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Infiltrating 4.9 gallons of rainwater per square foot per minute, Vast Composite Permeable Pavers deliver rich colors, slip resistance and strength at one-third the weight of concrete.
LiveRoof LLC establishes a seamless vegetative surface rooted in a continuous layer of soil.
"Gradual changes in the lighting level allow for a subtle reinforcement of activities. Focal lighting draws the eye of the congregation while providing a varied luminous environment." Michael John Smith, project lighting designer, Lutron
St. Anne's has realized financial savings because the lighting system requires less energy when lights are dimmed.
Image courtesy ABC News. (Image courtesy ABC News)
First Baptist Church Pasadena's Phase III worship center, currently in design by Ziegler Cooper, adjoins the existing building creating a substantial "commons" for Christian fellowship and a variety of activities.
A prolific writer Mark Brooks has written several print books with “Turbo Charge Your Giving: How To Raise Money in Any Economy,” as his most recent. He has also written several e-books such as “Elevator Pitch Your Offerings,” a one year plan for short stewardship messages. Mark can be found on Twitter as @StewardshipMan. His blog post “The Stewardship Coach,” contains helpful advice on a wide variety of stewardship issues. Mark is the founder and president of The Charis Group.
ProMAX panels can be used in any location where mounting acoustical treatments to the wall are not possible or ideal.
“This project showed great use of different materials, and the expanded space took into consideration the specific needs of the congregation, as well as the design aesthetics of the surrounding community.” - Ken Ringe, 2011 vice chair of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Commercial Builders Council (Images courtesy of Mike Mancuso/The Times)
28,000-square-foot addition creates a new sanctuary that can hold 750 people, a banquet hall, commercial kitchen, classrooms and meeting spaces.
Princeton Presbyterian Church's addition was constructed of pre-engineered wood panel and heavy timber beams.
Addition features dramatic arches, a new masonry façade, custom oak interior finishes and a state-of-the- art sound system to support the music ministry and local performing arts groups.
Scott Rolfs, Managing Director, Head of the Religion & Education Practice, Ziegler Cos. Inc., Chicago, IL
TruLink A/V Controller is a wall-mount A/V keypad which is backlit and features eight interchangeable buttons that can operate up to four programmable commands per button.
New d:fine headset mics have a spring that automatically adjusts the headset to each wearer to ensure the earpiece stays in place by applying consistent pressure regardless of ear size.
Jonti-Craft's new line features heavy screws, rounded corners, recessed backs, durable laminate surfaces, thermo-fused edge-banding and caster kits.
Leaders at Holy Wisdom Monastery in Madison, Wis., aimed for and were awarded LEED Platinum certification. (Images courtesy of Hoffman LLC)
Photovoltaic panels provide approximately 15% of the building’s energy needs at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
“Sustainability truly is stewardship. In making sure there are enough resources for now and future generatons, we honor people. And in honoring people, we honor God.” Howard Williams, LEED AP, Vice President and General Manager, Pennsylvania Division, Constructon Specialtes, Lebanon, NJ
“LEED buildings are not easy. It’s a very complex process and you want to make sure that you’re doing it in a cost-effectve way…. ” Brady Smith, LEED AP, Independent Architect, Sacramento, CA
“Will [LEED] guarantee a high-performing building? No, it’s more in-depth than that, but it’s definitely a stepping stone…. ” Troy Gibson, LEED Green Associate, Marketng Coordinator, Reward Wall Systems, Omaha, NE
"A properly situated and lit cross can be a dynamic symbol, especially in a high-profile location adjacent to an interstate or major thoroughfare." John Rebry, Account Executive, Laurel, Headrick Signs
Lighting experts advise church staff and designers to be consistent in where and how outdoor lighting is used. When combined with exterior logos and signage, exterior lighting can help reinforce a church’s brand—where the feel can be carried over into indoor lighting, as well.
Images of Lakewood Church in Houston courtesy of AAL.
"Growing communities with contemporary-minded churches can have a thoroughly modern take on design and exteriors. The master plan, design and building process always starts with what you want the campus to feel like and how you want to make it a sacred space." Paul Ladensack, Principal, CCBG Architects
Since the grand opening in August, uninsured individuals with a designated income have been treated for a wide variety of health care needs. Daily treatment depends on the specialty of the day's medical volunteers.
