Western Specialty Contractors Restoring Minneapolis’ Historic Wesley Church

(St. Louis, MO, Aug. 3, 2023) Western Specialty Contractors – Minneapolis Branch is nearing completion of a project to restore a masonry wall section of the historic Wesley Church located at 101 E. Grant St. in downtown Minneapolis, MN.

The historic church, formerly occupied by Wesley United Methodist Church, was constructed during Minneapolis’ building boom in the 1890s. The building is made of granite, stone, brick and sandstone in the Richardsonian Romanesque style featuring round-arched windows and multiple towers. The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota listed the church on its 2010 Most Endangered Historic Places list.

Substance Church acquired the historic Wesley building in 2016 as a permanent location. The church is located adjacent to the Minneapolis Convention Center and was once connected to a recreation center via a skyway system, which has long since been removed. 

Substance Church contracted with Western in May 2023 to restore the building’s façade. Western’s scope of work includes:

• Removal of the remaining skyway supports
• Removal and replacement of deteriorated block wall infill which includes plaster, clay, tile, foam insulation and concrete block
• Removal and replacement of the brick facade and other wall components

Western’s craftsmen are working with Minneapolis’ Historical Society to carefully match replacement brick and mortar to the church’s original style and color to maintain its historical integrity. Western is expecting to complete the project in September 2023 within budget. Dennis Batty & Associates Group is the architect on the project.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit www.westernspecialtycontractors.com.