Church — San Bernardino
Certificate of Occupancy Issued“I have worked with DWD Builders on numerous church projects throughout California since 2012. DWD provided a clear schedule, coordinated with the project team in obtaining permits, and communicated well with the project team throughout the construction process. DWD provides quality work within the budget provided by the owner.”
David M. Johnson
Principal, David M. Johnson Architectural Corporation
New Addition
5,000 Sq Ft
Total Campus
15,000 Sq Ft
Site Area
2 Acres
Residential Units
3 Pastoral Units
Project Status
C of O Issued
A congregation with deep roots in the San Bernardino community had an ambitious vision for its campus: a 5,000 square foot addition bringing the total campus to 15,000 square feet on a 2-acre site, three on-site residential units for its pastoral staff, and a full structural upgrade bringing the existing building to current seismic code — all while keeping the church operational throughout construction. DWD Builders managed every discipline from permit submittal through Certificate of Occupancy.
The Challenge
Church construction in Southern California's Inland Empire is technically demanding in ways that general residential or commercial projects are not. San Bernardino sits in a high seismic zone — Seismic Design Category D — which means existing religious facilities built before current code require full engineering analysis and structural retrofit before any addition can be permitted. The existing building required a complete seismic evaluation and upgrade integrated with the new 5,000 square foot addition, without disrupting active congregation use. The project also introduced three simultaneous permit tracks: the new A-3 Assembly addition, the seismic retrofit, and three on-site pastoral residential units — each requiring separate MEP systems, accessibility compliance, and occupancy separation from the Assembly spaces. A custom stormwater management system was also required by the City of San Bernardino — standard detention was insufficient for the 2-acre site.
Our Solution
We opened three parallel permit tracks with the City of San Bernardino Building and Safety Department from day one — new construction, structural retrofit, and residential occupancy — running them simultaneously rather than sequentially. The structural retrofit was engineered as a single coordinated system with the new addition, bringing the existing building to Seismic Design Category D while reading architecturally as one unified campus. We designed and installed subsurface infiltration tanks beneath the parking lot that capture and treat all roof and pavement runoff from the 2-acre site — exceeding City minimums and eliminating off-site discharge. Custom Wayne's Coat LED channel detailing throughout the lobby delivers a refined, welcoming finish. The three pastoral residential units were delivered as fully permitted, code-compliant occupancies with complete separation from the A-3 Assembly spaces.
Key Outcomes
5,000 sq ft new addition completed on a 2-acre San Bernardino campus — A-3 Assembly occupancy, fully permitted and delivered
Full seismic and structural retrofit of existing building to Seismic Design Category D, integrated architecturally with new construction — zero visible transition between old and new
Three pastoral residential units delivered on campus — fully permitted, MEP complete, occupancy separated from Assembly spaces
Custom subsurface stormwater infiltration system installed beneath parking lot — captures and treats all roof and pavement runoff, exceeding City of San Bernardino minimum requirements
Certificate of Occupancy issued — all inspections passed across three simultaneous permit tracks
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“DWD Builders performed efficiently and professionally in tight time schedules and difficult working conditions. They adjusted their schedule to meet the changing design and with the work being performed next door. The DWD team was a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a professional contracting firm.”
Stephen R. Cold
Licensed Architect
Church Conversion — 10,000 Sq Ft Sanctuary, Classrooms, Offices & Lobby
“DWD Builders has done all of our large-scale projects for the past 5 years. Since the early start of every project they have fulfilled all their tasks beyond our expectations. They have taken on projects that other contractors were failing to complete and turned them over with precision, on schedule and on budget. Their services and commitment have exceeded our expectations on every occasion.”
D.M.N.
Vice President
Major Institutional Client — Los Angeles & New York
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Project Specifications
Project Walkthrough
Three Permit Tracks — Managed Simultaneously
Church campus projects require coordinating multiple independent approval processes. Sequential submissions add months. We ran all three in parallel from day one.
Building & Safety — New Addition
5,000 sq ft A-3 Assembly addition. Plan check covering structural engineering, fire egress, ADA accessibility, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. Coordinated with the retrofit permit under a unified inspection schedule.
Seismic Upgrade — Existing Building
Full seismic upgrade to Seismic Design Category D. Required independent structural engineering analysis, soils confirmation, and special inspection program — engineered as one coordinated system with the new addition.
Three Pastoral Units — Separate Track
Three residential units required their own occupancy classification, fire separation from A-3 spaces, independent MEP systems, and full accessibility compliance. Permitted through City of San Bernardino residential plan check.
Public Works — Drainage Compliance
Custom subsurface infiltration system exceeds City minimums. Captures and treats all roof and pavement runoff from the 2-acre site — no off-site discharge. Coordinated through City of San Bernardino Public Works drainage review.
We Build for Congregations — Across Every Denomination and Scale
The San Bernardino campus is one of several religious facility projects DWD Builders has delivered across California and beyond. Our church construction portfolio spans A-3 Assembly ground-up construction, campus expansions, seismic retrofits, and post-fire historic restoration.
Church — San Bernardino
5,000 sq ft addition, seismic retrofit to Seismic Design Category D, 3 pastoral residential units, custom stormwater system. A-3 Assembly. Certificate of Occupancy issued.
San Francisco Historical Church Restoration
Post-fire reconstruction of a California-registered historic landmark. Full seismic upgrade, period-accurate restoration, California Historic Preservation Board approved.
Phoenix Mixed-Use Assembly Building
Ground-up A-3 Assembly building. Resolved simultaneous fossil discovery and undocumented subterranean pipe on the critical path — delivered on time, zero budget overrun.
Church Construction Across Southern California and Beyond
Although this project was completed in San Bernardino, DWD Builders provides church construction, renovation, expansion, and sanctuary restoration to congregations across Southern California and nationally. We navigate A-3 Assembly occupancy requirements, seismic standards, ADA compliance, and the local permitting environment each jurisdiction demands.
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Your Project Could Be Next
Contact our team for a free consultation. We'll review your plans, walk the site, and give you an honest assessment — no pressure, no obligation.
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