BET
SHALOM CONGREGATION
Bet
Shalom Congregation is a new 35,000 square foot worship and education
facility in Minnetonka, Minnesota. It contains a large, domed 500
seat sanctuary with movable walls which open to an adjacent social hall; a
library/bookstore; a sixteen room education wing with pre-school;
administrative offices; and multi-purpose rooms to be used for educational
and religious programs.
GLORIA
DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH
The addition and
renovation of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul features a new main
level gathering space adjacent to the existing sanctuary, creating a
welcoming space where people can congregate before and after services.
This space also accommodates special events such as receptions, and
features an adjacent courtyard. The gathering space and courtyard
flow into a well-lit narthex, creating an inviting entrance into the
sanctuary.
This landmark temple, located on historic Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, is one of the last projects designed by the internationally renowned modernist Erich Mendelsohn. The congregation wished to retain and preserve the building while renewing key areas including the sanctuary, education wing, administrative offices, kitchen and two meeting rooms. The building also required a number of mechanical upgrades. The design team refined the committee’s report, confirmed the budget, developed a master plan and schematic design, and created a presentation for gaining congregational approval and fundraising in 1996. Phase I construction, which was completely funded by donations, was completed in the winter of 1998. Phase II was completed in the summer of 2001.
This state-of-the-art monastic library sits in a prominent location on the cloister of the monastery in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. While following tenets of monastic building design, including clarity of structure and austerity of design, the library is modern in both its building technology and its electronic information infrastructure. The library is one of three recently completed projects at this Trappist Monastary designed by Bentz/Thompson/Rietow, the Mepkin community, and liturgical consultant, Br. Frank Kacmarcik.
Located on Lyndale Avenue in South Minneapolis, this historic church recently completed the first phase of its master plan. The phase I project provides a new major entrance to the facility as well as a small chapel, nursery, classrooms, and fellowship gallery to better serve congregational and community outreach activities. The master plan addresses the entire complex of buildings, improving circulation, accessibility, and security. The church is currently planning a new multi-purpose addition to accommodate contemporary worship services and expanded daycare facilities. The design of both completed and future additions incorporate stone cladding and detailing to match the original church.
This sanctuary provides seating for 2,000 worshippers and a choir of 125, with no one sitting more than 86 feet from the chancel platform. A large balcony seats half of the audience. The 70-foot interior provides a spaciousness appropriate to a wide variety of religious services as well as musical and theatrical performances. The space was carefully designed to satisfy the acoustical requirements for voice and instructional music, including a 115 rank tracker pipe organ located directly behind the choir area. The sanctuary supports a spire which rises to 200 feet, providing the church with a strong identity from the adjacent highway and a recognizable image and presence within the community of Eden Prairie.
Phase V of the Wooddale Church master plan is a two-story, 32,000 square foot addition which completes the interior pedestrian circulation system within the building. Primary functions housed within the addition are adult education classrooms on the upper level and a new 6,800 square foot nursery on the lower level.
ASCENSION
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Our
firm won this commission through invited competition. This project includes
an addition and remodeling of the existing facility. A 6,000 square foot
addition is planned, as well as remodeling of 6,000 square feet of existing
interior space. A large dining and multipurpose room and the classroom
area will be expanded. We also will be creating a new entrance to the
lower level of the church and adding an elevator and stair access.
A major renovation and expansion of this significant Minneapolis landmark included the construction of 20,000 additional square feet of space consisting of an auditorium seating 235, administrative offices, classrooms and reception areas. The renovation program involved another 20,000 square feet of existing facilities including classrooms, a library and multipurpose spaces. A monumental porte cochere was designed on the rear elevation of the building to serve as the functional entrance from the existing parking lot. An expression of abstract classical architecture was used to integrate the existing rear elevation of the building with its primary elevation, an elaborate neoclassical facade fronting directly on the street.
CATHOLIC
CHURCH OF ST. PETER
After
the destruction of their original facility in a tornado in the spring
of 1998, the congregation began planning to relocate the facility in the
country outside of St. Peter. Construction on this 68,000 square foot
complex began in the spring of 1999. The facility incorporates an elementary
and preschool for 200 children, three garden courtyards, a 1000-seat nave
and a 100-seat chapel. The nave features suspended ceilings which form
a 44-foot high vault using wood dividing strips supporting perforated
metal panels that are acoustically transparent. The acoustic performance
is achieved using the rectangular spaces of the enveloping attic which
contains reflective and absorptive surfaces as required.
The revitalization of the sanctuary of this large downtown Minneapolis church was undertaken to commemorate its 75th anniversary. Changes in the use of the church and the client’s desire to incorporate modern video and data-based technologies with more traditional church activities called for a number of modifications including the addition of remote monitors and video recording capabilities. The improvement of the space’s acoustic performance involved relocating the choir, special treatment of the wall surfaces, and improving the function of the altar and organ area by enlarging the chancel. Seating was reduced to improve circulation and to accommodate a more prominently-located baptismal font.
MOUNT CALVARY LUTHERAN
CHURCH
Mount
Calvary Lutheran Church, located in Excelsior, has identified a need for
additional classrooms, administrative space and a large multipurpose room/gymnasium.
A sanctuary expansion, parking and site development as well as a new narthex
and entrance to the church are planned for a second phase expansion. The
new gathering space will provide more focus and increased opportunities
to an already diverse assemblage of church functions. Other key elements
include the relocation of a licensed preschool, a new library and brides
room,
full kitchen facilities and a new choir and hand bell rehearsal space within
the previous fellowship hall.
NEW
LIFE CHURCH AND ACADEMY
This
was a master plan for a 40-acre site in Woodbury with an existing school
facility provides for a new sanctuary, fenced playground, athletic fields,
running track and volleyball and tennis courts. The south end of the site
was designated for senior housing and a combined family and youth activity
center. A new entrance drive offers access to expanded parking facilities.
The renovated and expanded facility includes a new nursery, staff office
spaces, additional Sunday school and academy classrooms and a new sanctuary.
This new sanctuary, which seats 650 and subdivides to serve as a discipleship
and fellowship area, was completed in the fall of 1997. A future sanctuary
expansion has been designed to seat up to 1,000 people.
A master plan was prepared to organize and improve circulation in the building through the creation and realignment of corridors and stairs. Through judicious redistribution of spaces and the creation of a new interior area at the second level of what was once a two-story gymnasium and auditorium, the demands of the new building program were satisfied without expanding beyond the original building envelope. This left the historic exterior fully intact and undisturbed. The master plan also incorporated an overhaul of mechanical and electrical systems. Finally, new toilets were provided, accessibility for the physically disabled was improved and the entire complex was air conditioned.