Grace Community Church has opened a 15,000-square-foot student center on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, giving its children's ministry a dedicated home for the first time.

The two-story Barry Martin Student Center held its first service for middle schoolers on Sept. 5, as first reported by the Your Observer. The church draws about 5,000 members each weekend, roughly 800 of them children through middle school age.

The ground floor doubles as a recreation hub. A pinball machine named Hurricane, ping-pong and air hockey tables, arcade cabinets and a basketball hoop on the back patio greet students. The Intentional Cafe anchors the space, its tables stocked with board games. Drinks cost about half the price of a standard coffee shop, and profits go to 10 community partners, including Bridge A Life, a nonprofit supporting local foster families.

"We want to bring attention to the work we do outside the church," Executive Director Michael Ammirati told the Your Observer.

The center is already approaching capacity. Original plans included a mini gymnasium, but that space became a 94-seat service room. Ministry Team Director Barbara Ammirati said just five seats sat empty all weekend during the opening. The church plans to build a basketball court outside instead.

Grace Community Church has added more than 500 new members since September 2025. Private rooms on both floors offer quiet space for studying, small-group sessions and conversations with ministry staff. About 40,000 feet of cable runs through the walls, connecting screens and devices throughout the building.

What's ahead: High school students are expected to join the center in early October. By January, the church plans to open the building on weekdays for after-school drop-ins. A few final tech touches, including stage lighting, are still in the works.