(Image courtesy of Galbraith Carnahan Architects)

Galbraith Carnahan Architects (GCA) announces design plans for Shechem, Hope Street Ministry’s newest facility that will offer a unique place for healing and community in one of the most broken and segregated areas of Milwaukee. The more than 21,000-square-foot facility will be located at 2510 West Capitol Drive and will serve men, women and children from the inner city to the suburbs. Services will be provided through programs including: Integrative Wellness, Addiction, Forgiveness, Education, Family Dynamics, Life Skills and Job Preparedness, and Healing from Trauma.

The facility will complement Hope Street’s existing three-story, 24-unit building located at 2522 West Capitol Drive, which has helped them to provide housing and shelter to the community. The new greenhouse’s name derives from to the Canaanite city of Shechem, which was a place of refuge for various tribes and travelers centuries ago. 

“The earliest greenhouses were built to cultivate exotic fruits and vegetables in harsh climate conditions. This greenhouse will do the same thing for the people of Milwaukee. It is a place for people who have been profoundly affected by the toxic environment they grew up in, their own poor choices, and drug or alcohol abuse,” said Ashley Thomas, executive director of Hope Street. “We believe this is the next step in our mission. We are charged to be an increasingly healthy part of our community.”

The three-story building is a site-specific project that will grow out of an urban infill lot adjacent to Hope Street’s existing space. Construction for the $5 million space is scheduled to begin in February 2018.

The large masonry walls of the building, which sit perpendicular to Capitol Drive are arranged in such a way as to allow views deep into the first floor café and aquaponics area. A physical greenhouse will be located on the second and third floors. The greenhouse will be central to the Life Skills and Job Preparedness programs, as participants will gain hard skills in order to pursue jobs at nurseries and greenhouses and in crop protection. 

The space will feature a high ceiling and glass windows that are standard to greenhouses in order to allow for plant growth and protection. There will be a slopped, glass ceiling and an arrangement of windows that overlook the street side of the building. GCA is implementing this continuous use of glass in the project in order to make the space clean, transparent and welcoming. At night, the glass will allow the building to literally glow; like a beacon to the community. 

“When Beyer Construction asked us to design a building that would directly impact residents of Milwaukee, we jumped at the opportunity,” said Nick Carnahan, partner at GCA. “Shechem exists to help equip and grow people for a new life. The building seeks to reinforce that through it’s unique, imaginative design in order to convey messages of possibility and discovery.  It’s really an honor to be involved in such an impactful project.”

There are a multitude of additional spaces in Shechem. The largest space is an athletic court complete with a digital scoreboard and enclosed viewing area, which will meet many needs of the Integrative Wellness Program. On the first floor there will be a dedicated space for Tablemaker, a for-profit social enterprise table and furniture company owned by Hope Street. Tablemaker will train and employ local residents to create beautiful, hand crafted heirloom-quality, custom pieces. Addiction and Education programs, GED tutoring, parenting courses, and sexual abuse counseling will be offered in the remaining spaces which are comprised of meeting rooms and classrooms.

Fundraising efforts are underway and the project is expected to be completed in December 2018.

Project Team

• Hope Street Ministry, owner
• Galbraith Carnahan Architects, design
• Beyer Construction, general contractor

Hope Street Ministry

Hope Street Ministry provides housing and shelter to individuals. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Milwaukee, the organization’s mission is to provide a safe place to live and a nurturing community where men, women and children in order to flourish. Hope Street operates seven programs: Integrative Wellness, Addiction, Forgiveness, Education, Family Dynamics, Life Skills and Job Preparedness, and Healing from Trauma. www.hopestreetministry.com

Galbraith Carnahan Architects 

Headquartered in Wauwatosa, WI, Galbraith Carnahan Architects (GCA) is a growing architectural firm in the Greater Milwaukee Area. Led by Joe Galbraith and Nick Carnahan, the firm values integrity, sustainability, and unique designs that are tailored to each client and site. Drawing cues from the client, the environment, and materials, GCA crafts timeless, practical buildings. www.galbraithcarnahan.com   

Beyer Construction

Beyer Construction is a full service construction firm focused on unique building projects that have high aesthetic and technical requirements. The company has renovated existing buildings and built new buildings in Milwaukee since 1951. www.beyer.com