by Connie Larkman | published on Oct 5, 2021

The space is shaping up.

The United Church of Christ national setting is moving in early 2022, and General Minister and President John Dorhauer is inviting staffers and others interested to take a virtual tour of the new office space. He walked videographer Bob Lormor through the AECOM building in downtown Cleveland to provide this sneak peek at what’s ahead.

Five restaurants, a group conference center with a kitchen for catering, a 6,000-square-foot gym and a golf simulator will be available on the first floor. Bike storage inside the building is also available, as are 24-hour dry-cleaning services. The AECOM building is connected to a parking garage and the Westin Hotel.

The national offices will take up the entire 11th floor of the building, which Dorhauer said has “spectacular views” of Lake Erie, Cleveland Browns Stadium and the downtown cityscape. Walls are coming down to give staff a large open space in which to connect.

The move of the denomination’s national headquarters, announced on Sept. 21, involves the sale of the 700 Prospect Avenue building, home to most of the UCC’s national offices since 1990. The national staff will be moving into leased space, contracted for 15 years, in the AECOM building, 1300 E. 9th St., several blocks north and east of the current location.

In a Zoom webinar on Sept. 30, Dorhauer discussed the process that led to the move. The presentation, “Ministry on the Move,” is now online at the UCC YouTube Channel.