Since its founding in downtown Omaha in 2005, Coram Deo Church has rented out an assortment of different worship spaces throughout the metro area. As a 7-year member of Coram Deo Church, Project Manager Sean Yahnke was acutely aware of the church community’s desire for a building that would establish their commitment to the city of Omaha. 

“There was a strong desire for a more rooted and concrete space for the community,” Yahnke said. “We all wanted to show our commitment to the city and the mission.”  

Boyd Jones was invited to submit a proposal for the project. With the firm’s extensive experience with religious facilities and Sean’s personal passion for the project, a partnership was easily formed. Working closely with Omaha architecture firm LEO A DALY, Sean and the Boyd Jones team came together to create a high-quality and cherished home base for the members of Coram Deo. With features and amenities including a chic wood slat wall in the worship space, stained glass windows, welcoming café space, and new ceilings, carpet, and lighting, the end result is a permanent home for Coram Deo that will serve as a base from which the church can continue to thrive.   

“What makes this project special to me, is the energy poured into specific details that I am still able to enjoy today,” Yahnke said. “I was very involved on site, so I was able to contribute to the Boyd Jones solutions to the various challenges that came up.”  

As with any project, there are always challenges. Sean and his team were challenged by a strict, tight schedule. To overcome this challenge, the project team worked on Saturdays and broke down the schedule and scope into weekly milestones to hit their deadline. With that perseverance, they were able to complete four months of construction in only three months. 

“For me, it’s not just the fact that we got it done in time. It’s that it turned out to be so high quality considering the time pressure.” Yahnke said. “A lot people wouldn’t have taken on a project that they were so close to, but it proved to be a lot more of a blessing than heartache.”

Without the support of his colleagues and project partners, Sean may have never gotten the opportunity to have such a direct impact on his community. That gratitude is renewed each time he steps into church on Sundays.