DALLAS — First Baptist Dallas is working with Dallas-based design and construction company The Beck Group on the rebuilding of the church’s 130-plus-year-old sanctuary after it was destroyed by a fire in July.
Beck has previously worked with First Baptist Dallas on other projects, including a $130 million campus expansion, which finished in 2013, then on the expansion of the Horner building. Beck has also worked with other large churches in the area, including The Potter’s House, Prestonwood Baptist Church and Gateway.
“I’ve just come from a design meeting with our architects, Beck architecture, during which we looked at some early initial concepts for what might be rebuilt here on this historic sanctuary site,” said First Baptist Dallas Executive Pastor Ben Lovvorn in an update Thursday. “Because we’re moving at such an expedited pace with this project, we hope to be able to bring you some of those broad early concepts in just the next few weeks.”
In the meantime, Lovvorn said they’re working on restoring the Criswell Center. He said some demolition work has been done in the interior of the building, and they’re also working on restoring power to the campus.
“It’ll enable us to continue the work that is ongoing here. Ultimately, we’ll have a permanent solution to that major issue,” Lovvorn said.
He said church officials are also awaiting answers from the ongoing investigation into the fire.
“Once we get those answers, that will guide us in how to proceed with that investigation. We’re looking forward to bringing that to a conclusion so we can really proceed with the demolition that needs to take place on the interior of that historic sanctuary site,” Lovvorn said.
