Over the past several months, our A.O. Wagner Construction team has focused on an extensive two-phase project for the First Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven. The project started in March and is scheduled for completion in October 2025.
Today, we are breaking down each phase into two groups, Phase I and Phase II. Each will give you an idea of the scope of the project, what it entails, the description of what is completed, and our team’s progress. So let’s dive in.
PHASE I
Phase I focuses on the interior of the Fellowship Hall, Centennial Room, Entrance Lobby, four bathrooms, the back meeting room, and kitchen pantry. Though this phase began in March, we are about 80% done with this portion of the project.
The last part of the work consists of remodeling the women’s ADA and non-ADA bathrooms and finishing the carpet flooring in the fellowship hall, meeting room, and pantry. Outside of that, other items will be listed on a punch list and addressed once the upgrades mentioned are completed.
Fellowship Hall
The hall has received a new acoustical ceiling system with stained wooden beams and new can lighting. The existing columns, however, have since been wrapped in the same wood material but painted instead of stained. Each column will receive a tubular light that will shine upwards, revealing the aesthetics of the ceiling system.
The walls have been painted, and the new trim has been installed. Six new ductless mini-splits were also installed in the Fellowship Hall to keep it cool when it is occupied with parishioners and visitors. The new carpet flooring is currently being installed and is expected to be ready by the middle of next week.
Centennial Room
The room that connects the front lobby to the fellowship hall, also known as the Centennial room, has also received a new ceiling system with 2×2 LED light lay-ins. Before, the walls were covered in wallpaper. As of now, that has been removed, and the walls were skim-coated with new texture and paint. The trim within this room has also been painted and is scheduled to receive new carpet, like the Fellowship Hall.
Front Lobby
The front lobby has also received a new ceiling system and lights. Outside of that, the only things this room will receive will be new marble tile flooring, fresh paint, and a new elevator door surface.
Meeting Room
Located east of the fellowship hall, the meeting room has been designed to host church meetings and private functions. This room has already received a new ceiling system with can lighting, along with exposed spiral ductwork for air conditioning. This room will receive fresh paint and new carpet flooring similar to the fellowship hall and centennial room.
Laundry/Washroom
As an existing room meant to uphold its original purpose, the laundry room has already received new LVT flooring. This flooring will also be installed in the Kitchen Pantry. Outside of this, the walls need repairs, and new lighting will be installed.
Women’s Restrooms
We are currently working in this area to modernize the women’s bathroom. The bathrooms will receive new floor tile and base, new bathroom fixtures, fresh paint, new bathroom partitions, vanities, bath hardware, ceiling systems, and lights.
Men’s Restroom
Outside of cleaning, this restroom has been completed. This bathroom has received new floor tile and base, new bathroom fixtures, fresh paint, new bathroom partitions, a wall-hung lavatory, bath hardware, ceiling systems, and lights.
PHASE II
Phase II is focusing on the exterior portion of the church that faces Hwy 17 and involves building a large facade wall in front of the church. This improvement is designed to contribute to the beautification of the surrounding streetscape, for example, other buildings, sidewalks, and open spaces, while strengthening the security and aesthetics of the property.
Facade Wall
The new wall will have eight architectural columns. Each will stand approximately 20 feet tall and will be wrapped in red brick, giving them a traditional look. The columns will be evenly spaced and connect with the existing Youth Building, giving it a strong and durable architectural presence.
Between the columns, the facade will incorporate modern materials, including metal Berridge paneling and smooth stucco finishes, to create a clean, updated, and contemporary look. Currently, we have completed 75% of the block work for this wall. The next step will consist of wrapping everything in red brick to match the aesthetic of the church.
Soup Kitchen PEMB (Pre-Engineered Metal Building) Exterior
This scope of work includes the construction of a new front entrance to the soup kitchen featuring a smooth stucco finish, a combination of TPO and metal roofing for durability and efficiency, new epoxy flooring, sidewalks, storefront doors and windows, and modern Berridge paneling.
The 50’ x 50’ metal building has already received new Multi-V Panel 26ga Ash Gray metal paneling and a new roof. Although not insulated before, we have installed new insulation on the interior of the walls to control the hot temperatures during the summer months. This building used to have only roll-up doors; however, we have installed a walk-through door for easier day-to-day access.
Soup Kitchen PEMB (Pre-Engineered Metal Building) Interior
As mentioned in the last description, the inside of the building has been insulated. We have installed new UFO-style LED lighting to replace the old lighting, and next week, the flooring is scheduled to receive new epoxy. We are currently still working on this building.
Youth Building Roof
This building will receive a new metal roof. The current roof was demo’d, any wood decking that was damaged has been repaired, and is now dried in. This metal coverage is similar to the soup kitchen roof material mentioned above.
In addition to improving curb appeal, this project will provide added security for the building and contribute to the city’s ongoing beautification efforts. These upgrades line up with the broader revitalization goals of the area and demonstrate a commitment to maintaining Winter Haven’s architectural integrity and community values.
A.O. Wagner Construction provides full-service general contracting, management services, and design/build construction throughout Central Florida. We love serving Winter Haven, Lakeland, Davenport, Haines City, Auburndale, Avon Park, and neighboring areas! Follow our Project Build Blog to see more of our past projects. For more information, please email us at info@aowagnerfl.com or call 863-299-4444.