In the August 1954 issue of St. Mark’s Messenger, Mrs. Duane (Barbara) Culler, chairman of the Promotion and Publicity committee of the Church Building council, reported that the executive board of the Building Council had unanimously accepted the third set of plans presented by Malcolm Laybourne, architect.

She wrote, “This plan for Unit No. 1 of the educational building provides 10,149 square feet in gross area.  Excluding access ways, corridors, and rest rooms, approximately 7,000 square feet remain for Sunday school rooms, meeting rooms, and church offices. The two story structure, which will have an exterior of brick and some decorative stone in keeping with the present edifice, will give St. Mark’s much needed space.... The lower floor will provide a youth recreation room behind the kitchen, a nursery department, beginners department, primary department, rest rooms and storage areas; the upper level adds the south narthex area behind the sanctuary, the pastor’s and secretary’s offices, the lounge/adult department area, kitchenette, chapel/music room and intermediate department room with rest rooms and storage areas.  The cost has been estimated at $121,788.”

By that time, the size of the congregation had undergone rapid expansion in its church and Sunday school attendance. In 1945, 16 additional pews were purchased and installed in time for Easter services.  Next, the nave was enlarged by the removal of a door and partition which separated the church room and the Sunday school room.  That was completed in 1948.  By 1953 it was apparent that the steady increase in Sunday school attendance and Fairborn’s continuing population growth “made it necessary to consider  enlarging the parish education  facilities.”  The importance of the military and civilian working force at the base following World War II coupled with the 1950 merger of Fairfield and Osborn into Fairborn were factors bringing people into this new city.

A successful pledge campaign was conducted in 1953 using a professional fund raiser. The congregation promised gifts totaling $80,000 within three years toward the estimated construction cost of $121,788.  A loan for the remainder — about $40,000 — was secured.  In the first six months of 1954, 400 members contributed $28,044 as contrasted with $13,480 in the same six months a year earlier.  The congregation retired their debt in February 1964.

The Building Council for the educational wing consisted of ten committees headed by an executive board.  Joe Bowman was chairman, and Robert Kneisly, treasurer.  The committees and chairmen were: 

Clermont Brown, who is financial secretary of the 1998 congregation, served as vice chairman of the Fellowship and Recreation Committee.

William M. Yoder from Springfield, Ohio, was the general contractor.  Sub-contractors included:

The Rev. John H. Meister, pastor of St. Mark’s. Conducted the ground-breaking service on Trinity Sunday, June 5, 1955; a cornerstone laying service on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 12, 1956; and the dedication on Nov. 11 of the same year.  The Rev. Albert H. Buhl, director of missions, Synod of Ohio, gave the address at the groundbreaking, and the Rev. George W. Miley, D.D., president of the Synod of Ohio, preached the dedicatory sermon.