church case study
Our church case studies offer real life solutions to churches. Religious Product News’s case studies cover topics about church building, church sound, church acoustics, technology in churches today, as well as many other church related issues. Read these church case studies and get pertinent info for your church!
Living Stones Church
Living Stones Church in Crown Point, Indiana, is a spiritual greenhouse where people are loved, encouraged, and equipped to grow into all that Christ has called them to be. Pastor Ron Johnson has enjoyed serving the church family at Living Stones for 30 years in a variety of leadership roles before becoming Senior Pastor
The ARK
New Horizon Church International in Jackson, Mississippi, was founded in 1987 by Bishop Ronnie C. Crudup, Sr., who was instructed by the Holy Spirit to “go establish a church that would be on a new horizon.” The congregation started with 56 charter members and met in a variety of rented facilities. In 2003, the
First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables
Midtown Video has upgraded many house of worship locations to enhance music performances, video productions, and live-streaming of services. The First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables in Miami installation included a Newtek Tricaster, Panasonic PTZ cameras, microphone upgrades, an Allen & Heath mixing board and other enhancements. The Goal Midtown Video was selected
St. Paul Catholic Church
St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland, Illinois, and The Korte Company worked closely together to design and construct Trinity Hall – a 9,458-square-foot addition located at their current location. The expansion was designed to connect the existing church, rectory and parish center and serve as a new gathering space for the congregation. The new
Word of Life Christian Center
Word of Life Christian Center in Newark, Delaware, worked with Nowland Associates on a café and outdoor patio project. This 4,600-square-foot renovation consisted of demolishing the existing bookstore, conference room and baptism space to create a new café and gathering space. This new enlarged space received all new finishes, lighting, a self-serve coffee bar and
Texas Church Gets Full Audio Makeover
Founded in 1986, Westover Hills Church in San Antonio has grown to become one of the area’s largest congregations, offering multiple services, social groups, and community services on its ever-growing campus. The church’s 2200-seat worship center first opened its doors in 2014, and while the congregation hasn’t outgrown it yet, after a decade of
Auburn Community Church
Auburn Community Church in Auburn, Alabama, began with a group of families committed to doing church differently, regardless of where they gather. Established in 2014, the church has held Sunday gatherings in many different locations, including other churches, a hotel, basketball arenas, a livestock arena, and fields. Running four services each Sunday to accommodate
Elevating the Visual Experience
Grace Community Church in Southern California has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the 1950s. What started out as “two small buildings and a chicken coop” in 1956 has expanded to a multi-building campus that now meets the spiritual needs of thousands of weekly congregants. Today, the non-denominational, evangelical megachurch comprises
White Memorial Presbyterian Church
Clancy & Theys Construction Company worked with White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, providing construction management services for a new addition and renovation. The project includes a 16,433-square-foot expansion adding additional sanctuary/flex space, dedicated youth space with new classrooms, and a full commercial kitchen. In addition to the expansion, Clancy & Theys
Intercoms for Seamless Communication at Louisiana Church
A multi-site church with campuses in West Monroe, Ruston, and Sterlington, Louisiana, Christ Church has grown to become a leading house of worship in Louisiana. With roughly 2,000 congregants in attendance weekly at its main location in West Monroe, Christ Church takes pride in its ability to produce quality services to its mass audience,
Gloria de Cristo Lutheran Church Shines Brighter
In sunny Yuma, Arizona, Gloria de Cristo Lutheran Church serves as a second home for many, whether they’re able to physically be inside the beautiful interior or not. With a congregation size ranging from 50 to several hundred, coupled with an outdated AV system, church staff knew they needed an AV setup capable of
Holy Family Church
W2A Design Group provided full architectural services for a new 18,000-square-foot parish center for Holy Family Church in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The main component of this parish center is a new 240-seat, 5,000-square-foot banquet hall. The hall can be subdivided into a 1,400-square-foot luncheon room specifically designed to provide a more intimate setting for funeral
LifeQuest Church Finds “Perfect” Projector to Fit Its Needs
Outside of Kansas City, Missouri, is LifeQuest Church, otherwise known as the “Perfect Church for Imperfect People.” Led by Pastor Chris Pinion, Worship & Student Pastor Tim Goulet, and Creative Pastor Jordan Mills, LifeQuest Church has created an environment that invites everyone for in-person and now live-streamed services. Living in the digital age, the
King's Way United Methodist Church and Pavilion
For over 60 years, King’s Way has been blessed to see God work in amazing ways through this church in Springfield, Missouri. What started as a small gathering has become a large church for people to worship Jesus Christ and experience God’s unfailing love together. Lives are being transformed through the work of God’s
Heavenly Results for Church Live Streaming Upgrade
When Christ Church of Short Hills, New Jersey, was looking to upgrade its streaming capabilities, to deliver quality live streaming and recorded broadcasts, it enlisted the services of JD Sound & Video. JD Sound and Video provides state-of-the-art sound, video and control solutions for houses of worship, schools, theaters, corporate, government and municipal clients.
