General contractor Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K), says it has started construction on Our Lady of Mercy Parish Life Center in Boca Grande. The new parish center will be built at 221 West Railroad Ave., just south of the church campus on Park Avenue.
The proposed parish center is designed to blend into the existing Our Lady of Mercy style of architecture, the contractor says in a statement. The new center will be 3,604 sq. ft. with a vestibule, commercial kitchen and almost 2,000 sq. ft. of open meeting area.
A sloped covered walkway will connect the existing church to the new center. The project includes demolition of an existing residence on the property, a crushed granite parking lot, sidewalk and landscaping. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“During season, the church is filled five times a day and on many occasions, with standing room only,” said Rev. Jerome A. Carosella, pastor at Our Lady of Mercy. “We will have the potential to simulcast services from the church to the Parish Life Center. In addition, rather than congregating outside the church, our new building will allow parishioners to gather in the indoor space as well as attending other church functions.”
The O-A-K project manager is John Klockner and site superintendent is Larry Walther. Abel Natali, O-A-K vice president, is the chief estimator. The architect is Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP.