May 20, 2026

Construction is officially underway on the transformation and expansion of Fellowship Baptist Church, a project designed to modernize the church’s front-facing experience while enhancing accessibility, circulation, and community gathering spaces. The project includes a new two-story lobby addition, expanded restrooms, updated fellowship and coffee areas, ADA-compliant circulation improvements, and renovations to the existing front areas of the church. Exterior upgrades will introduce refreshed architectural elements, new glazing, roofing systems, and enhanced signage to create a more welcoming presence for both the congregation and the surrounding community.

Currently, construction activities are in full progress with demolition approximately 50% complete. The team has completed the building pad and is actively working through underground plumbing, electrical panel relocation, and structural footer installations for the new column systems. Upcoming milestones include concrete footers, CMU wall construction, slab placement, continued demolition activities, and anticipated structural steel delivery in mid-June.

One of the project’s most unique design elements is the integration of the church’s existing brick exterior wall into the new foyer space, preserving the history and character of the original structure while blending it with modern architectural features. Additional highlights include cloud acoustical ceiling panels, expansive glazing systems, and open gathering spaces designed to create a warm and inviting environment for fellowship and community engagement.

Located adjacent to a major freeway, the church’s highly visible location makes this project especially impactful for the surrounding Durham community. As the first major renovation and expansion since the church’s original construction in the early 1970s, the project represents a significant investment in the future of the congregation and its outreach efforts for years to come.