The Overland Park Community Church has been fully operational since 1972 and over the years has been a meeting place for fellowship in the community, a school facility for students, and a daycare for children.

After many years, a modernization project began to build prominence in the neighborhood and increase attendance at the church. For many who drive by, they can spot the new enhancements that line the building; however, one very symbolic structure stands out. At the front of the building facing the street, a 50-foot-tall, three-dimensional hot-dip galvanized cross impresses the congregation and community.

Due to the complex features of the steel elements, it was important that the structural steel framing and decorative steel members received a protective coating inside and out. Though there were other available methods to coat the steel, hot-dip galvanizing stood above the rest due to its corrosion protection from moisture infiltration. A final powder-coating finish of the decorative elements provided an aesthetic appeal for the overall look and feel of the church. Not only was hot-dip galvanizing the perfect option to protect against corrosion, but its longevity and ability to accommodate future building expansion were other factors that intrigued the customer.

The unique feature of the project is the translucent glazing panels that can be seen shining vibrant colors into the night. Ironically, these panels were manufactured in Israel less than 150 miles north of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. The new enhancements also included vertical box trusses, screening panels and an entry canopy.

Throughout the course of the project, there were challenges that the teams involved had to overcome. These included understanding the customer’s budget, the COVID-19 pandemic with high employee turnover, shipping large materials, constructing the free-standing box truss and working to eliminate the need for on-site welding. These obstacles required fluid communication with all teams involved and the galvanizer was able to meet all deadlines set by the customer while also delivering quality product due do its large kettle size.

Today, the Overland Park Community Church attendance continues to rise, in part due to the exterior enhancements that can be seen from many parts of the neighborhood, and the galvanized cross at the entrance will welcome new churchgoers in the community for many years to come because of hot-dip galvanizing.