"The fact is, congregations might help their own cash flow and contribute to their congregants’ well being by providing leadership, information and simple workshops on home energy efficiency." Jerry Lawson, National Manager, Energy Star Congregations
"Being portable has freed up hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars. We're a giving church and one of the reasons is that we have it to give." Jeff Fuchs, Pastor, Blount Community Church, Alcoa, TN
"[Our portability] allows us to quickly change our facilities by simply renting different parts of the convention center or school as we grow and our needs change." Rich Birch, Operations Pastor, Liquid Church, Morristown, NJ
As the multsite concept grows … churches may consider the choice of bringing their fitness or community center out into the community, rather than attempting to draw people in to the church for wellness activities.
“Go to a church with a well-planned fitness facility and you’ll see how church space is meant to be used. These spaces have high occupancy. That translates into a growing church community.” Brad Bloom, Editor, Faith & Fitness Magazine, Partner, ChurchFitness.com
“The days of saying, ‘We’re just going to drop in a gym, throw in a few basketball hoops, and call it good’ are over.” Doug Pasma, Principal, Pasma Group Architects, Chicago, IL
Miles Girouard, Director of Architectural Services, Hoffman LLC, Appleton, WI
Therese DeGroot, Market President, Community First Financial Resources, Lake Forest, CA
PocketClock/GPS mobile time clock with ExakTime Construction Time-Tracking App
Elation's Art SSC features two 512-DMX channel universes, as well as one DMX input.
Assa Abloy Aperio wireless locks integrate with RS2’s Access It! line of access control software.
Edius 6.06 - For the first time, Edius users can take advantage of third-party hardware.
PhaseFoam Box A - High density wedge pattern acoustical foam
PhaseFoam Box B - Triangle traps allow for various corner configurations
St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine in Boston's new roof. Church members scrambled high atop the famous Roman Catholic Church on Boylston Street, to replace heavy, old slate
Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas
Magic Lamp produces evaporative snow, a solution of biodegradable, non-toxic ingredients
“St. Joseph Cathedral is a positively stunning space,” says Peter Borchard, MuSonics' audio designer for this project. Unattended operation of the sound system was a critical aspect of its design, so Borchard chose Lectrosonics equipment.
Two Powersoft K3 amplifiers power the six Danley Sound Labs TH-115 tapped horn subwoofers that provide dynamic low-frequency support to the 7,200-seat sanctuary.
WFX Dallas will include a tour of Watermark Community Church Thursday, November 10. The church's new 3,500-seat worship building, 500-seat multipurpose room and 350-seat chapel are all surrounded by the church's town square.
A new 25,000 square foot interior town center forms the HEART of the dense urban campus. A casual atmosphere reinforced by a fireplace with generous comfortable seating and an expanded coffee bar.
The loft is elevated above the first floor to allow uninhibited access from interior to exterior space. A large curtainwall allows views to the exterior as well as generous natural light into the room.
The Chapel located on the second floor is designed to provide a more formal oasis for weddings and funerals.
In addition to serving as worship space on Sundays, this venue is serving its purpose in providing an attraction to the local community by functioning as a venue for a range of activities—from concerts to conferences to convocation ceremonies.
A refined, contemporary, rural aesthetic marries traditional limestone elements from the existing church building to a new vocabulary of metal siding, wood slats, and large bays of glass.
The challenging task was to utilize economical pre-engineered metal building structures in a creative way.
Primera’s latest Bravo-series units have already won numerous awards, including the highly respected “Editor’s Choice” award from optical disc industry expert Hugh Bennett of Hugh’s News.
The CrossOver 12 is now $13,995.00 and the CrossOver 16 $17,995.00.
The Whiteboardscreen Universal is like a traditional classroom whiteboard that negates the need to buy a whiteboard and projection screen separately.
Dennis Choy, Production Pastor, North Coast Church, Vista, CA
Video editing class at WFX
Laguna Presbyterian Church implemented VRAS technology in the Constellation acoustic system from Meyer Sound. (Image courtesy of Meyer Sound)
"But what about ongoing generous living on days when crisis is not front and center? To be kind, generosity is lacking" -- Tim Avery, President/CEO, Kardia Consulting, Atlanta, GA
Chicago-area Vogel Tool & Die LLC introduces new ornamental fencing designed to “help turn a fence into a statement of faith.”
inTouch stand-alone touchscreen access locks are now available to order as certified ANSI/BHMA Grade 1.
