In this episode of Laying the Foundation, we sit down with CMBA Principal Architect Lee Beukelman and Agape Executive Director Rachelle Rawson for an inside look at the new Agape Community Services facility currently under construction. Designed as a Christ-centered transitional housing and addiction recovery center for pre- and post-incarcerated individuals, the facility balances structured, multi-phase living quarters with restorative spaces like counseling suites, a fitness center, and a microbusiness commercial kitchen. Tune in to learn how trauma-informed, purpose-driven architecture can provide agency, foster recovery, and lay the groundwork for long-term community transformation on their 38-acre campus.

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Episode Transcript

(Skyler Gorsett): Welcome, everybody, to another episode of the Laying the Foundation podcast. My name is Skyler, and I'm your host. More importantly, I want to introduce our two amazing guests today. First is Lee Beukelman, who has been on the show a few times already. Lee, welcome back.

(Lee Beukelman): Thanks, Skyler. It has been a while. I've been letting other people take a turn!

(Skyler Gorsett): I was going to say, I think I was requested not to have you on the podcast for a little while because you were just too knowledgeable and dominating the conversation! Joining us as our other fantastic guest—and the expert on everything we're discussing today—is the wonderful Rachelle Rawson, Executive Director at Agape Community Services. Rachelle, welcome to the show.

(Rachelle Rawson): I'm delighted to be here.

(Skyler Gorsett): Fantastic! We're so excited to have you. This is an incredible project, and its mission is so unique. The process of how it was developed, how it has evolved, and how it's moving forward aligns perfectly with what we discuss on Laying the Foundation. To start off, Rachelle, could you tell us a bit about Agape, its goals, and its core mission? I know that's a big question, but feel free to give us the general rundown.

(Rachelle Rawson): I would love to give you a big answer! First, to share a bit of data: Woodbury County, where we are located, ranks second highest in all of Iowa for children born out of wedlock. We are fifth highest for substance addiction, fifth highest for single-parent households, sixth highest for foster care entry, and second highest for sending individuals to prison. In the tri-state area alone, 60,000 men struggle with high-risk substance abuse. Our mission is to take these individuals, starting with men, and place them back into households as husbands, fathers, and leaders. We help them step into their identity, embrace pro-social leadership, leave a positive legacy, fulfill their calling, and ultimately restore families in our region.

(Skyler Gorsett): That was a perfect overview. There is clearly so much going into this project. I've attended a couple of your groundbreaking events to take photos, and seeing everything firsthand is incredible. Based on those statistics, there is a massive need in our area for an organization that helps put people back on track.

(Rachelle Rawson): Something unique about us is our long-term timeline—our program spans 9 to 12 months. It takes roughly 63 days of daily practice just to build a new neural pathway. No disrespect to 30-day treatment centers, but statistically, short-term programs often have less than a 10% long-term success rate. We want to end that cycle of "wash, rinse, and repeat" by transitioning from initial 30-day care into a comprehensive 9- to 12-month program.

(Skyler Gorsett): Absolutely—something that provides a lasting, long-term impact. So Lee, when Rachelle and the Agape team approached you with this project, it certainly wasn't a standard residential or commercial job. There were very specific needs. What was your approach to designing around those unique requirements?

(Lee Beukelman): Our core approach remained consistent with how we handle most projects: it started with Rachelle's team and our team sitting down together so we could deeply understand their program. Rachelle, we had numerous meetings where you walked us through the recovery stages multiple times so we could understand what happens at each step, what your goals are, and how the residents might be handling themselves emotionally and physically. That informed everything from layout to material durability. While our initial discovery process was familiar, the required outcomes were very distinct. We needed a space that felt warm and welcoming for 65 men plus staff. We've all experienced dorm environments where people feel crowded, so we had to create ample space to prevent that claustrophobic feeling while simultaneously building in physical accountability.

(Rachelle Rawson): Whenever I present about our therapeutic community model—where peers hold each other accountable through mentorship and distinct phases—I like to share a story. Our architects asked, "Are you concerned that men living together in this space might punch a hole in the wall?" I told them, "Of course they're going to punch a hole in the wall! We actually welcome that—we want them to reach the root of their emotions. And then, they are going to pay for it and fix it themselves."