First United Methodist Church of Sealy
FUMC Sealy, Texas, was established in 1939 with the mergers of several churches. The current sanctuary was constructed in 1956. In large measure, it had not changed much until its 2018 renovation. The building and interior of the sanctuary was still in use but experiencing many repercussions of aging, including roof leaks, mold, and
Church Elevates Worship Experience and Unveils New Facility
One Church Home in Fairview, Tennessee, has unveiled a new state-of-the-art facility with enhanced audio, video, lighting, and acoustics, marking a significant upgrade in their worship experience. Integrated Production Solutions (IPS) completed the installation of the new-build project, focusing on the main auditorium and video control room. One Church Home sought a reliable partner
First Baptist Church of Covington
At First Baptist Church of Covington in Covington, Louisiana, the architectural aesthetic intentionally hearkens back to quaint, southern building vernacular, while accommodating the grand scale of the building program. The building exudes craftsmanship and attention to detail, paying tribute to early construction methods by using natural wood and aged materials. While the building reflects
Church Takes Proactive Measures to Protect Congregants Against Gun-Related Violence
ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the US Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, announced that its solution has been chosen by Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California, to proactively protect its congregants against gun-related threats. The FBI reports that 15.1% of hate crime incidents
Oak Grove Baptist Church
Oak Grove Baptist Church in Cushing, Oklahoma, reached out to Rodney James of Master’s Plan Church Design and Construction, as it was time to begin the process to update their ministry facilities. Like many churches across America, their church was a series of buildings that had been constructed over multiple decades with no real
First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church, located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, is deemed to be one of the oldest structures in the city. Originally built in 1857, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The renovation improvements of the project center around a new chancel and choir loft that
Christ Community Church Elevates Worship Experience with Lighting Upgrade
One of five Christ Community campuses in the greater Chicago area, Christ Community’s St. Charles/South Elgin location recently received a key lighting and house lighting upgrade of Elation Professional Fuze Profile and Fuze Pendant fixtures. The new lighting system offers the church greater flexibility in creating lighting atmospheres while adding an immersive element to
Fox Point Lutheran Church
The original sanctuary at Fox Point Lutheran Church in Fox Point, Wisconsin, was constructed in 1955 and has experienced multiple additions in the decades since. In recent years, the church has seen an increase in membership. In an effort to accommodate this growth, a comprehensive capitol improvements project was set in motion. As discussions
The Hills Church
At The Hills Church in North Richland Hills, Texas, the project challenge for Shanks Architects was to remodel an existing worship center to meet the expectations of both a cappella and instrumental worship, while increasing seating capacity, improving sight lines, and enhancing the overall worship experience for the congregation. By creatively using new materials
Hope Church Upgrades Audio Worship Experience
Hope Church recently collaborated with Diversified Systems and HARMAN Professional Solutions to update its sound system with a state-of-the-art JBL Professional audio solution. Founded in 1988, Hope Church is located in the Memphis suburb of Cordova and is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Although Hope Church already had a robust JBL VTX
Life Fellowship Church
GFF developed a new comprehensive campus master plan for Life Fellowship Church (LFC) located in McKinney, Texas. It includes renovation and expansion of their current campus to include a 1,200-seat future worship center, a weekday preschool, additional adult classrooms, and an administrative suite on a very compact site. The master plan enhances a central
The Gathering
The Gathering was one of the first newly constructed church buildings built within the St. Louis city limits in decades. Thoughtful functionality and flexibility are key to this church design—the worship space can be configured to accommodate either a morning worship service or an evening community event. The central Gathering Space allows for milling
Pulaski Church of God
The church is more than just a building—it’s a sacred space where we come together to worship, to learn, and to connect with one another. The design and construction of a church is, therefore, an essential aspect of creating an environment that inspires and uplifts the congregation. The Pulaski Church of God in Pulaski,
Victory Church Engages the World
For Victory Church in Westminster, Colorado, entering the live-stream world was something that they aimed to achieve within the next few years, but when the pandemic struck, it was a shift that they needed to make within a few weeks. With a limited budget and requirements for wireless capabilities, Pliant Technologies’ MicroCom XR digital
Faith Promise Church
Studio Four Design has been privileged to design more than 90 church projects in its 20-year history to complete expansion projects, renovations, and new builds. One of those ministries, Faith Promise Church, has partnered with Studio Four Design in a number of projects to accommodate its remarkable growth and to accomplish the opening of
Celebration Center Integrates Cutting-Edge A/V and Acoustics
Originally built in 1917, First Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota, has served as a rock of solace, inspiration, spiritual training and community service for more than 100 years. In 2017, continued parish growth and a need to modernize its original facilities inspired Senior Pastor Corey Biertness and his dedicated assembly of pastors to