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, recently received a $16 million renovation overseen by architect Duncan G. Stroik which included replacing the church's 25 year-old sound system.
An Iconyx high performance digitally steerable array system by Renkus-Heinz was installed. The slim, low profile column speakers are custom painted to match the cathedral walls, rendering them almost invisible.
First Presbyterian Church of Burbank, Calif., has broken ground on a grand scale redesign led by San Diego-based Domusstudio Architecture. David Keitel, senior associate at Domusstudio says, “Their pastor looks forward to a church campus that accommodates an intense level of service.”
Scott Hall, associate principal with architect Omniplan of Dallas, designers of the Watermark campus, says the church’s Phase III components carry over the mission to be transparent and open to the surrounding community. Omniplan was joined on the project by Dallas construction company Rogers- O’Brien and Acoustic Dimensions, a Dallas-area design and consultation firm. (All images by Peter Calvin.)
Watermark Community Church keeps working on its master planned, phased development. Two popular people-gathering aspects of the church’s latest development—Phase III—include a chapel and a town center. The intimate chapel, shown here, seats 350.
The entry is a glass curtain wall that provides views of the beautiful sandstone- encircled baptismal pond and an outdoor seating area—“The Porch.”
The well-traveled town center area features a stone fireplace, ideal for hanging out or holding quiet conversation.
Throughout every phase, Watermark and designers have focused on using sustainable products…. [The] interior and exterior siding is reclaimed wood, the Tectum ceiling panels in the Town Center are of recycled material, as is the carpeting.
CyberLock flex System Door and I/O Module
Ascension Protégé 5442P Model Series Vertical Portable Wheelchair Lift
Jerry Lawson, National Manager, Energy Star Congregations
The St. Paul Café in the Criswell Center at First Baptist Church (FBC) Dallas offers books, resource material, and a sit-down cafe. FBC rests on a bustling downtown site, where its café provides members and passersby a place to relax and engage in conversation.
“Overall, retail design is a springboard in launching new color cues, textures, lighting and signage. You then are speaking a language that all consumers understand and can relate to.” Lisa Masteller, Owner, Sassafras Studios, Raleigh, NC
“The first job is to help the church determine if the effort is mission critical and to have them define the‘why.’Any commercial endeavor has to be part of the ministry.” Deborah Sweeney, Church Construction Consultant, Owners Representative, Anchor- Pointe, Dallas, TX
“To make this successful, you have to‘connect people, develop leaders, and fund causes.’I’ve found that it really needs to happen in that order. An environment must be created where people can naturally connect....” Michael Trent, Lead Collaborator, LIVE Design Group, Birmingham, Ala.
"When done well, coffee houses can product revenue for ministries. Right location, right layout, right equipment, right menu, right training ... but if any of those things are missing it can be a nightmare." Mike Bacille, Owner, Daily Java, Dallas, Texas
A multi-colored pattern of ironspot bricks lends an authentic, historic look to Dallas’s St. Paul United Methodist Church (UMC) in the city’s Arts District. The church, originally built by slaves some 138 years ago, was compiled of bricks brought to church by its members. Today, the church sports a fresh face after an historic restoration project lead by architect Good Fulton & Farrell of Dallas.
“Before” images of St. Paul UMC clearly show the building’s exterior and interior depreciation. An important part of the project facelift became preserving the church’s historic integrity while adding elements—like a tower for an elevator shaft—to help raise the standard of usability and function within the time-celebrated structure.
Good Fulton & Farrell Principal Jon Rollins. GFF's renovation of St. Paul UMC garnered a 2011 Preservation Achievement Award from Preservation Dallas (http://www.preservation- dallas.org). The project team carefully refurbished the structure’s historic elements to help preserve the church’s character.
Whether used to protect exposed architectural columns or elaborate steel designs, the Firesthetics architectural fire protection castings are designed to deliver a distinctively sharp, dramatic, and bold finish that enhances the fire safety, style, and aesthetics of interior and exterior spaces (Images courtesy of Akzo Nobel.)
CAPTURING PERSONALITY Church in the Son of Orlando, Fla., fashioned a two-story lobby addition with a comfortable, contemporary cafe gathering space that captures the personality of the church and its worshippers. Project by Building God’s Way (Image courtesy of John Randall, Randall Communications Inc.)
