Madison Place Adaptive Reuse Community Center

By taking the old, celebrating its past and making it better, AMDG created a platform for Madison to expand their ministries and ultimately their reach.  Working with Pinnacle Construction, Madison and AMDG effectively collaborated to revitalize, both physically and spiritually, a part of the Madison Avenue streetscape.

Transforming People and Buildings

Madison Square Church is about “transforming people’s lives.” (Pastor Dave Beelen)  In a related way, Madison envisioned a social space that could meet the needs of members, draw neighborhood youth and connect the local community with the Christian church in a casual, unintimidating and welcoming way.  To realize that vision, Madison desired much needed program space including a multipurpose room to support meetings, educational and ministry-focused programs, dedicated youth space, and a food pantry.

AMDG partnered with Madison to design and program building space as an instrument for the church to impact people’s lives in its urban Southside Grand Rapids neighborhood.  Designing to fit the vision and ministries at Madison, AMDG transformed what was an old dilapidated building into a dynamic community center.

A freestanding building within walking distance of the existing church campus presented an exciting opportunity to aid Madison in providing much needed program space a few steps away and in welcoming neighbors from all walks of life.  The street facing pedestrian site is enhanced by inviting canopies that publicly convey an outward reaching expression.  Stepping in off Madison Avenue, the main entry unfolds into a bright open multi-use area for hosting community activities, congregational and youth events, presentations and receptions.

Representative of Madison’s mission, banners in the existing worship space were the starting point for a vibrant color palette for the renovated building that reflects the church’s diversity and welcoming spirit.  The four banners signify Madison’s mission to reach up, in, out and across through worship, edification, celebration and service.

Adapting Resources to Build Community

Madison desired to steward their available resources as they sought building space for ministry and community development.

By adapting a vacant aging building with a long history of varying industrial uses AMDG enabled Madison to reuse existing property in keeping with goals for stewardship and sustainability.  AMDG incorporated interesting existing architectural elements that tell the story of its former uses and enhance the edgy character of the building.  Extensive cleaning of brick, repainted metal barn doors, exposed steel structure and freshly dyed (previously heavily worn and oiled) concrete floors highlight those unique time-telling features.

By taking the old, celebrating its past and making it better, AMDG created a platform for Madison to expand their ministries and ultimately their reach.  Working with Pinnacle Construction, Madison and AMDG effectively collaborated to revitalize, both physically and spiritually, a part of the Madison Avenue streetscape.