The Church at Brook Hills
Established in 1990, The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, is a faith family devoted to helping one another love Jesus, grow in Jesus, and make disciples of Jesus in Birmingham and among all nations. The design concept for The Church at Brook Hills is centered on the philosophy that what happens inside
Renkus-Heinz ICONYX Series Takes Audio to New Heights at St. James Basilica
Dominated by 125-foot-tall spires flanking the main façade, St. James Basilica serves the spiritual needs of the community in Jamestown, North Dakota. Designed in the Gothic Revival style and completed in 1914, the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as St. James Catholic Church and was elevated to
The Garden Church
Simpson Gardens 2 was built in response to community requests to provide affordable housing for senior residents of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. The town has many large Victorian homes that older residents could no longer maintain nor afford, but they didn’t want to leave their hometown. Meanwhile, Simpson, a Methodist senior living provider, and The Garden
Live Streaming Events to Grow Your Congregation
Based in Detroit, Michigan, Unity Baptist Church has a rich 97-year history sharing God’s word and serving the community. Like so many churches, the global pandemic put a strain on the Unity Baptist congregation as they, like others, were required to shutter their doors, making in-person gatherings impossible. Having grown up at Unity Baptist
Connect Church Incorporates Bose Professional Technology to Ensure Its Worship Is Focused on Community
Bose Professional has announced that Connect Church, located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, has incorporated the new AMM multipurpose loudspeakers in their community-focused approach to worship. Founded in 1998, Connect Church is built on a foundation of a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-generational community. Its unique approach to weekly worship creates a sanctuary and gathering
Gateway Church of Christ
Gateway Church of Christ, located in Pensacola, Florida, is a large-scale new construction and renovation project that was designed by BGW Architects and constructed by The Collage Companies, the exclusive BGW Builder for Central and North Florida. The project involved the construction of a new 33,000-square-foot worship facility along with an additional 12,000 square
Alcons Supplies Power and Clarity to Expanded Hope Church
AVLS enables a clear and dynamic worship with Dutch pro-ribbons. Created in 2015 by the merger of two churches, worship at South Carolina’s Hope Church ranges from high energy music to spoken word sermons. A recent enlargement of its Simpsonville campus provided the opportunity to upgrade its audio system. An Alcons Audio pro-ribbon system
Grace Community Church
When the staff and elders of Grace Community Church sensed the need and leading to expand their current ministry facilities, they recognized this project would require more than just a builder, they needed a partner to lead them on the entire journey. The desire was for a long-term ministry solution that would not only
Abundant Church’s East Campus Upgrades with EAW
When Michael Garrison Associates (MGA) was contracted to upgrade the existing loudspeaker system for Abundant Church’s 3,600-seat main auditorium at its East Campus (AC-East) in El Paso, Texas, President/Owner Michael Garrison and his team once again turned to Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) and its ADAPTive PA system. MGA and Abundant Church have a long
Freedom Church
Taking fellowship to a new place At Freedom Church in Owasso, Oklahoma, Pastor Andrew Rankin was inspired to expand ministry opportunities by restructuring existing spaces into multipurpose church facilities and encouraging his congregation’s desire to fellowship. Churches By Daniels worked with Freedom Church to reconfigure their existing church space into a multipurpose facility space
North Phoenix Baptist Church Sees the Light with Severtson Projection Screens
October 17, 2021, marked a very special day for North Phoenix Baptist Church (NPHX Church) in Arizona. Seventy-five years prior to this very significant date, the congregation was founded. Two decades ago, NPHX Church brought in a team to renovate and update some of the facility’s production systems. At the time, budget and technology
Mason Worship Center
Unconventional worship center draws many “friends who didn’t like church” Crossroads, after achieving remarkable success with their first two non-traditional worship centers, enlisted Champlin Architecture again for its next venue — intended to serve Cincinnati’s northeast suburbs. A slight departure from its Oakley and Florence locations, this new facility is a former industrial manufacturing
Setting the Stage for Singers at The Moody Church
The vocal team at The Moody Church in Chicago—comprising four to seven people a week, including Tim Stafford, pastor of music ministries—has recently adopted ASI Audio x Sensaphonic’s 3DME Music Enhancement IEM System. “When the pandemic hit, and we transitioned to broadcasting church services online only, we had to retool our monitoring needs for
Highland Park Presbyterian Church
After celebrating 91 years, Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Highland Park, Texas, selected OMNIPLAN to design a new masterplan that would better position them for the next 10 decades. The congregation was looking to grow and transform the children’s ministries, create a new central gathering space or “heart” uniting all generations, centralize the ministry
Passion City Church Builds Future-Proof Live Audio Transport Solution
Artel Video Systems recently announced that Passion City Church is using two Artel Quarra 1G PTP Ethernet switches to support IP-based handling of audio signals being transported between its two main Atlanta church locations — “515” and Cumberland — and a third site in Trilith, Georgia, to support worship services, events, and other productions.
