Conference Center gears up to break new ground
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new home of the Baltimore-Washington Conference Center is expected to be held in early October in the Maple Lawn community of Howard County.
“This is an exciting time for the Baltimore-Washington Conference and it is well over due. A groundbreaking ceremony shows that once you stick the shovel in the ground, it is time to get to work and move things forward. Excitement will continue to build as we move forward,” said the Rev. Robert Slade, a member of the Conference Center building committee.
The new facility will be a customized space that provides a centralized location for all members of the conference to call home. Located off of Routes 216 and 29, between Baltimore and Washington, the new Conference Center will house the bishop and nearly 60 members of the conference resource team and will offer ample size meeting rooms and parking space for more than 200.
Additionally, Cokesbury Christian Bookstore may potentially be adding a retail location on the ground floor of the building to serve as a resource to the community and everyone who visits the Conference Center — a partnership that is expected to draw great excitement, Slade said.
The new Conference Center building is an excellent investment, which will, over 20 years, create a $3.9 million savings in apportioned expenses. It will also allow the conference to build an
estimated net equity value of nearly $11 million, said Charlie Moore, president of the Council of Finance and Administration.
“This new building project is a win-win situation for everyone, including the local churches. It will be a tremendous savings in apportionment dollars,” said Slade.
Turner Construction, which built the new dining facility at West River Camp, will be the general contractor for the new building project. Design Collective, an architectural firm that designed many well-known buildings in the Baltimore area, is the architect.
Initial plans for the three-story building capitalize on available light with the strategic placement of windows, and provide a number of well-designed meeting spaces for conference members and events.
“I am proud that this will be a place members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference can call home for years to come,” said Bishop John R. Schol.
Opportunities to contribute to this project are available for congregations, groups, businesses and individuals.
Visit www.bwcumc.org/newbuilding for regular progress reports and photos.
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