(Lee Beukelman): That was probably the biggest shift for us. Normally, we try to make facilities indestructible so you avoid damage altogether. But using repairs as a tool for personal accountability and fixing mistakes was a compelling concept. Working with Rachelle and her team was fantastic. Rachelle's passion is infectious, which made our team incredibly excited to help design a space that facilitates their mission successfully.

(Skyler Gorsett): Absolutely. So regarding this first building, which serves as living quarters for men, what were some of the other unique challenges from both the architectural perspective and the operational side? Beyond avoiding overcrowding and managing physical wear, what key elements needed to be incorporated to align with Agape's vision?

(Rachelle Rawson): Before answering that, I want to highlight something I deeply appreciated about working with Lee and his team early on. They pulled out the whiteboard and asked questions like, "What feelings do you want people to experience when they enter?" They helped bring our abstract ideas to life. I often joke that Lee knows our program better than some of our board members because he walked with us through every step—even down to accommodating space for chickens so the men can learn self-sustainability! CMBA also navigated major pivots with us. Initially, when asked to sketch our ultimate dream facility including a detox unit, gym, and full campus, the estimate came out to around $20 million. After gathering community feedback, we realized we needed to start smaller and build in phases. Lee and his team immediately began problem-solving to create a hybrid model that delivered everything we needed within our budget. They advocated fiercely for our vision with contractors, ensuring room layouts preserved peer interaction rather than turning into standard apartments. Beyond design, they supported us in grant presentations and fundraising. Lee has been a true advocate for our mission every step of the way.

(Skyler Gorsett): That is amazing.

(Lee Beukelman): To piggyback on that, one major challenge was maintaining the residential feel while sticking to the specific recovery program. During design, outside parties suggested standardizing the rooms into traditional individual units to save money, but standard apartments would undermine the peer accountability Agape requires. Another critical challenge was security and layout flexibility. We needed safe, supervised spaces where men could visit with their children without mixing into general resident areas. Additionally, the building functions in multiple capacities: it requires assembly space for church services, classrooms for Bible study and meetings, sleeping quarters ranging from 2-person rooms to 16-person bunk rooms, administrative offices, gym spaces, and commercial kitchen space for micro-businesses—all within a single building and budget.

(Skyler Gorsett): You mentioned the kitchen having a dual purpose—feeding residents while also operating as a meal-prep microbusiness. How did you design the kitchen space to handle both functions efficiently? And Rachelle, how is this microbusiness integrated into the recovery program to benefit the men?

(Rachelle Rawson): Lee, why don't you start with the design, and then I'll explain the program side.

(Lee Beukelman): Functionally, Rachelle connected us with kitchen consultants to design a commercial-grade setup focused on preparing fresh, healthy food rather than processed meals. The layout features expanded pantry and cold storage capacity to support both internal meal prep and microbusiness distribution. Most importantly, the space is structured as a collaborative team kitchen to emphasize teamwork and accountability rather than solitary cooking.

(Lee Beukelman): Rachelle, tell us about the broader vision for that space.

(Rachelle Rawson): Nonprofits often struggle with relying solely on donations to meet operating budgets. Furthermore, traditional insurance typically stops paying for residential treatment after 30 days. We also want to prevent institutional dependency; our goal is pro-social leadership, which requires workforce development. To address this, we designed a microbusiness centered around healthy, pre-portioned meal subscriptions (similar to Factor meals), which currently lacks a local provider. Our residents will learn team collaboration, portion control, and healthy cooking by preparing these meals. As men progress through the phases, senior residents will teach newer arrivals, instilling leadership skills. The community can support Agape through meal subscriptions, receiving high-quality food in return while generating sustainable revenue. CMBA designed our hybrid kitchen to seamlessly accommodate delivery trucks, resident dining, and commercial meal production all in one building.

(Skyler Gorsett): That makes total sense, especially living in Iowa surrounded by agriculture. It's a fantastic market opportunity for Agape.

(Rachelle Rawson): We're also receiving a donated greenhouse, raising chickens, and partnering with local farmers for grass-fed beef. We want to teach a healthy lifestyle from day one. Individuals struggling with addiction often swap one destructive habit for another, so our holistic model addresses every aspect of a person's well-being. Sometimes you need a band-aid, but most times you need surgery—and we are here for the long-term work.

