existing building, while some demolition tasks of the ceiling included heights of up to 62 feet.

Repurposing the 16,851-square-foot building has been significant for community connection and highly impactful for members of the church to officially have a place to call their own. The church’s stage is located in the center of the open sanctuary, but is also transportable, which creates a vast amount of flexibility for the layout of the room. The project was completed within budget and on schedule, giving members the opportunity to worship Christ in their own building on Easter.