ChristChurch Presbyterian
TSW collaborated with Gertler & Wente Architects, LLP for the renovation of an existing office building into a sanctuary and classroom building for ChristChurch Presbyterian in Atlanta. The team created a design for ChristChurch Presbyterian that developed a dramatic new modern sanctuary and renovation design that will incorporate much of the site’s existing building
Historic Church Upgrades Technology to Better Meet Congregants’ Needs
Churches of all denominations are firmly rooted in rich historical traditions and timeless truths. However, these houses of worship still find it necessary to keep up with technology to better serve their congregations and communities while enhancing security. Since many religious buildings can be more than 100 years old, great care must be given
Ridgewood Church
Ridgewood Church in Minnetonka, Minnesota, recently sought the help of Station 19 Architects to bring their spaces up to date with their current ministry values of connection and hospitality. The church’s existing building was hidden away with a nondescript entrance behind landscaping and a city retaining wall. While the church was well constructed with
Digital Projection Lets the Light Shine at Lighthouse World Outreach Center
For many small and rural towns, it’s often the local church that serves not only as a place of spiritual enrichment, but also provides fellowship and a sense of community to the residents. This is particularly the case in Monroe, Georgia, where Lighthouse World Outreach Center has been passionately serving the community for nearly
Shepherd of the Hills Catholic Parish
Shepherd of the Hills Church and School in Eden, Wisconsin, was the answer to effectively consolidating four local parishes. The facility accommodates the demand for increased worship space and the parish’s need for modernization. Its 500-seat worship area, parish offices and K-8 school centralize the functions of the parish, making it more accessible for
Elevating the Worship Experience
In 1998, Connect Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, began under the leadership of Pastor Kyle Horner and his wife, Danielle. With a foundation focused on multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-generational worship, this high-energy, contemporary church continues to grow and evolve to support the community. Part of this evolution is not just adjusting to how
Westwood Community Church
Westwood Community Church began in 1995 as an outreach to the Southwest Minneapolis suburbs by Wooddale Church, originally located in the Loring Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. During the early years, Westwood held services in rented locations until a permanent church home was constructed in Chanhassen in 2003. It didn’t take long for Westwood itself
Worship in Winter Haven Has Changed with Adamson
Winter Haven Worship Center in Winter Haven, Florida, has installed a new Adamson PA system in their 1,000-seat facility. The new system features a main stereo hang of nine IS10b sub-compact line array cabinets on each side, along with a total of four IS10pb full-range point source cabinets for outside and centre fill. Eight
2|42 Community Church
2|42 Ann Arbor is the second campus for this growing church in Michigan. Built on an identity of “community first,” the facilities they live, work, and play in are designed to be more of a focused center of community than a church. Through the completion of renovations and additions to their main campus in
Grace City Church
“We met Rodney James at the Association of Related Churches conference a few years ago when a new building felt impossible to us,” said Pastor Josh Copron. That is where the journey began for Pastor Josh and his wife Brynn of Grace City Church in Albany, Georgia. The first conversation started, “We don’t know whether
Helixeon Entrusts VIVOTEK Security Solutions for James River Church Campus Surveillance
On the campuses of educational facilities and houses of worship, extensive security measures have unfortunately become a necessity. As such, James River Church was looking to upgrade their security solution. The church’s past security camera system was utilizing multiple PTZ cameras, which were failing to capture entire areas of the property, allowing for criminal
SouthPark Church
After serving the community of Charlotte, North Carolina, for more than 50 years, SouthPark Church has relaunched its mission with a contemporary facility inspired by its traditional roots. Anchoring a mixed-use development, SouthPark Church demolished its original sanctuary and constructed a 90,000-square-foot church in its place. This revamped modern campus creates a place where
Making a Joyful Noise
Lakeland Reformed Church has embraced outdoor play at Lakeland Creative Beginnings Child Care with a number of outdoor musical instruments inspired by their faith. The church, located in Vicksburg, Michigan, recently purchased the Rainbow Chimes from Percussion Play, a leading manufacturer of outdoor musical instruments that has seen a steep increase this year in
Genoa Church
Genoa Church in Westerville, Ohio, partnered with Paragon 360 in the construction and design of their new worship center. This rapidly growing congregation had reached the maximum capacity of their multipurpose gymnasium and was ready to create the space and atmosphere that they wanted. The Paragon 360 team worked with them from the very
DPA Mics Provide Accurate, Intelligible Sound for Churchgoers Watching from Home
When faced with shelter-in-place regulations amid the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware, like many churches around the world, decided to shift from in-person gatherings on Sundays to recorded services so churchgoers could watch from home. The initial offerings relied on existing audio and video equipment, which was more
Milford United Methodist Church
The story of Milford United Methodist Church is the story of a creative team of dedicated church members who saw the loss of their 88-year-old traditional church building to fire as an opportunity to bring Christ to more of the residents of Otsego County, New York. Led by Chairwoman Lola Rathbone, with the support
Retrofitting a Commercial Building into a Church
In Columbia, South Carolina, Pastor Travis Greene and his congregants at Forward City Church believe they have found their ideal new location to honor God and build a community—and the size, location, and price tag were all perfect. But, how do you go about converting a big box store into a reverent place of
Power of Clean Energy (PCE) Brings Lighting Solution to Hermitage Hills Baptist Church
Hermitage Hills Baptist is a church based in Nashville, Tennessee. For the last three years, Mike Brown, the facility manager, has been serving the church and working to improve the campus. We interviewed Brown about his experience working with PCE. How did the church first hear about Power of Clean Energy? When I started
Multipurpose Space Means Doing More with Less
Multipurpose space has long been a buzzword for church leadership. But, as the needs of modern congregations grow and expand, incorporating multipurpose space effectively requires creativity and innovation. When leveraged correctly, multipurpose space can foster community, increase the efficiency of a church building, and promote cost savings. Here are a few examples of unique
Christ Episcopal Church
In 1952, Christ Episcopal Church of Reading, Pennsylvania, had a series of 51 Mondrian-style windows installed in their attached Parish Hall. The original 60” h. x 38” w. windows featured a single pane, stained glass and metal frames design that was visually interesting. However, over time, they had lost their functionality, becoming drafty and
Saint Thomas Church Embraces Livestreaming Technology to Bring Community and Worship Together
