New Psalmist Baptist Church

CAM was selected as the Construction Manager at Risk for this important new house of worship following months of intense drawing review, owner meetings, and scope evaluation. CAM was able to reduce the project cost by more than five million dollars in order to meet the owner’s initial budget and proceed to contract.

The objective and design intent of the Holy City of Zion project, as it is named by the Church, is to provide an enduring and well-planned campus that will inspire spirited exchanges between God, visitors, members, and staff and to reinforce a sense of the campus community and pride. The campus will provide a variety of indoor as well as outdoor spaces for a wide range of academic and social activities, including productions, exhibitions, special events, and casual gatherings.

Complex electronics, sound, and broadcasting systems support the ministry of New Psalmist Baptist Church, which airs weekly on both radio and television stations throughout the Baltimore area.

Phase One of this campus wide project includes a 185,000 square foot ministry structure with accommodations for a Pre-K – Elementary School, a sanctuary that seats approximately 4,000, a 185-seat choir loft, a large narthex for gathering, a banquet hall, a commercial kitchen to support both Church banquets and off site catering ministry, two large book stores, administrative offices, multi-use classroom/meeting areas, support areas, extensive landscaping, and parking for approximately 1,500 vehicles. Future phases include a smaller sanctuary building, a family life center, and ancillary structures. CAM continues to work with the Church as they plan additional new buildings.

With the Church’s campus located in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County, construction presented some challenges not usually encountered on a single site. However, both the City and County were immensely pleased that this dynamic Church, with its thousands of congregants and more than 1,000 annual events, has elected to relocate to the Seton Business Park, close to the historic Seton Hospital structure, which is currently the home to the national headquarters for the NAACP. Completion coincided with the celebration honoring the 100^th anniversary of the founding of New Psalmist Baptist Church.