(Skyler Gorsett): It builds leadership, teamwork, and practical skills while promoting a healthy lifestyle to help people find purpose.

(Lee Beukelman): And build a strong resume.

(Rachelle Rawson): Plus, our goal is for graduates to leave the program with their first month's rent and security deposit saved in their pocket.

(Skyler Gorsett): That's fantastic. Looking at the building design, the multi-floor layout directly mirrors the stages of your recovery program. How is that structured, and how does it function in practice?

(Lee Beukelman): The program is divided into three core phases, with residents gaining increased independence as they progress. In Phase 1, residents live in larger dorm rooms of up to 16 men, sharing a centralized bathroom where they learn social grit, sharing, and constant peer accountability. As residents advance to subsequent floors, room capacities decrease to 8, then 4, and eventually 2 residents per room. This progression rewards personal growth with greater privacy and independence.

(Rachelle Rawson): While housing independence increases with each stage, dining operates on servant leadership: newer residents eat first, and senior leaders eat last. When a new client arrives—often feeling ashamed or anxious—the staff cheers for them, and the community serves them their favorite meal on night one. Before graduating, they receive a celebratory farewell meal. Programmatically, our curriculum incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy elements adapted from the federal prison RDAP program, pairing them with biblical principles. We target cognitive thinking errors, teaching residents rational decision-making, emotional regulation, and accountability. Residents move through cohorts called "Little Brothers," "Big Brothers," and "Senior Guides." Peer accountability is practiced daily: if someone exhibits unhealthy behaviors like entitlement, peers address it constructively. Instead of reacting with anger, residents learn to say, "Thank you, I will take a look at that." Every morning during community meetings, residents share news and weather to build community awareness, then present their personal growth goals on stage to receive supportive peer feedback. Over 9 to 12 months, this process helps men develop emotional maturity, retain employment, and truly restore their family relationships.

(Skyler Gorsett): That is incredible.

(Lee Beukelman): Now you see why it was so energizing to collaborate with Rachelle and her team. Their passion and vision are extraordinary.

(Skyler Gorsett): Absolutely. To execute a project with this level of impact requires immense dedication. As we wrap up, what comes next after this initial building? What is the overall master plan for Agape's campus?

(Lee Beukelman): They acquired roughly 40 acres of land, giving them ample room to expand their vision on a fantastic site. I'll let Rachelle share what's planned next for the rest of the property.

(Rachelle Rawson): Future phases include dedicated units for women, juveniles, and an auditorium. Our next immediate project will likely be an affordable housing complex so graduates can reunite with their families in a stable environment before fully transitioning out. That housing revenue will also help fund Agape's ongoing operations. Crucially, our current facility includes family rooms for supervised overnight visits with children. Furthermore, every bed in our building will be dedicated to the memory of someone lost to overdose or suicide, offering new residents a chance to write a story of recovery and restoration in their honor.

(Skyler Gorsett): It's amazing how many thoughtful elements are integrated into this facility to support long-term recovery. Rachelle, where can people learn more about Agape, and how can listeners get involved or support your mission?

(Rachelle Rawson): You can visit agape.com or our Facebook page. We have raised $4.2 million so far, secured the 40-acre property, received $750,000 pledged for our first-year budget, and received incredible in-kind donations like roofing, windows, site prep, and landscaping. We are currently about $2 million away from our total capital goal. In addition to financial donations, we need volunteers, mentors, and program referrals. We are also launching outpatient services and Recovery Cafe circles this fall, so please visit our website to learn more.

(Skyler Gorsett): Visiting the website provides links to all social media channels to follow Agape's progress and discover ways to get involved. Thank you so much, Rachelle, and thank you, Lee, for joining us and sharing your passion for this incredible community project. It is an honor for CMBA Architects to be part of this work. That wraps up another episode of the Laying the Foundation podcast. Thank you all so much for listening.

(Outro): If you'd like to learn more about the Laying the Foundation podcast, you can find us on major streaming platforms including Spotify, iTunes, and Google Podcasts. You can also connect with CMBA Architects on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit cmbaarchitects.com. If you're a design professional or looking for an internship, check out the careers tab on our website to explore current opportunities. This has been another episode of Laying the Foundation. See you next time!