FBC Lorena - Worship Building

First Baptist Church of Lorena is constructing a new 9,410-square-foot freestanding worship building at 307 Center Street in Lorena, Texas. The project, filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under the name FBC Lorena - Worship Building, represents a significant expansion for the congregation in McLennan County. TDLR completed plan review in August 2026, and construction is scheduled to finish in August 2027, with work starting September 2026.

The structure will feature a pre-engineered metal building frame clad in metal panels and stone or EIFS finish. The interior scope includes restrooms and a foyer, creating a dedicated space for worship and community gathering. The estimated cost for this new construction project is $1,954,300, which equates to approximately $208 per square foot. This figure is above the county median of $143 per square foot for similar new construction filings in McLennan County.

Project Details and Design

Mark W Todd Architects serves as the design firm of record for this project. The firm has previously worked on other church and commercial projects in the region, including Riverpointe Baptist Church in Conroe and Northside Baptist Church in Huntsville. The registered accessibility specialist for this filing is Darrell Glen Smith. The project is privately funded on private land for private use, ensuring the development remains under the direct control of the church leadership.

The scheduled build window of 364 days is longer than the county median of 245 days for comparable projects. This extended timeline allows for the detailed construction of the metal frame and the application of the stone and EIFS finishes. The address, 307 Center Street P.O. Box 69, places the new building in a central location within Lorena, a city with a population of about 9,572 according to U.S. Census estimates for ZIP code 76655.

Community Context

First Baptist Church of Lorena has one other TDLR-registered project on record, a food pantry that has already closed. This new worship building is the largest project associated with the owner in the current TDLR database. The median household income in the area is $106,012, and housing is predominantly owner-occupied. The completion of this building will add a substantial new facility to the local landscape, reflecting the church's commitment to growth and community service.