Construction management firm IMPACT Strategies announced Friday it has been awarded a contract to build a new 31,000-square-foot church for First Baptist Church in Columbia.

Construction is under way and is expected to be completed this fall.

IMPACT began construction in October and, before the harsh winter weather set in, the company succeeded in preparing and grading the site’s ground- work. The area was a densely covered forest that required a lot of tree removal and ground preparation.

The new facility will have a 700-seat sanctuary and educational classrooms, providing the congregation the opportunity to worship and learn under one roof. Currently, the church utilizes a separate house on its property for its student ministry.

“The greatest asset of the new church building is that we’ll be able to continue to grow together as a family, and increase our capacity to impact Columbia and the world  for Christ,” Pastor Jonathan Peters said. “We have longed for the day where our building can match the size of God’s dream for our church and provide us with opportunities to bless our community. We look forward to moving into our new home.”

First Baptist Church will be located at 1200 Valmeyer Road on a 47-acre tract of land, which it purchased in 2004 in anticipation of building a new church and additional facilities in the future.

IMPACT Strategies is working in collaboration with architect Quadrant Design of Waterloo.