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The BE&K Building Group is providing preconstruction
and construction services for a long-term, multimillion-dollar
building program for creating the “City of Light,”
an extensive new campus and corporate complex for The
Inspiration Networks, a leading ministry that has experienced
explosive growth. The name “City of Light”
is symbolic of the ministry’s mission and purpose
— ”light” is a central theme of Christianity.
The campus is being constructed in Lancaster County, South
Carolina, outside the growing community of Indian Land.
The official dedication is planned for June 4, 2007.
The multifaceted campus is sited on 93 acres near the
South Carolina/North Carolina border, close to Charlotte
where The Inspiration Networks was founded in 1990. Our
firm’s scope of work for the initial construction
phase includes a significant amount of sitework, and encompasses
a corporate headquarters facility — designated the
World Reach Center Headquarters Facility — and the
International Prayer Center. The International Media Production
Facility, Inspiration Prayer Gardens and Tea House are
planned for Phase Two.
The need for a new campus is the direct result of 15 years
of steady and consistent growth. It also reflects the
need to accommodate new programming being produced for
both the network’s domestic and international audiences
and expansion of children’s, teen’s and women’s
outreaches.
Operations are now located in seven separate buildings
throughout Greater Charlotte, with production taking place
in two separate buildings. The City of Light will consolidate
all broadcast and ministry activities at one location,
bringing together nearly 500 employees. The new complex
— planned with future growth in mind — is
designed to accommodate up to 1,500 employees.
The architectural design for this unique, non-traditional
corporate complex is intended to capture The Inspiration
Network’s energy and passion, translating it into
a physical place that will become an internationally recognized
destination. The Boulevard of the Nations will provide
a grand entrance to the City of Lights corporate campus,
symbolizing the global vision for The Inspiration Networks'
entire organization.
Phase One’s sitework alone is valued at $10 million,
and includes hardscape components such as a lake with
fountains and walking paths, as well as a seven-spire
structure designed to represent the seven days of creation.
Special water features incorporated into the landscape
architecture and interior design will be a distinguishing
characteristic throughout the campus.
Dramatic shafts of light will provide one of the most
striking features of the new City of Light campus and
headquarters complex. When the project is completed, there
will be seven shafts emanating from the City of Light.
The seven shafts of light are symbolic of the ministry’s
commitment to people worldwide — across all seven
continents.
World Reach Center Headquarters Facility
The corporate headquarters facility will house administrative
offices, and include a rooftop terrace and a cafeteria.
The facility will feature a two-story lobby designed with
stone floors, wood paneling and glue lam arches, as well
as art glass.
The International Prayer Center and Inspiration
Prayer Gardens
The International Prayer Center will be multipurpose,
housing a small chapel — designed to seat up to
100 people — personal prayer rooms, an intercessors
center, and an inbound and outbound phone and prayer ministry.
The Inspiration Prayer Gardens will include prayer paths,
tranquil seating areas with water fountains and special
features.
International Media Production and Broadcast Facility,
and Distribution Facility
The International Media Production and Broadcast Facility
will house production facilities required to create programming
for children, teens and families on both a domestic and
international basis. The facility will include videotape
editing rooms, audio production rooms, audio control rooms,
central tape room, engineering room, foreign language
dubbing rooms, and seven major television studios. The
entrance to the facility will open to a three-story lobby.
The exterior design incorporates tilt-up concrete construction
with manufactured stone accents. A distribution facility
will be constructed as well to store and ship various
products produced by The Inspiration Networks.
An underground tunnel will be constructed to connect the
headquarters building and the media production and broadcast
facility.
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The Inspiration Networks
City of Light Corporate Campus
Indian Land, South Carolina
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| Project Location |
Indian
Land, South Carolina |
| Construction Value |
Phase
One —
$45 million
Facilities — $35 million
Sitework — $10 million
Phase Two —
$41.4 million
Facilities — $39.9 million Sitework —
$1.5 million
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| Building Size |
Total
— 387,400 sf
Phase One —
World Reach Center Headquarters Facility —
118,000 sf
International Prayer
Center and Inspiration Prayer Gardens —
22,700 sf
Phase Two —
International Media Production and
Broadcast Facility —
155,000 sf
Distribution Facility —
70,000 sf
Tea House — 21,700 sf |
| Completion |
Phase
One — 2007
Phase Two — To be determined |
| Assignment |
General
Contracting |
| Client |
The
Inspiration Networks |
| Architect |
Little
Diversified Architectural Consulting |
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Tea House
The Tea House will promote and celebrate the network’s
ever-growing female outreach ministry of the same name.
This facility will include a kitchen, dining room and
a bakery. The Tea House’s design features a curved
ceiling in the main dining area along with an ornamental
stairway and high-end finishes throughout.
About
The Inspiration Networks
The Inspiration Networks maintains four distinct television
network outreaches, covering more than 77 million households
in 38 countries. Domestically, The Inspiration Networks
ministry serves viewers through INSP-The Inspiration Network,
Inspirational Life Television (i-Lifetv), and La Familia
Cosmovision (LFC) (for the Hispanic community). Internationally,
the ministry has launched the Inspiration Network International
(INI) seen throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle
East. Plans are in progress to expand international distribution
to Central and South America, Africa and Asia. |
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