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by Rachel Allen     Added May 18, 2009

As published in Worship Facilities, May/Jun 2009

The Art of Reinvention

“Designed for worship, but built for service.” Those were the words of Margaret Bixby at the 1914 dedication of First Congregational Church in Long Beach, Calif. The daughter of an east coast Congregational minister and wife of Jotham Bixby, a member of Long Beach’s founding family, Margaret worked to establish the church based on her conviction that Christianity is not only to be practiced on Sundays, but is a way of living that should infiltrate every part of a person’s daily activities.

Margaret’s attitude is timeless, similar to the church’s physical home. First Church’s Florentine Renaissance building has been a fixture of downtown Long Beach for almost a century. Completed in 1914 at a cost of $165,000, it is filled with ornate mahogany woodwork and Tiffany glass, seats 1,000 people, and houses a 4,226-pipe, 70-rank Moeller organ. The church is also listed as a Long Beach historical landmark, and has been the setting for several television shows and movies. Beauty and a proud heritage aside, First Church is dedicated to social justice and outreach, an outlook that propelled them to acclimate to a new century and boldly serve their fellow man. Over time, that stance called for more space with plenty of flexibility. A small site in an urban location would seemingly limit their imaginations, but instead, their surroundings inspired them to merge the foundation of their past with the vision for their future.

That same spark of inspiration was multiplied when Domusstudio Architects was interviewed for the project in 2001. Domusstudio produced a strong record in church design, but also showed a great understanding of the church’s direction and passion. “First Church is a creative and artistic group of people,” says David Pfeifer, principal with Domusstudio, which is based in San Diego. “We listened, and then brought [more] creativity and struck a chord.”

Once the team began to assemble, the challenges and solutions started to take form. First Church staff retreated for a weekend to discuss their needs and vision and invited members of the Domusstudio team to join them. At the end of the weekend, the whole group was together on pragmatic necessities, as well as the philosophical direction of the church: to remain and grow as a part of revived downtown Long Beach.

Finding a Way to Connect

First Church expressed the need for outdoor mixed-use gathering space and flexible meeting space for their numerous programs. A gym was required to accommodate an expansive summer day-camp and sports activities for the youth of the church. Similarly, space for social events and a kitchen were desired (food for the local Meals on Wheels program is prepared at First Church). Parking was also a concern for the small site. Tantamount, though, to the church and the government powers that be in California, was preservation and respect toward the original 1914 building.

The solution introduced by Pfeifer and his team was a separate two-floor addition connected to the old via an enclosed courtyard. The space would be named Pilgrim Hall, the name of an education building demolished years earlier on the same site and replaced by a parking lot. To replace the parking spaces, First Church purchased adjacent land and set up rental agreements with City Hall and other downtown businesses not using their lots on Sundays. However, before a shovel could hit the ground, permissions had to be granted by the Secretary of the Interior and the Historic Resources Board. “The historical aspect created many challenges, but teamwork and level-headedness always prevailed,” says Richard Fricke, president of Charles Licha Construction of Encino, Calif. Those factors combined with due diligence resulted in a beautifully blended, 17,000-square-foot addition. In terms of space, the $3.4 million project has provided everything First Church needs to continue the service it is passionate about.

Beautifully Blended

To the passerby, First Church, with its bell tower and Italian craftsmanship, was always a striking part of the downtown scene. With the addition of Pilgrim Hall, the visual interest has compounded, and now the eye is carried the length of the joined buildings and a person cannot help but contemplate the seamless marriage of historic and contemporary. “The Secretary of the Interior requires clear differentiation between the new and old,” says Pfeifer. Therefore, the designers’ objective was to compliment the historical without competing with it. To accomplish this, the architectural elements of the church building were mirrored in the arched gateways and windows of the addition. The terracotta of the original building was mimicked by pre-cast concrete placed at the roofline and around the windows of Pilgrim Hall. The banded brick prevalent in Florentine style was also alluded to by the pre-cast elements, while the vaulted gym roof and wainscoting make the modern statement needed to separate the two structures.

The courtyard is raised from the street, creating a welcoming front porch feel and making it an ideal primary entrance for both buildings throughout the week. Inside the courtyard, lush landscaping and level changes create a space that is truly removed and relaxing. Exposed brick contrasted with smooth concrete offer an urbane sophistication and warmth all at once. According to Pfeifer, the space is open and light-filled, but still secure and private enough for weddings, memorials and casual fellowship before and after services. “It is a green and peaceful environment—in the midst of a crowded concrete urban setting—that is appreciated by our surrounding community,” adds Jerry Stinson, senior minister of First Church.

Interconnected with the courtyard is the actual wood-frame and structural steel building. The indoor portion is two floors built over a partial basement. It has a four-stop elevator and is full of light, as well as bright colors and textures. “The church wanted this building to contrast with the historic, which is very dark and formal,” says Stinson.

The basement serves the church’s youth group, providing them with plenty of meeting space and a youth music room where the hand bell choir and resident rock band can remain set up for practices. The remainder of the basement space is a walk-in refrigeration and freezer unit located directly below the first floor kitchen.

The first floor is home to preschool and early elementary classrooms with self-contained restrooms. Classrooms throughout the building share removable walls for flexibility. Congregants routinely meet in large groups on Sunday mornings and then rearrange the rooms to accommodate smaller Sunday afternoon forums and community gatherings throughout the week. The gym and fellowship space, named Patterson Hall, is also on the first floor and extends to the second. A three-layer maple floor is durable and ideal for sports, but is also elegant and warm for social functionality. “We spent a lot of time selecting impact resistant glass and fixtures and finishes that were appropriate for a social hall, but could also withstand the abuse of athletic activities,” says Pfeifer. “It was not meant to look like a gym.” The ability to look out on the courtyard or even walk out to it from Patterson reinforces the sophistication the team sought.

Connected to Patterson Hall is the kitchen that puts out 800 meals a day for Meals on Wheels. Large storage space for chairs and tables is also easily accessible, making set up and tear down for various uses simple. Additionally, there are no permanent technical installations, or even a stage in the space. Instead, portable technology is used and a moveable platform is available. “Patterson can serve 300 parolees on a Wednesday afternoon and then change for a seated banquet later that night,” says Stinson.

Also on the first floor is a 20-unit computer lab. The lab is open to church members, but is also a large part of a homeless drop-in ministry on Sunday afternoons. The homeless are able to communicate with family and friends via e-mail and utilize technology in their job searches.

The second floor has classrooms for older elementary and junior high students, as well as three classrooms completely dedicated to adult education. Two would-be offices have been converted into counseling rooms and “Sacred Space,” a 40-seat chapel, also occupies the floor and can accommodate small weddings and funerals. The chapel is filled with light from windows and its design was inspired by Eastern religions, making it another area distinctive from the sanctuary. To tie the second floor to the courtyard, an L-shaped balcony runs along the courtyard side of the floor and overlooks the outdoor space.

The building’s many uses and users encouraged First Church to avoid any group-specific design or themes. “It’s a less threatening space for all types of meetings to be held,” Stinson points out. He goes on to say that Patterson Hall (the gym space) is frequently used for large community meetings held by City Hall. That comfort level is precisely what First Church had in mind when the project commenced. Now, every time a member of the Long Beach community steps foot over the threshold, the church is reminded they made the right decision.

Pfeifer concludes, “Architecture can’t solve the world’s problems, but it can create places where good things can happen.”

Rachel Allen is a freelance writer and marketing consultant. She can be reached at racheld_allen@yahoo.com.