Restoration/Renovation

Maugel and TFMoran Design Church Redevelopment

Highrock Church rendering

Arlington, MA – TFMoran Structural Engineers (TFM) and Maugel Architects contributed to a collaborative design effort to repurpose a former industrial building into a worship and community center for Highrock Church.

Located in Arlington, the existing building (c.1900), originally built for manufacturing purposes, was most recently used for auto repair and auto parts warehousing. The project includes 19,700sf of worship and support spaces, with construction slated to begin in March 2021.

“Planning and design for Highrock’s Arlington campus has been a dedicated, team effort that’s been years in the making,“ said Dan Barton, principal at Maugel Architects. “Along with our engineering and construction partners, we are eager to revitalize these buildings by celebrating their industrial character and transforming them into a unique, welcoming and flexible place for worship and community activities.”

The project team includes Delphi Construction, CM; Design Day Associates, mechanical; Pristine Engineers, electrical; Howard Stein Hudson, civil; TFM; and Maugel Architects. Specialist Wiss Janney and Elstner of Boston added to the team at the recommendation of TFM, and provided expertise in the scanning, testing and evaluation of the existing damaged concrete framing.

Inclusion of Delphi Construction and the engineering consultants early in the design process maximized construction efficiencies, resulting in cost savings and added benefits for Highrock Church. Historic facades at the rear of the building will be maintained, the roof structure will be replaced, and foundations will be retrofitted for a more functional, open worship space. Repairs will also be made to the existing concrete structure. A new lobby addition will also provide accessibility and connection to an adjacent church property.

“When you are adding new structure inside and next to existing buildings, there are a number of concerns regarding foundations and new framing that can greatly affect the project budget,” says TFMoran senior project manager and principal, Tom Lamb. “Communication between TFMoran, Maugel and Delphi was critical during the design process to understand which areas of concern had the greatest impact on the project.”