Hillcrest Baptist Church
Pensacola, Florida
By Frances Putman

When the Hillcrest Baptist Church congregation in Pensacola, Florida, decided they needed a new church, they contacted local design firm Quina, Grundhoefer, Royal Architects (QGR), www.qgrartchitects.com. QGR was an obvious choice, because close to 80 percent of their business is church-related design. And, although they design traditional and contemporary buildings, some of the architecture is transitional, incorporating traditional forms and elements into a contemporary design.

Building on Strength
With a price tag of slightly more than $5 million, the building needed longevity. Architect Danny Grundhoefer, a principal at QGR, knew immediately that brick would give the kind of performance required of a structure designed for long life. Florida presents a demanding climate for building exteriors.

"Brick is a proven material," he said. "We know it lasts and is not going to need ongoing maintenance, even 40 or 50 years from now. And, it's more economical than natural stone, like marble or granite. Even if a client initially suggests another building material, we often recommend a masonry solution."

The long-term durability of brick means it stands up to heavy use, inside and out. The metal frame construction and brick veneer are designed to withstand high winds, which are common in Florida.

Brick takes other kinds of abuse, too, like hot sunshine and heavy rainfall. And, because humidity prevails, air conditioners are running nine or 10 months out of the year. This tends to draw moisture toward a building's interior, which can lead to condensation. With certain building materials, that causes mold and mildew problems. Brick, however, promotes good indoor air quality because it's a breathable material and allows moisture to evaporate.

Florida's weather extremes also include thunderstorms with lightning, which, unfortunately, can lead to fires. Brick and other masonry make good products for building exteriors in this environment because they do not burn.

Brick offers another benefit well suited to churches-acoustics, which are an important part of the functionality of a church. Not only does the masonry improve the acoustics inside, its mass helps keep outside noises from interfering with activities. Whether the space is being used for quiet reflection or for music and celebration, masonry keeps sound where it should be.

Sold on Brick
QGR is familiar with brick, so they know that it will perform well and look good. Part of the success comes from working with a responsible contractor. Greenhut Construction Co., Inc. is reliable, as is their (frequent) masonry subcontractor, Bradley Masonry, Inc. Both parties are responsive to the designer. Architect, mason and contractor form a winning team.

Beauty with Design Flexibility
QGR likes to do transitional design because it lends itself to dramatic exterior forms and architecturally interesting buildings. The design for every congregation's church is unique. The 45,000-square-foot Hillcrest structure was configured with curvilinear lines for the walls and roofs to create its own character. The resulting form is a visible example of the church's progressive outreach to the community.

Plans originally called for a lighter color of brick, but when Grundhoefer saw the muted mauve-red brick that was eventually used, he knew it was right for the project. Even better, it was immediately available from Carolina Ceramics, the brick manufacturer.

Knowing how integral mortar is to a wall's appearance, QGR used colored mortar made from light-red masonry cement to pick up the earth tones of the brick. (For the block portion of the walls, a standard gray mortar made with Type S masonry cement was used.) They like to be expressive with the design, and colored mortar offers a cost-effective opportunity to add interest to any wall. Use of a prepackaged masonry cement assures consistent quality and color uniformity.

Blessed with good looks and a bright future, the new Hillcrest Baptist Church combines a traditional material with transitional architecture to best serve its community.

This information is provided courtesy of the Portland Cement Association. Founded in 1916, the Portland Cement Association, www.cement.org, represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education and public affairs programs.

In a Nutshell

Church: Hillcrest Baptist Church
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Architect: Quina, Grundhoefer, Royal Architects
Size: 45,000 square feet
Cost: Slightly more than $5 million
Challenge: Build a new facility that would provide longevity and could withstand Florida's demanding climate for building exteriors.
Solution: The architect recommended brick to give the kind of performance required of a structure designed for long life. Brick is a proven and economical material. The long-term durability of brick means it stands up to heavy use, inside and out. Brick also helps with acoustics, too.