Project Overview

Provided full electrical engineering design for the adaptive reuse of an 8,500-square-foot, single-story church building in Grants Pass, OR. The facility was converted to support the Josephine County Meals on Wheels program operated by Food & Friends, a service of the Rogue Valley Council of Governments (RVCOG). The scope included new power distribution, lighting, fire alarm, and infrastructure for a commercial kitchen, community dining hall, offices, and support areas. The project enabled local staff and volunteers to safely prepare and serve over 1,000 meals daily for delivery and on-site use.

Role & Responsibilities

Power Distribution – Designed a new electrical service and power distribution to support kitchen equipment, HVAC, lighting, and general building needs.

Lighting Systems – Specified energy-efficient lighting for all spaces including the commercial kitchen, dining hall, administrative offices, restrooms, and corridors.

Fire Alarm & Life Safety – Engineered a code-compliant fire alarm system tailored for assembly use, with ADA coverage throughout all areas.

Kitchen & Utility Coordination – Developed electrical infrastructure layouts for all commercial kitchen equipment, utility closets, and janitorial spaces.

Data, Communications & Security Support – Designed backbones for phone/data and low-voltage systems to support operations, public access areas, and future flexibility.

Key Challenges & Solutions

🔹 Legacy Building Infrastructure – The original church structure lacked the service capacity and circuit routing to support modern commercial systems.
✔ Solution: Developed a complete re-feed design with new main service equipment, distribution panels, and HVAC feeds coordinated across multiple trades.

🔹 Commercial Kitchen Power & Code Compliance – Kitchen equipment required precise layout, coordination, and spacing in tight quarters.
✔ Solution: Worked closely with food service consultants and equipment vendors to finalize exact locations and requirements, minimizing field rework.

🔹 Nonprofit Budget Constraints – The client operated on grant funding and community donations, requiring economical yet effective system selections.
✔ Solution: Delivered high-impact, cost-conscious design choices using practical technologies that met current and future needs without overdesigning.

Outcome & Impact

✅ Delivered a safe, fully functioning facility that now serves as the central hub for Meals on Wheels in Josephine County.
✅ Reinvigorated a vacant building into a vibrant space for senior dining, nutrition prep, and community support.
✅ Provided robust, efficient electrical infrastructure designed to last — with the flexibility to support growth in programs and services.

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Transforming community spaces is what we do best. Let’s connect to see how NLS can help power your next renovation or adaptive reuse project.

Food & Friends Community Facility Renovation (Grants Pass, OR)