Commercial Kitchen Renovation at Journey Church
A modern commercial kitchen renovation designed for efficiency, durability, and high-performance cooking at Journey Church.
Project Details
Completion Date: January 2026
Time to Complete: 6 months
Location / Community: Rocky Ridge
Transformation Story
About the Project
This renovation was built with a big vision: to serve the community through connection, nourishment, and meaningful programs.
Before this project, the building didn’t have the foundation to prepare fresh, healthy food on-site. All meals for events and programs had to be catered, limiting what could be offered. At best, only simple options like sandwiches were possible.
Funded entirely through donated money, this project became a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
What Made This Project Unique
This wasn’t just a renovation, it was a mission-driven build. The goal was to create a fully certified commercial kitchen that could legally prepare food for programs, events, and community outreach.
Every decision had to balance functionality, safety, and long-term impact, ensuring the space could truly support the church’s social justice initiatives and volunteer-led programs.
Overcoming the Challenges
This project came with significant technical hurdles. One of the biggest concerns was whether the building could support the weight of a commercial kitchen. Extensive engineering and structural calculations were required to ensure the kitchen wouldn’t compromise the integrity of the building.
At one point, a beam had to be cut and completely redesigned. The solution involved intricate structural work, so precise that a worker had to be suspended upside down to help reassemble the beam safely.
Plumbing and flooring added further complexity, along with installing a new gas line and meeting evolving Alberta Health Services (AHS) requirements. The team returned to AHS three separate times to secure approvals, including expanding storage to meet health regulations.
Logistics were just as challenging. When a commercial hood fan was delivered, movers left it in the foyer. With no equipment to move it upstairs, six Journey Church members carried it up together, carefully rolling it along the railing to get it into place.
The Outcome
The result is a fully certified commercial kitchen, approved and ready for use. This means the church can now legally prepare fresh meals on-site, transforming how they serve their community.
Programs can now include hands-on cooking, shared meals, and larger events that bring people together around food, connection, and care.
Client Testimonial
“Working on a project with a social justice focus was incredibly meaningful. The opportunity for real community connection is what excited me most. This kitchen isn’t just about food, it’s about bringing people together.”
- Chris, Pastor at Journey Church