Columbus church tower restoration completed
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The eight-month, $3.2 million restoration of the iconic tower of First Christian Church in Columbus has been completed.
Work on the 166-foot-high freestanding structure began in April and wrapped up in December, according to a news release from the Landmark Columbus Foundation, which along with the church and the Heritage Fund helped oversee the project.
Extensive work was required, including structural replacements, limestone repairs, brick replacements, ventilation and water vapor control improvements, restoration of the clock and roof upgrades.
First Christian Church, designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen and completed in 1942, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000. A 2014 engineering assessment of the church’s structures identified the tower as the largest and most complex item requiring attention.
Columbus-based Louis Joyner Architect oversaw the work, the news release said. Other firms involved included Fishers-based Arsee Engineers, Indianapolis-based The Engineering Collaborative, Indianapolis-based F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., and Ratio Architects, which has offices in Indianapolis.
A $3.2 million fundraising campaign began in August 2021 when the Wisconsin-based Jeffris Family Foundation announced it would match $1 for every $2 raised by supporters of the church, Inside INdiana Business reported in April when the tower renovation construction began.
About 70 other people and organizations provided the matching funds, including the National Park Service, which provided a $500,000 grant, and the National Fund for Sacred Places, which provided $250,000.
“The generosity, encouragement, and support from all sources have been overwhelming,” Tim Bond, executive minister of First Christian Church, said in the news release. “To know that such a diverse group from near and far have found an interest in the building, architecture, and history and can come together in harmony for a project like this is truly moving.”