First Baptist Woodway

One of the highlights of this building is the extraordinary play area built inside. Pearson transformed the building’s pipe columns into trees by welding additional pipes to create the look of tree branches, surrounding the columns with layered gypsum board cut in scalloped patterns, and painted to simulate the tree’s leaves. Pearson laid carpet specially designed for children’s play with a 1.5” pad and playground pattern. The carpet provides an area for children to actively play while minimizing scrapes and bruises if they take a tumble. All features combined make for an aesthetically appealing response upon entering the building.

Carefully planned security measures were adopted to protect the children. Crews worked extensively with the church coordinator to stage construction so that children could access the existing exterior playground as much as possible throughout the construction process. The challenge was overcome by planning stages of development according to the school and church schedule and by building a fence surrounding and protecting the playground.

The new facility has various safety provisions. Visitors must pass a security desk upon entering the facility and cannot move beyond the lobby area without approved access. Church members and employees are not allowed access to the children’s area without a closely monitored electronic access card.

This First Baptist Church of Woodway houses a thriving congregation with a quickly growing number of families with young children. In 1993, the church opened Woodway Christian School offering preschool services to three and four-year-olds and has since expanded to include kindergarten through eighth grade. Church leaders also decided to expand the facilities by adding a three-story brick veneer building constructed for use by the school and the Mother’s Day Out children’s ministry program.

Pearson completed all work on behalf of First Baptist Church Woodway on-schedule and in-budget.