“Think of the type of services you hold, the personality of the people worshipping, and choose a style that conveys that personality.” Paulla Shetterly, Associate Principal, Director of the Interiors Studio, CDH Partners, Marietta, GA
“If you want a trendy color, incorporate it in an inexpensive, changeable manner—like paint color or accessories— and keep expensive options, like sanctuary seating, neutral.” Terra Douberly, Interior Designer, LIVE Design Group, Birmingham, AL
“What looks good in one church may not look great in yours. Aesthetics and function have to be considered.” John Urban, Principal, Urban Design Architect P.A., Wilmington, NC
“A simple table may fulfill various functions, so height and shape must be considered…. Material is also very important.” Michael Berkowicz, Partner, Presentations Gallery Ltd., Mt. Vernon, NY
“The AIA’s IFRAA Knowledge Community is focused on becoming the informational clearinghouse for all aspects related to religious architecture—domestically as well as internationally.” -- Craig Rafferty, 2011 IFRAA Chair, FAIA and Principal, Rafferty Rafferty Tollefson Lindeke Architects, St. Paul, MN
“Technology can be utilized to take your worship services, messaging and other communications to a wider audience…. ” Jeffrey Barnes, Product Specialist, EditShare, Boston, MA
“We find that churches, as a rule of thumb, don’t take good care of their facilities because they leave so much of it up to the care of volunteers or donated labor…. ” Tim Cool, President, Cool Solutions Group, Charlotte, NC
“Some churches are still doing scheduling on paper; or more often now they do it by e-mail or may try to use Outlook or Google Calendar. They are using a tool designed more for a personal meeting, not group scheduling.” Tim Whitehorn, Founder & CEO, ServiceU, Memphis, TN
Haivision offers the Mako HD H.264 Encoder/Decoder, a codec that reportedly delivers an end-to-end 70 milliseconds of latency and high-definition resolutions up to 1080p. The product is designed to deliver high performance, totally synchronized live audio and video transmission to large displays, helping bring together multi-site congregations. Find out more at: http://www.haivision.com/products/mako
New “smarts” for facilities managers … Johnson Controls’ Metasys 5.0 building management system is reported to provide facilities managers with a single point of control for HVAC, lighting, security and other systems for ease of operation, while reducing energy usage within a building. The Metasys interface is compatible with iPhone and iPod touch platforms for remote access and control. Learn more at: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/about/our_company/featured_stories/metasys_5_0.html
Mike Strand, President & CEO, StrandVision
Rabbi Daniel Vargas, Founder, Ends of the Earth Global Prayer Towers
The first of the 12 Ends of the Earth Prayer Towers / Global Prayer Centers was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 28, 2008, on the 37th floor of Century Square Building. It is known as the “United States Prayer Tower.”
“Throughout the history of human settlements, sacred space has been the ‘anchor tenant’ of mixed-use community centers.” Mel McGowan, President and Founder, Visioneering Studios, Nationwide
“Churches should focus on ministry and ministry buildings and not get off track to become commercial developers.” Scott Rolfs, Managing Director, Ziegler and Co., Church and School Finance, Milwaukee, WI
One of the biggest pluses for churches going into mixed-use developments “is to build community where people would typically go during their normal course of life, not to a distant location.’” Dave Benham, AIA, Director of the Faith-Based Studio, LS3P|Neal Prince, Greenville, SC
Church of Hope in Sarasota, Fla., designed by local Lawson Group Architects features a Phase I building devoted largely to the church’s smallest members and their visitors. Whether a church offers a children’s worship center, as shown here, some type of daycare for children in the community, or a fullfledged school, safety, secure access, and enhanced visibility are all key design elements to consider. (Photos by Casey Brooke Lawson.)
