After months of prayer and weeks of feasibility studies, we’ve decided to move forward with the contract on what we think is the last piece of property on Capitol Hill. At least it’s the last piece that is sizable and developable in a strategic location. We couldn’t be more excited. We’ll continue launching new locations in the meantime. I’m guessing we’ll have ten locations before this campus would be built. But we need the space and it helps to know that a project is in the works! We’ll begin the architectural process in September.

Many years ago my father-in-law did a cross-country tour of churches as they prepared to build on 120 acres of property in Naperville, Illinois. I’m thinking about a field trip as we prepare to build a campus on Capitol Hill. We’re in a very urban context so the building will be vertical as opposed to horizontal. But we have capacity to build anywhere between 40,000 to 75,000 square feet. We’re thinking coffeehouse component that will expand Ebenezers into a chain. We’re thinking a theater that could have both movie and performance capabilities, as well as, serving as our sanctuary space. We’d like to build a children’s facility that can also be a Monday-Friday ministry to our community via daycare and pre-school. And we need to design office space for our current and future staff needs.

Anybody want to recommend some “must-see” churches that have an urban flavor? I’m also open to some suburban churches if we can adapt their horizontal designs into vertical ones. What church designs do I need to see in person or online?