Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Company (O‑A‑K), a preeminent general contractor with a longstanding presence in Southwest Florida, has begun construction on Our Lady of Mercy Parish Life Center in Boca Grande. The new parish center will be built at 221 West Railroad Avenue, just south of the church campus on Park Avenue.
The proposed parish center is designed to blend into the existing Our Lady of Mercy style of architecture. The new center will be 3,604 square feet with a vestibule, commercial kitchen, and almost 2,000 square feet of open meeting area. A sloped covered walkway will connect the existing church to the new center. The project includes demolition of an existing residence on the property, a crushed granite parking lot, sidewalk, and landscaping. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
"During season, the church is filled five times a day and on many occasions, with standing room only," said Rev. Jerome A. Carosella, pastor at Our Lady of Mercy. "We will have the potential to simulcast services from the church to the Parish Life Center. In addition, rather than congregating outside the church, our new building will allow parishioners to gather in the indoor space as well as attending other church functions."
The O‑A‑K project manager is John Klockner and the site superintendent is Larry Walther. Abel Natali, O‑A‑K vice president, is the chief estimator. The architect is Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP.
An employee-owned company, O‑A‑K Florida, Inc.'s Board of Directors is comprised of members from the company's Florida operations. Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build, and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982.
O‑A‑K's Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Florida operation has offices in Collier and Lee counties. Its Lee County office is located at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Learn more about O‑A‑K at www.owen‑ames‑kimball.com or call (239) 561-4141.
