Schedule:  Preliminary Design was completed in 2011

JMEC has been structural engineer for a feasibility study and preliminary design of a $9 millions church expansion project, which included a sanctuary addition and improvements to a Type III 2-story building with a basement.   Two levels and a roof playground will be added to the existing building of 15,233 SF.  The approximate gross floor area (including additions) is 28,884 SF.

The additional two floors require extensive strengthening of existing building with additional new walls/pilasters and foundations.  Steel truss joints are required to span 50-ft at the sanctuary level and the balcony. Partial underpinning of adjacent existing building will be required for foundation construction.  The existing historical building facade on Jackson Street will be preserved and stabilized by temporary bracing during construction.

Both concrete and steel design alternatives have been considered.  The need for a tower crane makes the concrete alternative more costly due to the confined construction area.