“There are general guidelines that stipulate how many children you can comfortably accommodate in a certain square footage. Those can vary…. ” Dirk Dalhausser, Church Planner, Goff Cos., Dallas, TX
“You can set one temperature for the handwashing sinks that the children use, and then you can set another temperature, say, a higher temperature, for the kitchens.” Shimin Luo, President and CEO, AHI Technologies, Wilmington, DE
“There should be views into the classroom. For example, if diaper-changing is occurring, they want to have protection for the teachers as well.” Jerry L. Halcomb, Founding Principal, HH Architects, Dallas, TX
BenQ announced its first DLP projector that features energy-saving Smart Eco Mode technology this past summer in Pennsylvania at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2011 conference and exposition. With Smart Eco Mode, BenQ’s MX850UST projector reportedly combines optimal picture performance with maximum energy savings for classrooms. BenQ says the product saves up to 50% more energy than other systems, extends lamp life, and results in lower total cost of ownership and less maintenance for schools. www. BenQ.us/product/projectors
Dan Busby, President, ECFA, Winchester, VA
IST Smartphone app allows users to enter a new message via text message.
International Body of Christ Church’s aquarium is home to more than 80 species of salt-water fish. Three full-time staff members care for the tank.
Ross Video’s Carbonite Digital Production Switcher wins BIRTV Innovative Product Award
Karen Mills, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) addresses the staff at Madison, Wisconsin-based Full Compass Systems, as owners Susan and Jonathan Lipp look on. Full Compass recently was awarded an SBA 100 award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Beam produces 250.000 Lux at a 10 metre distance, 10,000 Lux at 50 metres or 100 Lux at 500 metres
Martin Luther College Chapel of the Christ, New Ulm, Minnesota
Constructed of stone, brick and glass, the chapel rises 75 feet to accommodate a 57 rank pipe organ and seating for 1,200
Stephen Pickard, AIA, NCARB, Principal, Good Fulton & Farrell, Dallas, TX
Three original buildings once made up the campus of Word Alive International Outreach in Oxford, Ala. But the church had a vision to bring those buildings—along with its congregation and visitors—together for fellowship opportunities.
With the help of R. Messner Construction Co. of Wichita, Kan., the three existing metal structures were tied together into one new building, known as the Connection Facility.
Word Alive International Outreach’s connection building acts as a grand foyer, bookstore, sitting area, and café. The goal is that once guests and members are inside together, they have a number of activities to choose from that can help keep them engaged and united.
According to Worship Leader Luke Varvell, a digital signage system helps the church keep everyone present on the same page, displaying café menus during the day, upcoming church events, and live action in the sanctuary on Sundays.
CALLING ALL KIDS A children’s play area at Word Alive International Outreach also offers digital signage to keep moms, dads and families up to speed on church-wide events. According to Worship Leader Luke Varvell the kids play area and a few other areas of the new facility are zoned to display specific, space-relevant content.
“All of the existing buildings were at different elevations, and we had to overcome this by creatively incorporating transition ramps and stairs within a multi-level area.” —Richard Messner, Project Manager, R. Messner Construction Co., Wichita, KS
JOHN 10 COMES TO LIFE Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Elk Grove, Calif., employs architectural storytelling to position itself as a sheepfold in the residential area around its campus. The church’s building design, created by HGA Architects & Engineers of Sacramento, Calif., embodies a pastoral theme to help exemplify the parable of the Good Shepherd. (Images courtesy of Russell Abraham)
IMAGERY AT WORK - An abundance of windows and a rolling roofline help carry the pastoral storyline throughout the building’s interior. When worshippers enter the new space, they encounter a beautiful, simple baptismal font that “reflects the Christian’s journey through the waters of rebirth toward the altar,” says John Justus, principal with HGA Architects & Engineers. Then, at the peak of the roof hangs a life-sized crucifix suspended above the altar. The crucifix is made of natural red stone to symbolize the blood of Jesus. (Images courtesy of Russell Abraham)
“[The plaza is] the heart of the campus. It’s the primary space that helps transition a person from the secular to the sacred.” —John Justus, Principal, HGA Architects & Engineers, Sacramento, CA
Three oversized lanterns hang from the ceiling at intervals, and at the peak, a life-sized, 13-foot crucifix is suspended above the freestanding altar, which is made of a red natural stone to represent Christ, the Living Stone, and the blood he shed….
My Refuge House staff members, Patria Velasco and Crystal Sprague with volunteer Marichell Aguavira (Photos courtesy of Photo courtesy of Bethany Williams)
May 8, 2011 My Refuge House staff celebrate an open house for the newest facility. The plan is for several cottages to house 5 to 6 girls and a staff caregiver with a main central hall for residents to come together.
When the site is finished it will house up to 30 girls at a time, double the number currently housed. They also plan to start providing longer-term care for older teens and young women to learn more job skills and pursue higher education.
