Merriman Anderson Architects introduces the second phase of renovations to the two historic Gospel Lighthouse church buildings in the Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas. The buildings are being repurposed for ministry and outreach opportunities for Dream Center Dallas, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and services in the areas of education, homelessness, hunger, poverty, addiction, abuse and human trafficking within Dallas, in partnership with Church Eleven32. 

The renovations include the conversion of the historic two-story church building to Dream Center Dallas’ meeting hall, offices, and a large commercial kitchen and food service. An existing one-story single family home on the property will be completely renovated, due to damage in the interior by a recent fire, and transformed into a coffee shop. Both buildings are adjacent to the Gospel Lighthouse Church sanctuary building, the original Gospel Lighthouse church, which is currently under construction to be used for Dream Center functions. 

The MAA team is providing solutions to water infiltration and adding an elevator for accessibility needs for the historic two-story building. The restrooms are being reconfigured and redesigned, and the kitchen will receive a complete renovation. The whole building will undergo remediation and refinishing.

“Our team is honored to renovate these historic buildings in Dallas and provide a home for the support Dream Center Dallas provides to our community,” said Merriman Anderson Architects Principal & Team Leader Jennifer Picquet-Reyes, AIA, LEED BD+C. “Since this project is a State of Texas Historic Tax Credit Project, our team has collaborated with the Texas Historical Commission to ensure the buildings adhere to the historic building standards.”  

The Dream Center first began in Los Angeles in 1994, serving as a resource center focused on providing support to those affected by homelessness, hunger, and lack of education through residential and community outreach programs. In 2020, Pastors Dustin and Jamie Bates established Dream Center Dallas, after partnering with LA Dream Center, in order to provide resources and services in the areas of education, homelessness, hunger, poverty, addiction, abuse, and human trafficking within Dallas.

MAA is providing architecture and interior design services for the project and is the Historic Preservation consultant for the project. The buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

For more information about MAA, please visit the company’s website merriman-maa.com.