Wayzata Community Church: Innovative Design for Worship, Learning & Connection

Project Overview

BKBM provided structural engineering services for a comprehensive $6 million renovation and addition project at Wayzata Community Church. This project enhanced campus access, improved worship and ministry spaces, and supported the church’s long-term growth with major updates and new construction.

Project Highlights

  • Facility Renovation & Expansion:
    • Replaced the existing porte cochere with a larger, more functional entry canopy to accommodate greater traffic and improve visual impact.
    • Expanded the existing chapel, which involved the removal and replacement of the sloped wood roof and increasing the basement floor footprint.
    • Added new canopies to the east and southwest entries, improving wayfinding for daycare and chapel attendees.
    • Replaced an existing dormered roof structure (approx. 46’x58’) at the campus center with a full-height floor to create a large, open gathering space for high school ministry.
  • Cost-Effective, Collaborative Solutions:
    • The original roof structure for the high school ministry area was changed from steel trusses with an attic space to a flat roof for rooftop mechanical units during construction, reducing costs and facilitating easier material placement given crane access limitations.
    • All solutions were developed in close collaboration with the architect, contractor, and mechanical engineer.
  • Earlier Expansion – Enrichment Center:
    • BKBM previously engineered a 50,000-square-foot, three-story Enrichment Center addition featuring spaces for intergenerational gatherings, music, administration, classrooms (science, art, computer), and future expansion.
    • The structural system featured precast plank floors with steel beam/column supports and perimeter masonry walls. Roof framing utilized steel hip roofs and large steel trusses.

Engineering Solutions

BKBM delivered innovative, adaptable structural systems across both renovation and new construction phases. Solutions balanced architectural vision, cost management, and constructability, all while ensuring durability and a welcoming environment for multi-generational ministry and community activity.

Results & Impact

Wayzata Community Church’s revitalized campus now offers expanded, flexible spaces for worship, connection, and learning. BKBM’s structural engineering enabled transformative upgrades that reflect the church’s commitment to access, community, and continued service for all ages.