Elevation Church will build a $9.1 million sanctuary in Rock Hill’s Riverwalk development, a building large enough to handle 1,100 worshipers each Sunday.
The 34,233-square-foot structure will be built in Riverwalk Business Park and is expected to be complete in December, says Joshua Blackson, operations pastor.
Elevation already attracts close to 1,250 worshipers each week to its Sunday session held at Sullivan Middle School in Rock Hill, says Tim Fara, Elevation Rock Hill pastor.
“Though Sullivan has served us well, we can’t wait to open up more seats and be an even greater resource for hope and help in our community,” Fara says.
GRH Development Resources, a development firm closely associated with the Riverwalk owner, will develop the project. David Williams, managing director of GRH, says the business park is a perfect location for Elevation.
“The site is ideal for a church that seeks to offer quick I-77 access to people who live in a wide geographic area,” he says.
Elevation Church, which operates a base of 160 employees at its Matthews headquarters, meets at 13 locations in and around Charlotte and in Raleigh and Roanoke, Va.
Each week, the church draws more than 22,000 to Sunday meetings at the various locations. Elevation estimates it online audience grew to 15.5 million in late 2015. Sermons are carried on N.C. television stations including WSOC-TV in Charlotte.
Revenue in 2015 reached $41.3 million, according to the church’s annual report.
Riverwalk is a 1,000-acre, master-planned mixed-use residential community on the Catawba River at the Cherry Road exit of Interstate 77.
Choate Construction Co. will build the church for Elevation. Designer is LS3P Associates Ltd. George Macon of Merrifield Patrick Vermillion Properties represented Elevation in the deal with Riverwalk.
