Religious
HOLY TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH EXPANSION
This congregation approached WSA Studio with a concept to expand their existing sanctuary. After a master planning session, it was agreed that the best and most rewarding investment involved the design of a new sanctuary with the renovation of existing sanctuary space to accommodate fellowship needs. This addition would also make the church have a stronger community presence and a welcoming attitude towards worship. Circulation patterns in the church would also be addressed by the addition. The resulting addition is rich with articulation of the interior worship space, utilizing wood paneling and heavy timber framing to evoke an aesthetic that is reminiscent of their original sanctuary, yet allow the congregation to engage in a more modern fashion. The new sanctuary supports an infinite variety of worship settings through the use of pew chairs which mimick a pew system yet allow flexibility of placement. the south end of the new sanctuary supports a new, re-worked pipe organ and musical settings, and the north end of the sanctuary features a semi-circular apse which can also support music or special service concepts.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ADDITION
This project was the result of a multiple-year implementation plan, where WSA Studio led the design committee through an initial master planning project. The master plan helped the church align their needs with their mission and initiated a 3-year capital campaign for growth. The final project includes a significant expansion including a renovated sanctuary and an additional multiple-purpose space for continued worship and church functions. Development for an urban plaza will provide outdoor worship opportunities and envangelical activities in the summer months. Located in the heart of a small town in northeastern Ohio, New Philadelphia, this project considers its greater context while revitalizing an entire city block, and contributes significantly to the return of citizens to the community with the church as the center of activity.
BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
This project includes the analysis of the existing church facility and the design of an overall development plan for the addition of a sanctuary and gathering space. Paramount to the success of the project was to determine an economical means for the development of a new sanctuary for this growing suburban church. After a program and site analysis, WSA Studio prepared color renderings and a three-dimensional model for the church to utilize in their fundraising campaign. The final design which was implemented capitalizes on flexible and reconfigurable worship space to accommodate the diverse demands on the sanctuary. Also, a private chapel is located on the corner of the building, allowing congregants to gain access to the building twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for prayer and spiritual support. Since the completion of this project, the congregation has grown by 50% and outreach programs are more robust, the youth programs are expanding and the overall effectiveness of the ministry has improved.
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
This project involves the design and master plan of a 14,000 SF facility in a small Eastern Ohio town. The congregation had lost their church to an arson fire, and pursued a new church to meet and exceed the space needs of the congregation. The new design creates a positive impact in the community by taking advantage of its corner site, locating a bell tower at a major intersection and providing visual access to the baptismal font. The bell was salvaged from the original church after the fire. Other elements that were salvaged are used in the new structure, including a series of stained glass windows and sandstone foundations. The space planning allows for a traditional approach to worship with flexibility for future adaptations in liturgical form.
INDIAN RUN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The renovation of this 23,750 SF facility created a new narthex, classrooms, gym, a family life center focused on a large multi-purpose space, and administrative offices. Ruscilli Construction was our design/build partner. A particular challenge of the project was to design an addition which maximizes the potential use of the site and successfully deals with flood plain issues.
REYNOLDSBURG UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
This project included the renovation of an existing sanctuary entry area and the addition of Christian education space. The main challenge was to provide better orientation and circulation integrating the existing and the new addition. The new classrooms are used as a way to connect the current educational spaces to the worship and entry spaces. On the exterior, one of the challenges was to integrate an existing classical entablature with a new facade. Materials such as brick and stucco were used to help integrate the aesthetic of the addition with the existing structure. WSA Studio has also provided this congregation with master planning expertise for planning the future development of the site.
PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Prince of Peace is a fast growing Lutheran congregation in Dublin, Ohio, a bucolic suburb of Columbus. The project includes the analysis of the existing facility and site environs and the development of a master plan for growth and the design of the first phase of construction. The existing facility provided an adequate sanctuary and gathering space, but did not include enough classroom space and lacks a fellowship hall. The design of the addition provided over twenty classrooms, expanded existing administrative areas and centered on the articulation of a large fellowship space. A particular challenge of the design was to match the scale of the existing structure without overpowering it, and to provide continuity in the aesthetic of the church.