by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Jumping into the mouth of Jonah the Whale would normally seem like a scary thing to children, but not at the First Baptist Church’s Children’s Building and Welcome Center.
“They have a spiral sliding board that goes from the third floor down to the second floor and when they enter the slide they are entering the mouth of Jonah the Whale,” said Jack Belt, vice president and senior project manager of The Auchter Company.
“It is truly a children’s building,” said Belt. “There will be a lot of bright colors and graphics that would appeal to children. I think it is a great addition, not only to downtown as a beautiful building, but it provides a facility for children to attend Bible school and have fun.”
Bruce Barry of Wacky World Studios, a Tampa-based company, is creating the artwork.
According to Susan Tucker Johnson, communications administrator for the church, the stairwells will feature cartoonish pictures and Bible verses.
“There will be an arcade, children’s playhouse theater and a gym,” said Johnson.
The 120,000 square-foot building bounded by Ashley, Laura, Beaver and Main streets should be complete by June.
“We will be occupying the building in July and our grand opening will be in August,” said Dudley Freeman, construction administrator for the church.
Belt said they have not run into any construction problems in the latter part of the project and work is on schedule.
“The only thing lacking on the outside is the windows, which are going in place now, and a little bit of detail over windows,” said Belt. “It’s pretty far along.”
The walkways, which connect the center to the existing church, will have glass on each side and will be air-conditioned.
“Ninety-five percent of the walls have been built, they need to be finished and painted,” said Belt. “The ceiling work is not done yet. All of the mechanical and electrical rough-in [wiring, ductwork, sprinkler system] is completed. We are installing the elevators and terrazzo flooring on the first floor right now. We are doing everything we can do on the inside right now.”
Freeman said the center will serve about 1,000 elementary age children. Currently, the middle school and high school utilize the existing building on 124 W. Adams St. and that will continue after the center is complete.
The children’s building will be utilized for Sunday school in the morning and evening, and for Wednesday evening programs.
“We also have activities going on other times during the week,” said Freeman.
Freeman said the church’s Family Ministries offices will move into the children’s building and will be a five-day operation.
“The first floor will be occupied for family ministries, visitor’s area, new member classroom and a welcome center,” said Freeman. “The second and third floors will be classroom spaces.”