church architecture

WILLIAMSON ROAD CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – Originally organized in 1948, the Williamson Road Church of the Brethren moved to its present location on Pioneer Road in 1951. Since that time various additions had been constructed to the facility, but in early 1980s Dimensional Dynamics was hired to design and oversee the construction of the largest addition which would include Education Classrooms, Offices, a Library, and an Entrance Narthex/Fellowship/Dinning Hall. The final design unified the overall facility and created a functional solution that offered many multi-use options for ministry programs within the church. Please enjoy taking a look at this project completed in 1987.

PROPOSED MASTER PLAN RENDERING

SITE PLAN

UPPER LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

LOWER LEVEL PLAN

DINNING LAYOUT OPTIONS

CONSTRUCTION UNDER WAY

CLASSROOM

NARTHEX/DINNING AREA

LIBRARY AREA

COMPLETED EXTERIOR

COMPLETED EXTERIOR SHOWING CAR DROP-OFF

COMPLETED EXTERIOR

WILLIAMSON ROAD CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Haverhill, Massachusetts – Founded in 1898 with only 23 members, First Presbyterian Church was originally located on Summer Street in Haverhill, MA but was destroyed in a severe fire in 1982. After sometime without a permanent church home, the congregation eventually purchased a new empty lot at the corner of Broadway and Carleton Streets. It was then that they contacted Dimensional Dynamics to aid them in preparing a Master Plan for the site and in guiding them through the construction of both Phases One in 1986, and Two in 2002, of their new facility.

1986 MASTER PLAN – RENDERING

2002 REVISED MASTER PLAN – SITE PLAN

2002 REVISED MASTER PLAN – MAIN LEVEL

2002 REVISED MASTER PLAN – UPPER LEVEL

2002 REVISED MASTER PLAN – ELEVATIONS

PHASE ONE SACTUARY CONSTRUCTION

PHASE ONE EXTERIOR – UNDER CONSTRUCTION

PHASE ONE COMPLETED EXTERIOR

PHASE TWO UNDER CONSTRUCTION – FELLOWSHIP HALL

PHASE TWO – COMPLETED EXTERIOR

COMPLETED SANCTUARY

COMPLETED FACILITY – CURRENT CONFIGURATION

STAINED GLASS WINDOW

THE BAPTIST TEMPLE, Bluebell, Pennsylvania – Also known as Grace Baptist Church of Bluebell, was founded in 1872 and was originally located in Center City Philadelphia. Their previous facility, located at the corner of Broad and Berks Streets still exists today and is now part of Temple University. As one of Dimensional Dynamics early projects, the relocation of this congregation to Skippack Pike in Bluebell happened in the early 1970s. The functional single story design gave this congregation the flexibility it needed to meet the many needs for multiple ministry programs on this site. Our Founding Partner, the Reverend L. Gordon Bucy, was pleased to be a part of the design and oversaw the construction of this incredible facility. It was in 1993, after his passing that I had the opportunity to first visit this church facility as I attended Gordon’s Memorial Service. A day I will always remember and church I will never forget. Please enjoy taking a look at this project constructed in 1975.

RENDERING OF PROPOSED CHURCH FACILITY

PROPOSED SITE PLAN

PROPOSED PHASE ONE

FLEXIBLE SEATING OPTIONS

SITE ENTRANCE

CURRENT VIEW OF FACILITY

ENTRANCE DROP-OFF

BELL TOWER

ENTRANCE FACADE

SIDE FACADE

NARTHEX VIEW TOWARDS WORSHIP

WORSHIP SPACE AND CHOIR

WORSHIP SPACE

NARTHEX VIEW TOWARDS WORSHIP

CHANCEL

DELIVERANCE TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH, Chester Township, Pennsylvania – Now called Eternal Hope of Glory, this congregation was established in May of 1980 by Pastor Leroy H. Carter. It was in July of 1983 that the church had the opportunity to purchase a one-acre parcel of land from Chester Township for a total of $1.00. This land was to be the location of their new church home. In 1985 the leadership of the church contacted Dimensional Dynamics to start the process of planning and design of that new home. We were honored to be there guiding the church through the entire process until the facility’s final completion in 1989. Please enjoy taking a look at this project constructed in 1989.

CURRENT VIEW OF FACILITY

MASTER PLAN SITE PLAN

PHASE ONE SITE PLAN

PHASE ONE FACILITY

CHURCH SITE

GROUND BREAKING – 1987

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

FINISHED FACILITY – 1989

WORSHIP CENTER

TRINITY UNITED CHURCH, Wallaceburg-Ontario, Canada – in 1978, Trinity United Church suffered a devastating fire which totally destroyed their facility. Dimensional Dynamics aided this church with choosing a site for their new facility within the City limits which afforded them the use of many public and private parking facilities within a two-block radius. Dimensional Dynamics then worked with Trinity United in writing of a program of space needs and in laying out a design that would offer them weekly on-site parking and a flexible functional facility that would meet the ministry needs but also address the church’s desire for low energy consumption. This energy reduction was primarily accomplished with higher R-factors in the walls ans ceilings and zoned heating based on the programs use; insulated window shutters; double glazing of the exterior windows and entrance vestibules. Finally, when architectural services were need in the preparation of construction documents, Dimensional Dynamics worked to associate as the designer with a local architect, James H. Jordan, located in Chatham, Ontario. When completed, the church stated in a letter to our Founder, L. Gordon Bucy: “Thanks to your help, and God’s blessing, we have a church building in which we have great pride and still have money left over in the bank! We could not have expected such good fortune in the normal course of events.” Please enjoy taking a look at this project constructed in 1980.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_nnRADkU6w