By Jim Wickizer Working to expand its online offerings beyond audio webcast, Saint Thomas Church in New York, New York, began filming video recordings of its services with a one-man video team for its extensive religious community. The original webcast production process ended up being a laborious and time-intensive endeavor, taking up to 15
St. Richard’s Episcopal Church
St. Richard’s Episcopal Church has been a part of the Round Rock, Texas, urban fabric for decades. It is a well-established entity in the city’s community, known by many as the “Pumpkin Patch Church” because of the 10,000 pumpkins that decorate its front lawn facing Hwy 79 every October. This annual fundraiser pumpkin sale
Just Add Power Helps Illinois Church Spread the Word to an Expanding Community
Just Add Power, a leader in video-over-IP distribution, has announced that its Ultra HD over IP system has been installed at the new Light of Christ Lutheran Church (LOC) Worship Center in Algonquin, Illinois. Just Add Software, a developer of configuration and control solutions for the Just Add Power platform, utilized the system to
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
The beautiful new St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Friendship, Wisconsin, is the culmination of the congregation’s nearly 15-year commitment to the community and their five-year plan to construct a new building on property they purchased across from the Adams County Fairgrounds. The finished product is an attractive 7,500-square-foot wood-framed building that was completed
Fundraising in a Pandemic
When the pandemic hit, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church of Whitestone in Queens, New York, was in need of emergency fundraising. For a solution, they turned to Cave Company, a 116-year-old company based in New York, run by third-generation owner Gregory Cave for the past 40 years. They selected the company’s flagship product, Tree
Church on the Move
From Temporary Facility to Permanent Spiritual Home Church on the Move’s South Broken Arrow campus was struggling with their temporary facility, which was impeding the growth of their ministry. They needed more parking and kids’ classrooms. The church found an existing 24,000-square-foot space in a shopping center that, when finished, will give them the
Remarkable Flexibility: Choir Stick Mics at Rowlett UMC
When Don Shelley of the First Rowlett United Methodist Church in Texas decided it was finally time to replace five portable boom-arm mics that had been purchased more than 20 years earlier, he figured he had really got his money’s worth. The old mics had started to show wear and recently began emitting interference
When God Steps In
By Rodney James I received a call one morning from a gentleman who asked if we could bid on constructing a metal building for a local church. Since we do not bid projects, my first instinct was to apologize and decline, but something inside my spirit told me to ask some questions. What unfolded
Chico Church Uses NewTek TriCaster to Offer Live Video and Connect Community During COVID-19 Restrictions
Bidwell Presbyterian Church in Chico, California, has many digital offerings, including a mobile app and live video of its worship services available to all – offerings that went from impressive to critical during the COVID-19 global pandemic. “About two years ago, we looked to video to enhance what we’re already doing, and start being
Lake Pointe Church
Buildings don’t grow churches, but a well-crafted building solution can have a huge impact on a church’s ability to effectively carry out its mission. As one of the fastest growing and largest multi-site churches in America, Lake Pointe Church had found significant success in growing its ministry across multiple communities. In the growing Dallas
Calvary Chapel Church Sings Praises of Innovative Staging Solutions
Calvary Chapel church, located in Hemet, California, serves as a gathering place for worship, scripture and song among the San Jacinto Valley community. Hosting a wide range of events, from Sunday services to community happenings, church leadership saw a need to expand the facility’s stage area and functionality to accommodate performers and guests comfortably
First Methodist Church of Palo Alto
Western Specialty Contractors – San Francisco Branch, partnered with Sika Corp., were honored virtually with a 2020 International Concrete Restoration Institute (ICRI) Award of Merit (Special Projects category) for restoration of the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto. The ICRI conducts an awards program each year to honor and recognize outstanding projects in
Ash Lane United Methodist Church
Organized in 1876, this congregation of Methodists in northeast Tarrant County in Texas was known as Woodlawn Church and then Grange Hall Church before building their first sanctuary across Main Street on a site where they have been meeting ever since. They were served by circuit-riding pastors until 1944. As the town of Euless
Brooklyn Church Relies on Digital Kiosks to Safely Re-Open
By April 2020, Brown Memorial Baptist Church had already lost several parishioners to COVID-19 and decided to move all of its activities online. It would be nearly seven months before anyone other than staff members would enter the church, which often hosted 450 to 600 worshippers on a Sunday. That included one of the
Elation House Lighting Solution Gives Tennessee Church a Fresh, New Look
A fresh wash of dynamic light from Elation Fuze Pendant house downlights has helped transform The First Family/First Baptist Church’s sanctuary from a more ordinary space with uneven illumination to a modern-looking house of worship more reflective of today’s contemporary worship. Seeking to upgrade its more traditional house lighting to something more state of
Topeka Baptist Church
Topeka Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, needed more space to accommodate its growth, and the addition of an annex proved to be only a temporary solution. The recent construction of a brand-new building not only provided much-needed capacity, but also a modern design that makes it stand out in its community. “We love it,
How One Church Is Tackling a Surge in COVID-19 Cases
Coronavirus cases are on the rise once again. To prevent a rise in cases, it’s important to implement effective and easy solutions to maintain health safety within churches as we continue to move forward in the COVID-19 era. Early this month, Indiana, specifically the Fisher community, had seen spikes of COVID-19 cases. The Fishers
Adaptive Reuse
A former J. C. Penney department store, built in the 1950s, was adapted to accommodate a growing congregation in New Jersey. Located on the western edge of downtown Dover, the building was home to a flag factory that had been closed for about five years. The store building was converted into a church, which
Upgrading Video Production Equipment for More Engaging Online Content During Pandemic
Church of the Highlands, a multi-site megachurch headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, recently engaged Adorama Business Solutions, a premier technology resource for corporate, educational, and government institutions, to procure its AV equipment for video production needs. The added inventory has empowered Church of the Highlands to remotely respond to the needs of its congregants through
Focusing on What Churches Do Best with LiveControl’s Remote Production Crew in the Cloud
While stay-at-home orders have decreased physical attendance at churches over the past year, live streaming has given churches the opportunity to reach a much wider viewership. John Volinsky, campus pastor at Bayside Church in California, spoke to this opportunity and said that “most people that come to Bayside actually first watched our services online.”
Christ Presbyterian Church
For nearly three decades, Christ Presbyterian Church in Carlsbad, California, worshiped in a fellowship hall with dreams of one day building a sanctuary. Rather than building new, domusstudio architecture teamed with the committee to remodel the existing fellowship hall into a beautiful worship space that still meets the needs of a multi-purpose space used for
Extending Worship Beyond the Church Walls
Founded in 1976 and nestled in Denton, Texas, Denton Bible Church is a non-denominational church that averaged 4,000 congregants each Sunday across its three services. As the demand for digital content and streaming grew and the need for quality video for the church increased, Denton Bible Church sought to replace its outdated camera system
Trinity Episcopal Church
The inclusive nature of the Trinity Episcopal Church congregation in Marble Falls, Texas, is exemplified by openness, informality, and connectedness to the surrounding community and the rural setting in the heart of the Hill Country. The desire to reinforce these qualities formed the core of the congregation’s mission as they began the process of building a
Amazing Renovations!
Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, needed to make a change. They had completed a ground-up, extensive $27 million campus in 2004, the largest Methodist church building project in the United States. However, church leadership still felt that their congregation was too scattered. At the time, Asbury served a multigenerational congregation with 8,000
A Church Remodel to Serve a Multi-Generational Congregation
Although church attendance has been down due to the pandemic, churches and businesses are still investing in projects of all kinds. Ridgecrest Baptist Church chose to do this project to help reach more and more people of all demographics. While it is helping them during the pandemic, it will also continue to help them
Chapel of St. Joseph at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
In the late 1980s, a grassroots effort of immigrants established The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Illinois, and a decade later, it was officially declared a sister site to the Basilica in Mexico City. Located on a 122-acre campus shared with Maryville Academy, owned by the Archdiocese of Chicago, The
Crossway Church
Following the visionary leadership of the pastoral staff at Crossway Church, TONO Architects developed a facility master planning strategy carefully stewarding the church’s property near Millersville, Pennsylvania. Situated on 76 acres of rolling farmland, the plan conceives of a village of worship, educational, gathering and administrative building components echoing the historic agricultural use of
Crystal-Clear Audio via Wi-Fi with Listen EVERYWHERE
With 350 to 400 congregants, Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, is part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. About 60 percent of its members are ages 50 and older, and 30 percent are younger families. The tech-savvy church has a long history of live-streaming its worship services every week—even before COVID-19. Problem When
Crosswater Church
Crosswater Church in Nocatee, Florida, had been worshiping in a 600-seat auditorium constructed as Phase 1 of a multi-phased project. Crosswater Church recently partnered with LIVE Design Group to design the next phase of their facility. The primary feature of the project, opened in June 2020, is a 1,200-seat Worship Center with stadium seating
Community West Church
When Community West Church in Richmond, Virginia, made the decision to design and build a new space, they turned to John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” (The Message). Community West Church didn’t want to create merely a space for people to get away from the world to
Crisis Spurs Traders Point Christian Church to Be Catalyst in Community
Crisis has a way of causing us to reflect deeply on the things in life that we hold dear to our hearts. In many instances, crisis reveals that some of the things we’ve been holding on to perhaps weren’t really that important, and the aspects of life we relegated to the corner were actually
GT Church Upgrades Live Streaming Equipment and Processes
GT Church, a multisite church with two locations in Pennsylvania, recently enlisted Adorama Business Solutions — a premier technology resource for corporate, educational, and government institutions — to upgrade its production equipment and processes to enable High Definition (HD) live streaming and recorded broadcasts of its services. Eager to make dynamic, engaging, and artful
Copper Creek Church
Copper Creek Church started in 2007 as a satellite campus of First Presbyterian Church in Champaign, Illinois. After 5 years, they felt led to establish the satellite campus as a new church plant. And on September 9, 2012, Copper Creek Church was officially commissioned as a new church. So often, those in ministry experience
Huge LED Retrofit at Olive Baptist Church
In 2019, Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, made the decision to upgrade both their stage and house lighting systems in their main sanctuary, a huge undertaking that meant replacing over 600 lighting fixtures. “We decided to replace every tungsten light that illuminated in the room with an LED fixture,” said Bobby Taylor, tech
Grace Church
The National Association of Church Design Builders recently awarded ATURA Architecture the Industry Award for Innovation for its design of the Grace Church Fellowship Hall Addition. With this annual award, NACDB recognizes ATURA for excellence and the highest level of quality in its design and services in the category of Innovation. The project known
New Streaming Capabilities Enhance Virtual Weekend Services at Grace Polaris Church
Since 1964, Grace Polaris Church in Columbus, Ohio, has seen a rapid increase in their congregation from a group of 30 to now serving over 2,000 members. As Grace Polaris’ congregation continued to grow, their need for a new worship center increased, and in 2018, they started construction on a new space. They turned
Lake City Community Church
In Lakewood, Washington, The Lake City Community Church family places great value on worshiping God with our lives, serving one another through community and discipleship, and serving others in the world as Jesus served us. In an effort to support their mission of advancing God’s Kingdom by making fully devoted followers of Christ in
City Road Chapel Extends Their Focus on Quality to Their Playground
By Eric Torrey City Road Chapel United Methodist Church in Madison, Tennessee, started with the building of a house of worship in 1848. The church moved to a new location in 1872. After that building burned down in 1899, a new church was built at the present site. Since then, the church has continued
Foothills Church
Foothills Church exists to develop mature disciples of Christ in relational environments. The church was planted in 2009, and today, it is one of the fastest-growing churches in East Tennessee. The church hosts approximately 2,000 people weekly at its two Sunday morning worship experiences at its campus in Maryville, Tennessee. Maryville-based commercial construction firm
Grace Church Enlightens Services with New High Brightness LCD Projector
Grace Church in Bainbridge, Georgia, is a non-denominational community church and home to a weekly congregation of more than 200 people. Mitch Hines, worship & children’s pastor, has been part of the Grace Church community for eight years and works to help the church provide a worship service that is fun, enjoyable and community
Centerburg Free Will Baptist Church
When Centerburg Free Will Baptist Church in Centerburg, Ohio, decided to build a new worship facility, the goal was not only to meet immediate needs for more space, but also to support future growth. Located in the village of Centerburg, Ohio, in the geographical center of the state, the church was established in 1952.
