As a controlled implosion brought the 18-story Fifth and Main Building to the ground Nov. 21, Welborn Baptist Foundation had an up-close view, watching from two blocks away in its new office atop Fifth Third Center.
The foundation, which supports local nonprofits with financing and resources, moved into its new home designed by LA+ D on the 15th floor at 20 N.W. Third St. in late September 2020 after 20 years in German American Bank’s building two blocks south on Third Street.
Guests taking the elevator to Evansville’s highest vantage point are greeted by a sign displaying Welborn’s logo — “Cultivating Communities that Flourish” — hung on live greenery. Nearby, 10 offices and three meeting spaces are plugged into 5,500 square feet.
An additional 1,600 square feet lies within the Welborn Community Room and Collaboration Hub. The Community Room is adaptable for training events, in-person meetings, and is equipped with Wi-Fi, HD projection systems, electricity-powered tables, and ceiling microphones and speakers. Available at no charge to nonprofit groups, it includes a catering-ready kitchen with warming racks, commercial refrigerator, and ice machine for events.
“We call this our ‘gift to the community,’ because we want this to be an amenity that particularly nonprofits can make use of,” says Welborn Communications Officer Jeff Seymore. “Some nonprofits don’t have any space period, and we could see there was a need for more meeting space.”
The adjacent Collaboration Hub is a casual workspace equipped with the same web conferencing technology, a hospitality kitchenette, and two private rooms each with a smart TV and whiteboard. This space does not require reservations and is open to anyone. A partition separating the Community Room and Collaboration Hub can be removed to allow for larger events.
“The collaboration hub is really a place for anyone to come and quietly retreat and work,” says Seymore. “It’s a great alternative to the coffee shop.”
