Friday, Jun. 13, 2008

Heartland to move into former Rhodes building

Instead of offering furniture for sale to the public as it once did, the warehouse-style building south of 119th Street and Strang Line Road will one day offer worship and children’s and youth activities to families and individuals throughout Johnson County.

Heartland Community Church purchased the former Rhodes Furniture building at 12175 S. Strang Line Road in February. The more than 20-year-old nondenominational congregation, now housed in a 60-year-old former Shawnee Mission school district school building at 8301 Lamar Ave. in Overland Park, plans to transform the 108,000-square-foot structure into its new home — complete with a 1,200-seat auditorium, a bookstore, a large youth area and more than 750 parking spaces.

Jim Gum, Heartland’s executive pastor, said the first phase of remodeling at the future church will begin in August, and the congregation hopes to move in by September 2009.

Gum said Heartland officials considered remodeling their current facility about two years ago, but they soon concluded that their plans potentially would not work. A search team composed of church staff members and lay people with expertise in real estate and architecture began looking for a structure that could be converted into a church.

“Eventually Rhodes just showed up as a place that might meet our requirements,” Gum said. “The church has been growing steadliy for the past several years. After the enthusiastic response to our capital campaign, we were able to acquire a facility that will meet our needs for many years to come. We’re grateful for the new place and the opportunity we will have to reach more people.

“We’re trying to be very conscious as we prepare the building for its next use, and we’re hoping to be as ‘green’ as we can.”

Last month, added Gum, about 60 volunteers pulled up carpet that will be recycled along with light fixtures, ceiling tiles and other materials.

With an average of nearly 2,000 people attending Heartland’s three Sunday worship services, Gum said the church shuttles people about a quarter of a mile from the Broadmoor Technical Center on West 83rd Street to its building because of a lack of adequate parking spots. Heartland’s current sanctuary will seat only 800 people, he added.

Because the church’s mission statement reads, “... to build a church for the unchurched,” Gum said the congregation’s lack of “seats, spots and space” is creating a barrier for potential visitors.”

“We want to make it easy for people to come and check out our church,” he said.

Designed by 360 Architecture with remodeling to be coordinated by A.L. Huber Construction Inc., Gum said the new Heartland will feature a glass entry garden, an 18,000-square-foot atrium and three 450-square-foot light boxes that will bring daylight into the center of the building.

“I think it’s going to feel very open, transparent and inviting,” he said. “It’s really going to feel like a completely different place.”

Submit an ad