Crown Design Group and Absen Create Inspirational Sanctuary Environment for Action Church
As one of the fastest growing churches in the United States, Action Church has become a community fixture in local Orlando areas, including Oviedo, Sanford and Winter Garden. Most recently, Action Church expanded its reach when it opened its newest location in Winter Park, Florida, as its first large, non-mobile location. “We exist here
Creating a Balanced and Colorful Worship Design
Dedicated to creating a welcoming and authentic relationship with their congregation, Bannockburn Church is a sanctuary filled with encouragement and bonded through a common faith. Located near Austin, Texas, the church recently made the decision to renovate their outdated production design behind the worship environment, and they needed a partner to make the design
First Baptist Church of Jacksonville
Atlanta architecture firm CDH Partners designed a new church for First Baptist Church of Jacksonville that provides everything the congregation needs to fulfill their ministries, invite new members and adapt for growth. In 2016, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, was looking to expand their outreach to the greater metro area. Nocatee, a planned
First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Achieves Seamless Interoperability
In order to achieve a flexible tally communication between its legacy and new production equipment, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, recently integrated TSL Products’ TallyMan control system into its control room upgrade. With four distinct campuses across the city, FBC JAX was specifically looking for a means of integrating a new Ross Ultrix
City Church
A relatively new church (founded in 2013), City Church is deeply committed to bringing spiritual, social, and cultural renewal to the city of Evansville, Indiana. The church discovered an appropriate home in a former church facility in downtown Evansville, with Champlin Architecture providing design services to renovate this large structure to suit the nondenominational
AmpliVox Helps Illinois Church Overcome Acoustic Challenges
Today, churches are increasingly built with acoustics in mind, to address the acoustic challenges associated with larger and more complex structures featuring high angular ceilings, tall blank walls, large windows, decorative architectural features, and significant variations in size from one room to another. And, in addition to the challenges of the church structure, today’s religious
West County Christian Church
West County Christian Church in Chesterfield, Missouri, is a large religious and educational complex that The Korte Company designed and built. They master planned the facility to eventually contain up to 50,000 square feet. The overall site provides parking for more than 400 cars and contains visitor parking, an entry drop-off area, a playground, and
Danley Delivers at Immanuel Nashville
Immanuel Nashville is a 10-year-old church on the west side of the famous music city, and its rapid growth recently inspired a move to a bigger, 1,000-seat sanctuary. Although its services are rooted in a traditional approach, Immanuel Nashville also stages a full band and blends its traditional hymns with more contemporary music. After making
St. Michael’s Catholic Church
The new, 34,500-square-foot St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky, expresses the welcoming, inclusive nature of the parish community through the use of materials and forms that reflect the campus’s natural surroundings, express a strong spiritual procession, and celebrate the parish’s patron saint. The building stands on axis with the approaching road, furthering the mission
Why 15 Techs at Elevation Church Went “All In” with Their Headsets
Charlotte-based Elevation Church now has 19 campuses around North Carolina, all with very high production values. Each of the locations has its own worship band, and services are streamed from Elevation’s broadcast location to its satellite locations and the Internet during worship experiences each weekend. About four years ago, one of the technical volunteers at
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is an architectural landmark in the Highland Park neighborhood. PCL Construction worked collaboratively with church representatives and the design team to expand the original 1950s colonial church with an 18,000-square foot-addition that complements the original design. The addition includes a series of new classrooms, a vaulted fellowship
C3 Church Upgrades Audio with the Assistance of Morris Integration
Like most of the music world, C3 Church in Clayton, North Carolina, wanted to leave analog behind and enter the digital realm. It was clear to Troy Payne, production manager at C3 Church, there was no better guide than Morris Integration, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, to make this happen seamlessly and within budget. “C3’s aging
Hermosa Church of Christ
Hermosa Church of Christ in Artesia, New Mexico, was looking for architects that would be able to communicate the church’s vision to the congregation and the community. Busting at the seams with a multi-generational congregation, the current location and facilities were no longer able to meet the ministry needs of the church. Halo Architects went
Texas Church Gets Top-Quality Sound
When Grace Bible Church in La Vernia, Texas, planned a complex renovation that took two years to complete, Jack Saenz, installation manager of BP Lighting, Sound and Video (BP), was brought in by Rock River Media to design a sound system that would fit within their budget but exceed their expectations. Saenz suggested a rig
Easter Lutheran Church
Eagan, Minnesota Easter Lutheran Church in Eagan, Minnesota, recently worked with Langer Construction to remodel both of their locations. Easter by the Lake At “The Lake,” a 2,500-square-foot Lakeside Commons meeting room, large teen room, and offices were added, while remodeling the greeting desk for full-time staff. The project also included a new licensed commercial
Getting Versatile with Lighting
