Spartanburg Central United Methodist Church

Location: Spartanburg, SC

Project Manger/Main Contact: Matthew Stewart

Project Executive: Randal Ellison

Field Engineer: Juan Lopez

Architect: Lee Dorn, Johnson, Laschober & Associates, PC
 

A Historic Congregation Without Accessible Entry

Spartanburg Central United Methodist Church has served its congregation and the broader Spartanburg community for well over a century. But for members with mobility challenges, attending a Sunday service or community gathering meant navigating around the exterior of the building to a single back door, the only wheelchair-accessible entry point on the property. In a space built to welcome everyone, the lack of ADA-compliant access had become a true obstacle.

The church identified two critical and interconnected needs. First, the building required a modern elevator to provide safe, dignified, multi-floor access for all congregants and visitors and eliminate the dependency on that single, inconvenient back entrance. Second, 72 original exterior windows—many of which were installed as part of a 1930s-era addition—had deteriorated to the point of allowing persistent water intrusion, threatening the historic interior finishes, woodwork, and plaster that define the sanctuary's character.

Both scopes of work carried significant complexity. Installing an elevator and a full elevator shaft within the interior of a structure more than 100 years old meant contending with unforeseen structural conditions hidden behind decades of construction: outdated framing, concealed utilities, and material inconsistencies that could not be fully assessed until walls were opened. Every element of the renovation had to respect the architectural heritage of the building, matching historic styles and maintaining the visual integrity the congregation had come to cherish.

Perhaps most critically, the church needed to remain fully operational throughout the entire construction process. Sunday worship services, weddings, funerals, holiday programs, and community events could not be interrupted or diminished. The congregation needed a construction partner capable of executing deeply complex renovation work within an active space, and one who understood that preserving the experience of the building was every bit as important as improving it.

Careful Planning, Skilled Execution, and Deep Respect for a Sacred Space

Liles Construction partnered with the leadership of Spartanburg Central United Methodist Church to develop a Construction Management approach that addressed every technical, logistical, and relational challenge the project demanded. With more than 40 years of experience delivering complex projects across the Southeast, the Liles team brought both the institutional expertise and the relationship-driven process this project required.

Elevator Installation and Interior Renovation

The centerpiece of the project was the installation of a new ADA-compliant elevator within the existing 1930s addition—a scope of work that required constructing a full elevator shaft through the interior of a building never designed to accommodate one. As anticipated with a structure of this age, the team encountered typical but challenging unforeseen conditions throughout the process: hidden structural elements, outdated framing configurations, legacy utility routing, and material inconsistencies that demanded real-time problem-solving and adaptive construction methods. Liles's experienced field teams navigated each of these conditions without derailing the project timeline or compromising the structural integrity of the historic building.

Because the elevator displaced the room previously used by the Altar Guild, Liles also renovated several adjacent rooms to accommodate the Guild's relocation, ensuring the church's day-to-day operational functions were maintained without compromise. Every detail of the interior finish work was executed to blend seamlessly with the existing character of the building, respecting the craftsmanship of the original construction while delivering modern functionality.

Historic Window Replacement

Across the exterior of the church, Liles replaced all 72 deteriorated windows with historic-style replacement units that preserved the building's architectural character while delivering modern weatherproofing performance. The original windows had allowed ongoing water intrusion for years, causing progressive damage to interior plaster, woodwork, and decorative finishes. The new windows eliminated this threat, protecting the church's interior for decades to come. Each opening was carefully measured and fitted to maintain the visual consistency and period-appropriate appearance of the church's façade and the building's historic profile.

Working Around an Active Congregation

Throughout the duration of the project, Liles coordinated closely with church leadership to accommodate every service, ceremony, and gathering on the calendar. When events and activities were scheduled, the construction team would pause active work, thoroughly clean the affected areas, and fully restore the appearance of the church interior so that congregants and guests experienced the space exactly as they always had without visible signs of a construction project underway. This level of coordination required meticulous scheduling, proactive communication, and a genuine understanding that this building was not simply a jobsite but a place of worship, community, and deeply personal significance to its members.

The Result

The building now offers safe, discrete, ADA-compliant access for every member of the congregation. The 72 new historic-style windows preserve the church's architectural identity while protecting its interior from further water damage. And every phase of the work was completed without shutting down the operation of the church or disrupting the surrounding neighborhood.

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