Arlington Center for Community Engagement

About the Project

St. Albans Episcopal Church created the Arlington Center for Community Engagement and Wellspring on Main after losing their building and renting space in a theater for 13 years. The congregation, with support from the Diocese of Texas, is rethinking the nature of religious space and the traditional presence of church in the community.

The project is located in the downtown cultural district of Arlington, Texas, within the former JC Penney–Arlington Museum of Art building. The renovation will transform the existing structure into a community gathering hall—a secular space designed to bring people together for the betterment of the community. As the parish describes it:

“Here is where a variety of people cross paths and get to know one another in order to build respect for the dignity of every human being. By providing lower-cost workspace for community-building non-profit organizations, gathering spaces for small to medium-sized groups and the arts, as well as programs that address poverty and cross-cultural discord, Wellspring facilitates health and well-being for all.”

Duvall Decker is serving as development consultant and design architect for the project. The team has built a broad base of consensus among stakeholders and partners, including the City of Arlington, the Diocese of Texas, the Arlington Museum of Art, the University of Arlington College of Architecture, the Brookings Institute, and the Episcopal Church Building Fund.

The 56,000-square-foot, mixed-use development will be realized in two phases:

• Phase I: Gathering hall, church, and nonprofit offices
• Phase II: Restaurant, coffee shop, office space, and affordable housing organized around a public courtyard

Duvall Decker is assisted by Design Jones, Walter P. Moore, Newcomb & Boyd, Tillotson Design Associates, and Graham Associates.

Publications

• The Architect’s Newspaper, Studio Visit, 2023