Theaters of one kind or another have long played a role in the growth of Christ Community Church in St. Charles, Illinois. Just before Christmas 1984, the suburban Chicago church, which was founded by four couples, held its first service in a rented movie theater. Christ Community has since grown into a thriving four-campus house
Community Christian Church
Naperville, Illinois Since 1997, Community Christian Church has relentlessly pursued its mission of helping people find their way back to God. They do this by focusing on REACHING people who are currently far from God, RESTORING this world back to God’s dream, and REPRODUCING this mission in the lives of others. Over time though, it
Elevation Baptist Church
This article originally appeared in the October 2012 issue. By Jennifer Walker-Journey Fanning Howey is an architecture, engineering, and design firm with office locations across the country. The firm’s work spans the nation and it often partners with local design firms to bring its unique services to communities large and small, www.fhai.com. To say
An eGiving Success Story: St. Mary’s Church
The preferences and behaviors of churchgoers are constantly changing. Vanco Payment Solutions’ 2017 Churchgoers Giving Study proved that when it was released late last year. Vanco places a high value on research to understand churches’ eGiving needs, and how they are succeeding with eGiving tools, www.vancopayments.com. In addition to the Churchgoers Giving Study, Vanco regularly
Holy Infant Parish
As their congregational family grew, Holy Infant Parish in Manchester, Pennsylvania, found itself on the easternmost portion of its parish boundary. While their existing two-story church and education building had served their congregational needs well, the parish was faced with aging buildings that were not fully accessible and geographically limited their ability to serve their
Cross Lutheran Church
By Emily Matchey Cross Lutheran Church of Roberts, Wisconsin, held a dedication service on Sunday, December 17, 2017, for a renovation and new addition to their facility. This celebration was fantastic and meaningful for many, particularly for architect Tim Peterson of Peterson Design Studio and Bill Derrick of Derrick Building Solutions. Cross Lutheran worked with
St. Peter the Apostle Church
St. Peter the Apostle Church in Louisville, Kentucky, is a new congregation formed by the merger of five southwest Jefferson County parishes—St. Clement, St. Polycarp, Our Lady of Consolation, Our Lady Help of Christians, and St. Timothy. JRA Architects was selected to provide master planning and design services for the new 1,200-seat church, religious education
Crosspointe Church
By Gino Beltran Nearly 100 years ago, churches were rarely just a Sunday house of worship – they were known for building hospitals, schools, universities, community centers and more that served their surrounding neighborhoods. At Visioneering, we’ve been honored to partner with many churches over the years who desire to bring some of that history
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
Founded in 1837, Immanuel Presbyterian Church is the oldest congregation in the city of Milwaukee. The present church was constructed in 1873 and features Gothic style architecture. In 1958, the congregation expanded its footprint by constructing a detached two-story building, which for many years served as an education space for its youth. This separate structure,
Bridgetown Church of Christ
Bridgetown Church of Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio, had several design issues and ministry needs. They needed to update their exterior and interior for a better overall first impression. As you walked into the church, the lobby was cramped, dark, and had a low ceiling. The flow of the building was very poor. Upstairs, the church
The Orchard Evangelical Free Church
As part of fulfilling their calling as a church, The Orchard launched four new sites between 2010—2017 from the original Arlington Heights, Illinois, campus. To thrive in this next chapter of their story, the church’s leadership recognized that it needed the Arlington Heights campus to be a vibrant, growing, sending campus—the center of an expanding
First Christian Church
Decatur, Illinois When Aspen Group began to partner with First Christian Church Decatur to address their facility needs, it became clear that limited sanctuary seating had begun to impede the church’s ability to comfortably accommodate new attendees. Additionally, the church’s youth and children’s space lacked the kind of functionality and design that creates a safe,
Appleton Alliance Church
Appleton, Wisconsin Churches often have preconceptions about what their space needs, perhaps without understanding the impact space can have on the experience and performance of the environment. Architects, particularly those who are experienced working with faith organizations, can be a tremendous partner for the future positioning of the church, not just by the end result
South Euclid United Church of Christ
South Euclid United Church of Christ began in 1845 in Cleveland, Ohio, with the original stone church being built in 1867. Tragically, lightning struck the church in 2010 and burned to the ground, leaving only a massive carved lintel and bell remaining. In 2012, the church bought a Catholic church and school campus that was
Village Christian Church
Village Christian Church Minooka, Illinois This 20,000-square-foot facility was designed to be a warm, inviting and multi-purpose space. The exterior features brick, cement board siding and trim, textured insulated metal wall panel, metal trims, stone, and a large volume of glass. There is a large, back-lit, rough sawn cedar cross adjacent to the entrance. A
Meade Emmanuel Mennonite Church
Fuqua Construction Inc., Inman, Kansas, was recently awarded the 2016 NACDB Honor Award for Projects Less Than $1,000,000 for a church project in Meade, Kansas. Fuqua Construction Inc. is a construction company specializing in church construction. When Max Fuqua began his business in 1979, the scope of the work was residential and commercial. In 1984,