RENDERING OF PROPOSED FACILITY

PROPOSED SITE AND FLOOR PLAN

PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN

WINDOW – Article 1979, Page 1

WINDOW – Article, Page 2

WINDOW – Article, Page 3

SANCTUARY

VIEW TOWARDS CHANCEL

CHANCEL

CHOIR

ENTRANCE NARTHEX AND OVERFLOW

KITCHEN

ENTRANCE DROP-OFF

STEEPLE

CALVARY ROAD CHURCH OF GOD, Carlisle, Pennsylvania – This wonderful project incorporated Dimensional Dynamics’ sensitivity to energy efficiency in the Master Plan design and the construction of Phase One. Now called Lighthouse Church of God, the approved Phase One design added much needed administration space and a new entrance and gathering space to an existing two story church facility. The primary focus, to create a functional addition that would allow for future growth on this site, was also balanced by the need to create an energy efficient solution that would enable this church to save significant funds in their heating costs. At a time when energy cost were soaring in our country, church facilities everywhere were being burdened by sudden fuel costs that were unheard of previously. For most churches, having one large boiler to heat the entire facility was the norm, even when vast portions of that facility were not being used everyday. Dimensional Dynamics was, and still is, highly sensitive to the financial burden churches have when maintaining their facilities. The idea of heating and cooling any facility with one unit, even when zoned, has created onerous costs for churches across America as the cost of fuel has risen. For this project, the prospect of savings led to a delightful addition and renovation of and Historic Resource in the town of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Please enjoy taking a look at this project constructed in 1981.

CURRENT FACILITY

EXISTING SITE PLAN

PROPOSED SITE – MASTER PLAN

PROPOSED MASTER PLAN

“THE GUIDE” – ARTICLE ABOUT THE CHURCH DESIGN AND OUR FOUNDING PARTNER, REV. L. GORDON BUCY

EXISTING CHURCH FACILITY

PHASE ONE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

SOLAR TOWER UNDER CONSTRUCTION

COVENANT BAPTIST CHURCH, East Sandwich, Massachusetts – Another project designed by Dimensional Dynamics and constructed in the mid-1980’s is this gem, now called Covenant Community Church in historic East Sandwich located on Cape Cod Bay. The church contacted us to prepare a master plan design for their newly purchased site that would offer them the ability to Continue Reading

Over the last forty-five years, Dimensional Dynamics has served churches across the United States with architectural and planning services to meet their ministry and facility needs. This is our main focus and purpose – to serve churches in an area where they are in their greatest need. It is rare for a church to have expertise in church facility design, in the preparation of construction documents, and in the administration of those documents during construction. In fact this is not what they are called to do; so when our founder Rev. L. Gordon Bucy found himself in the midst of three different building programs at the churches he served, he realized that it was not just the church who was lacking in this expertise, but also the local architects who did not know how churches function.

Churches are a unique blend of members, the Body of Christ with all its differences when done well, work together in unison and harmony for one purpose, to spread the good news of the Gospel. But when the focus comes off of their purpose for being, Continue Reading

THE LENDING INSTITUTION, THE CHURCH, THE ARCHITECT AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT – Part Eight

Posted by DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners, Inc. on April 22, 2014

Posted in: Church Planning Principles. Tagged: building committee, church, church architect, church architecture, church construction, church facilities, church facility, church lending, church planning, deacon, elder, pastor, religious, reverend, trustee.

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

How many churches have you heard of giving all their money to the contractor and then the contractor running off? Or how many projects have you seen the church accept this wonderfully low bid only to have, during construction, the contractor rack up change order after change order after change order? This happens all the time and I feel Continue Reading

THE LENDING INSTITUTION, THE CHURCH, THE ARCHITECT AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT – Part Six

Posted by DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners, Inc. on March 1, 2014

Posted in: Church Planning Principles. Tagged: building committee, church, church architect, church architecture, church construction, church facilities, church facility, church lending, church planning, deacon, pastor, religious, trustee.

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

How many churches have you dealt with that had construction documents prepared for a facility that is much larger than they can afford or justify? This happens every day. The lack of communication or understanding between the architect and the church about their financial ability concerning the project budget is the cause. I have been asked, but I strongly urge against starting the construction document process until the capital funds campaign (CFC) has ended its pledge drive and a financial lender has met with the church to give them an idea of their borrowing potential. I have had churches want to jump the gun for the sake of the “schedule” and request me to prepare detailed construction drawing for a phase one scope of work prior to knowing what the phase one financial resources will be. Many churches and architects fall into this trap which leads to frustration, finger-pointing, delays and expensive drawing revisions.

On the other hand I have met with churches that Continue Reading

DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners, Inc.

A Full Service Architectural Firm Specializing in Church and Church-Related Facilities Throughout the United States

All posts tagged church architecture

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1987

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1986/2002

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1975

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1989

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1980

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1981

THROWBACK THURSDAY – 1987

A Time to Renew the Vision – DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS, Architects and Planners, Inc.

THE LENDING INSTITUTION, THE CHURCH, THE ARCHITECT AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT – Part Eight

THE LENDING INSTITUTION, THE CHURCH, THE ARCHITECT AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT – Part Six

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives